Senators Rick Scott, Marco Rubio Introduce Resolution Congratulating 2020 Stanley Cup Champions Tampa Bay Lightning
Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio introduced a resolution congratulating the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the team’s loyal fans, on winning the 2020 National Hockey League Stanley Cup Finals.
Senator Rick Scott said, “It is my honor to introduce this resolution recognizing the Tampa Bay Lightning for winning the 2020 Stanley Cup Finals. After years of hard work, a difficult season away from family and playing without fans in the seats, the Lightning made Floridians proud by bringing the Stanley Cup back to Tampa Bay for the first time since 2004. I join all Floridians in celebrating this victory, and in looking forward to another great season next year. Go Bolts!” Read more HERE.
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Sen. Rick Scott Introduces Chinese-Backed Media Accountability Act
Senators Rick Scott and Marsha Blackburn introduced the Chinese-Backed Media Accountability Act to create accountability for Communist China’s censorship of free speech and failure to treat American journalists fairly. In March, the Chinese Communist Party expelled more than a dozen U.S. journalists, and required other outlets to submit written reports of their staff, finances, operations and real estate in China.
The Chinese-Backed Media Accountability Act establishes reciprocity between the U.S. and Communist China by preventing new visa issuances to Chinese state-run media until an accurate account of Chinese journalists in the United States can be provided to Congress. It also limits these visas to no more than the number of American journalists operating in China.
Senator Rick Scott said, “For years, the Communist government in China has tried to push its propaganda in America through state-owned media outlets, while refusing to treat American journalists in China fairly. General Secretary Xi wants to punish anyone that disagrees with him and has built his regime on censorship of free speech. We can’t allow this to continue and we have to take action. The Chinese-Backed Media Accountability Act prevents new visas from going to media backed by the Communist Party of China until we know exactly how many Chinese propaganda outlets are operating in the United States. It also creates reciprocity by making sure the number of Chinese-backed journalists in the United States is equal to the amount of independent American journalists allowed in China. We have to stand up and say that this behavior by Communist China is unacceptable, and I look forward to my colleagues supporting this proposal." Read more HERE.
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Sen. Rick Scott to Senate Foreign Relations Committee: Pass Resolution Urging International Olympic Committee to Move 2022 Games out of Communist China
Senator Rick Scott sent a letter to members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations urging them to immediately consider and pass his resolution condemning the gross human rights violations in Communist China and urging the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to move the 2022 Games out of China, where more than one million Uyghurs are being held in concentration camps while the people of Hong Kong are being arrested and denied the basic rights they were promised. Read more, including the full letter, HERE.
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Senator Rick Scott Joins Colleagues in Amicus Brief Supporting Religious Freedom in Nation’s Capital
Senator Rick Scott joined Senator Roger Wicker and colleagues in filing an amicus brief supporting Capitol Hill Baptist Church’s lawsuit against the Mayor of Washington, D.C., Muriel Bowser. Mayor Bowser has permitted and participated in several mass protests in recent months, several of which involved thousands of individuals and a lack of social distancing in violation of the Mayor’s own COVID-19 orders. However, the District has categorically refused to grant a waiver of the Mayor’s COVID-19 restrictions for a religious gathering of more than 100 individuals, despite the church’s proposal to conduct its services outdoors with strict adherence to social distancing and face mask protocols. The Senators argue that the selective enforcement of the District’s rules violates the church’s First Amendment rights and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). Read more from Senator Wicker’s office HERE. |