THIS WEEK IN THE OFFICE OF SENATOR MARCO RUBIO
April 22-26, 2024

Affirming Support for Israel

• Senator Rubio traveled to Israel to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior Israeli officials to express his strong support for Israel.
• Senator Rubio also met with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to discuss security measures in Israel and Israel’s right to defend itself.

Rubio Bills Signed into Law

• Three bills introduced by Senator Rubio sanctioning Iran and its affiliates, including the Chinese Communist Party, Iranian leaders, and Iran-backed terrorist groups, were signed into law. 

Senate Floor Remarks 

• Senator Rubio delivered a speech on the Senate floor explaining his opposition to the foreign aid bill, which did not address the migration crisis at the southern border. 
• Senator Rubio released a statement criticizing the Biden Administration’s plan to impose sanctions on the Israel Defense Forces Netzah Yehuda battalion.
• Senator Rubio released a statement following President Biden’s signing of a bill into law forcing the sale of TikTok from ByteDance. 
• Senator Rubio released a statement in response to the U.S. Department of State’s annual Human Rights Report.
• Senator Rubio called for the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to review TikTok after the bill to force ByteDance to sell TikTok was passed. Statements

Letters

• Senator Rubio and Representative Elise Stefanik (R-NY) sent a letter questioning the Biden Administration’s decision allowing Huawei, a company tied to Communist China, to access advanced American technology. 

Op-Eds

• Senator Rubio published an article in National Interest urging the United States to partner with pro-America leaders in Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Senator Rubio published an interview in Voz on the dangers of China and Iran’s influence in Latin America.

In the News

“Republican China hardliners Marco Rubio and Elise Stefanik are calling on the Biden administration to block all sales to Huawei after the sanctioned Chinese tech company released a new laptop powered by an Intel (INTC.O), opens new tab AI processor chip.” (Republican China hawks criticize Intel chip in new Huawei laptop, Reuters. 4/25/2024) 

“While this invasion of Ukraine most certainly poses a national security interest to the United States and a risk to our country, the invasion of America across our southern border is even more important.” (GOP Senator: ‘No Way’ Ukraine Gets Another $60B in Aid, Newsmax, 4/25/2024)

“Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said last month that the Chinese government has the ability to influence ‘a lot of young people’ who use TikTok as their main news source.” (Why U.S. officials want to ban TikTok, CBS News, 4/24/2024)

“GOP Sen. Marco Rubio, Rep. Elise Stefanik: Block All US Sales to Huawei” (Newsmax, 4/25/2024)

“TikTok extended the Chinese Communist Party’s power and influence into our own nation, right under our noses,” Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, the ranking Republican on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said in a statement. “I have been raising concerns about TikTok since 2019, so this new law forcing ByteDance to divest from TikTok is a huge step toward confronting Beijing’s malign influence.” (China keeps it low-key as TikTok prepares to take fight for survival to U.S. courts, Washington Times, 4/24/2024)

“To vote for Israel aid, ‘I have to drop my demand that the president enforce our immigration laws? I have to vote for billions of dollars to be spent on all kinds of programs around the world, including for people that are illegally entering this country?’ Rubio asked in a Tuesday floor speech. ‘This is moral extortion.’” (Senate sends Ukraine aid to Biden’s desk with majority of GOP support, Washington Examiner, 4/23/2024) 

“For years, we’ve allowed the Chinese Communist Party to control one of the most popular apps in America. That was dangerously shortsighted, but thankfully we are waking up to the threat China-controlled companies pose to America. We must move more quickly in the future when we encounter similar threats, because China won’t give up. There will be lawsuits, new apps, and new plots from Beijing.” (Chinese Company ByteDance Appears To Ignore Threat Of U.S. Ban, Says It ‘Has No Plans’ To Sell TikTok: Report, Daily Wire, 4/25/2024)

“Rubio: ‘Foreign aid’ bill provides over $3.5B to help bring migrants from the Middle East to US” (Business & Politics, 4/24/2024)

Keep up with Senator Rubio on Facebook , Twitter ,and Instagram.