This week, Senator Rick Scott wrote an op-ed for the Tampa Bay Times on his “Let’s Get Back to Work” plan, which outlines the roles and responsibilities of government, the private sector and individuals necessary to get Florida and the nation back to work.

In the op-ed, Senator Rick Scott wrote, “As Americans discuss how to safely re-open the economy, in accordance with guidance from public health officials, one thing needs to be clear: We all have a part to play. State and local governments, business owners, families and federal agencies all have a role. If all of us take responsibility and create a clear plan, we can put our country and our economy back on a path to recovery.

The federal government plays a significant role in funding and supporting efforts to rebuild our economy. But we can’t rely solely on the federal government. Health care is a local delivery system in this country and all level of government, the private sector, and individual families play a role.

… Business owners – large and small – and American families also need to do their part to plan for our economic recovery. Ultimately, it’s up to consumers themselves, not government, to decide when our economy gets back to its former strength. When Americans feel comfortable going to their favorite restaurant, flying on a plane, going to the movies, or going back to their job, our economy will be back.

… That means every family must start thinking about what precautions they, their employer or their favorite businesses should take. Families need to make sure they have access to programs that address their direct needs. And business owners must ask themselves: Is proper social distancing possible in my store or factory? Do I have the necessary PPE and sanitizing products? Am I going to test employees and customers who enter or take everyone’s temperatures?

… We can and we will come back better and stronger than before. America has faced many challenges in our 244-year history and we’ve always overcome them. It will not be easy – it will take strategic foresight, determination and diligence, and most importantly a commitment from everyone, but I know that after we heal the sick, we can also heal our broken economy and get back to work.”

Read the full op-ed in the Tampa Bay Times HERE.

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See more of what Senator Scott has been up to this week below.

Sen. Rick Scott Statement on Reforms Needed to Make Paycheck Protection Program Work

Senator Rick Scott released the below statement ahead of a deal to provide more funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

Senator Rick Scott said, “My focus has and will always be on helping small businesses and individuals that are struggling because of the Coronavirus. I am all for helping these groups and that will never change. I am also very supportive of additional funds toward this program because there are many small businesses that need it. But we cannot throw caution to the wind in the middle of a crisis. We still have to be smart about how we spend taxpayer dollars.

“I am concerned that many businesses with thousands of employees have found loopholes to qualify for these loans meant for small businesses. Unfortunately, when it comes to the PPP, millions of dollars are being wasted. Right now, companies that are not being harmed at all by the Coronavirus crisis have the ability to receive taxpayer-funded loans that can be forgiven. That’s wrong, and it takes money out of the hands of those Americans who really need it. Congress must clarify that PPP loans will only be available to businesses that show a substantial reduction in revenue due to the Coronavirus. Second, I have heard from many constituents that they are unable to access the loans at their bank because of requirements individual banks are setting. These requirements were not in the law and are leading to many small businesses having a very hard time accessing these dollars. Congress must make it clear that banks should not and cannot set these requirements that actively withhold help from those in need.

“What I will not support are efforts by Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer to use this crisis to expand government and fund priorities that have nothing to do with the Coronavirus. We must focus our efforts on helping the individuals and small businesses that need it most – and that’s what I will continue to do.” Read more HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott Proposes Amendment to Improve Paycheck Protection Program

Senator Rick Scott released the below statement regarding his proposed amendment to improve the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

Senator Rick Scott said, “I have heard from many small business owners who have not yet been able to access a PPP loan. If you are one of those businesses, I want you to know that I am fighting to make sure you have access to the important resources you are entitled to through the CARES Act. My first priority is helping American small businesses and individuals that are struggling, and providing more funding through the PPP will do that. Unfortunately, millions of taxpayer dollars are not making it to the small businesses truly in need. As Congress comes to a final agreement, I am urging my colleagues to make two critical reforms that I am fighting for.

“First, my amendment makes sure PPP loans will only be available to businesses that show a substantial reduction in revenue due to the Coronavirus. We shouldn’t be sending taxpayer money to businesses that haven’t been harmed by this crisis and we need to ensure funding goes to the businesses truly impacted.

“Second, my amendment makes it clear that banks should not and cannot set requirements that actively withhold help from those in need. Instead, they must process applications on a first come, first served basis. I’ve shared my proposed amendment with negotiators, and hope my colleagues will put individuals and small businesses first and add this language to the final bill.” Read more HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott to President Trump: Rescind Higher Education Slush Fund

Following the President’s call for Harvard University to pay the money back from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Senator Rick Scott outlined his plan to rescind funding for Harvard and other wealthy universities. Last month, Senator Scott sent a letter to the Office of Management and Budget Acting Director Russ Vought urging the Administration to rescind billions of dollars of wasteful and unrelated funding included in the CARES Act, including for the Kennedy Center and the slush fund for bloated higher education institutions.  

Senator Rick Scott said, “It’s ridiculous that wealthy universities like Harvard, which has a $40 billion endowment, would get taxpayer funding during a crisis. That takes money out of the hands of small businesses and individuals that need it. The university whose mission is to educate the ‘citizen-leaders for our society’ should show some leadership of their own and return this money. If they continue to refuse to do so, I’m urging the President to immediately submit the rescission request to Congress that I called for two weeks ago so we can rescind the funding to Harvard and other wealthy higher education institutions.” Read more HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott Urges HHS Oversight in Taxpayer Dollars to Hospitals

Senator Rick Scott sent a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar requesting information on the agency’s plan to oversee and administer Coronavirus-related funding for health care providers and ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely, while also giving providers the resources they need to keep Americans healthy. Read more, including the full letter, HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott Asks IRS to Address Improper Payments and Get Money to Americans in Need

Following reports of improper economic relief payments, Senator Rick Scott sent a letter to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Charles Rettig requesting that the IRS address issues surrounding these payments so this money can quickly get to Americans hurting from the impacts of the Coronavirus. Read more, including the full letter, HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott Releases Daily Update on Coronavirus Growth Rate by State and Florida County 

This week, Senator Rick Scott continued to release updates on the growth rate of cases of the Coronavirus by state, and by county in Florida, according to Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering and Florida Department of Health data. Senator Scott is releasing this information daily to show which states are slowing the growth of Coronavirus. See updates from this week HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE.  

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Senator Rick Scott Leads Colleagues in Requesting Hold on WHO Funding Until Congressional Review of its Role in Covering Up the Coronavirus

Senators Rick Scott, Ron Johnson, Thom Tillis, Steve Daines and Kevin Cramer sent a letter to Senate Appropriations Committee leadership requesting that any funding for the World Health Organization (WHO) be withheld pending a Congressional hearing to investigate the WHO’s role in helping Communist China cover up information regarding the threat of the Coronavirus. Read more, including the full letter, HERE.

Sen. Rick Scott on FOX News: Small Business Loans Should Go to Those in Need, Not Big Businesses 
Watch the full interview HERE or below.

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Sen. Rick Scott: Don’t Believe the Lie That Government Has to Be Wasteful and Inefficient

Senator Rick Scott wrote an op-ed for Fox News on how taxpayer dollars from the CARES Act should be supporting individuals and small businesses severely impacted by the Coronavirus, not big businesses or wealthy institutions. 

In the op-ed, Senator Rick Scott wrote, “While much of the funding in the CARES Act was necessary and will help those struggling during this crisis, unfortunately, many programs are riddled with waste, inefficiency and potential fraud. These federal programs are “erring” a lot, and many of the beneficiaries aren’t hard-working families. It’s big businesses, well-connected industries, wealthy property owners and, in some cases, dead people.

More than 70 publicly traded companies have received taxpayer-funded loans (that can be forgiven) through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which was meant to support small businesses that are suffering. Nothing in the bill required businesses to prove that they are suffering financial harm from this crisis.

… You know what small businesses didn’t get a loan under the PPP? Your local coffee shop, florist, hairdresser or mom-and-pop hardware store. After the well-connected businesses with long-standing financial relationships with the banks got their forgivable loans, the program ran out of money.

… The political class in Washington scoffs when people like me say that government needs to be run like a business. They say government’s too complicated to run like a business. Any elected official or government bureaucrat who believes that should resign tomorrow, because they are part of the problem.

Common sense isn’t complicated.

Don’t send money to dead people. That’s not complicated. 

Don’t bail out huge corporations or send taxpayer money to businesses that haven’t been hurt by this crisis. That’s not complicated.

Don’t incentivize workers to stay on government-run, taxpayer-funded programs when this crisis has ended and we need them to go back to work. That’s not complicated.

Democrats, and unfortunately many Republicans, push the lie that government just has to be wasteful, that there’s nothing we can do about it. We just have to accept it. They push that lie so when the time comes for them to propose their trillion-dollar big-government programs or their giveaways to connected special interests, no one will pay attention.

Don’t believe the lie.”

Read the full op-ed in Fox News HERE.

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Fox News: Sen. Rick Scott: Coronavirus stimulus – get help where it's needed but don't believe this government lie

Fox News Radio: America’s Road to Recovery

The Hill: GOP senator proposes amendment to Paycheck Protection Program

The Hill: GOP senator: 'Millions of dollars are being wasted' in coronavirus small business fund

Newsmax: Sen. Scott: Millions Wasted on Paycheck Protection Loan

WJXT: Florida senators sound off as talks drag on $450B virus aid package for small businesses, hospitals

Bay News 9: Rubio, Scott Talk Lessons Learned in 1st Paycheck Protection Program Payout

Florida Daily: Florida Delegation Urges Equitable Distribution of CARES Act Hospital Funding

Florida Daily: Rick Scott Wants More Oversight from HHS on Coronavirus Funds Sent to Hospitals

The Hill: GOP sounds alarm bell over coronavirus-fueled debt

Florida Daily: With Marco Rubio’s, Rick Scott’s Support, Senate Approves $484 Billion More in Coronavirus Stimulus Funds

The Hill: GOP senator: 'We're way behind' on coronavirus testing

The Epoch Times: Republican Lawmakers Unhappy Over Harvard’s Share of Federal Bailout Money

WOKV: Sen. Scott: Businesses have a lot of work to do to ease coronavirus concerns 

Florida Politics: ‘Improper’ stimulus payments from IRS rattle Rick Scott

Florida Daily: Rick Scott Wants Information on PAHO’s Response to Coronavirus and Cooperation with the WHO

Senator Rick Scott is committed to keeping Florida families safe and healthy. Following the passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Senator Rick Scott released a CARES Act Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document with information on how Floridians can get help amid the Coronavirus crisis and details about the support available to small businesses, individuals, non-profits. 

See the FAQ document HERE or more resources and information available to Floridians by visiting www.RickScott.senate.gov/CoronavirusResources. 

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