Democrats Block Sen. Rick Scott’s Bill Stopping Purchase of Chinese-Made COVID Tests with Taxpayer Dollars

Senator Rick Scott asked for unanimous consent on the Senate floor to pass his No Taxpayer Dollars for Communist Chinese COVID Tests Act, a bill that would prohibit the use of federal funds to purchase at-home tests for COVID-19 that are imported from, or manufactured in, Communist China. Senator Scott and Senator Roger Marshall introduced this bill following the Biden administration’s purchase of $1.28 billion worth of COVID-19 at-home tests from iHealth Labs Inc., a unit of Andon Health Co., a medical device manufacturer headquartered in Communist China. Senate Democrats blocked its passage.

Senator Rick Scott said, “It is imperative that the federal government do everything in its power to complete our public health mission in a cost-effective manner that prioritizes support for domestic manufacturing. Unfortunately, instead of supporting American manufacturing, the Biden administration is handing nearly $1.3 billion of taxpayer funds to a company in Communist China. The Biden administration’s willingness to fund the Communist Chinese economy, instead of the American economy, is a disgrace. And Senate Democrats’ decision to block my bill to support American jobs so that they can cover for the president’s failure is a dereliction of duty and a shameful choice to again appease Communist China.” See more HERE or in the video below.

Sens. Rick Scott and Tillis Lead Letter to DHS Demanding Answers on Illegal Immigrants Using ICE Arrest Warrants to Board Airplanes

Senator Rick Scott joined Senator Thom Tillis and colleagues in sending a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas regarding the alarming news that illegal immigrants are being permitted to use Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrest warrants as an acceptable form of identification by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to board airplanes. Read more from Sen. Tillis’ office HERE. 

Sens. Rick Scott and Gary Peters Bipartisan Bill to Mitigate Waste, Fraud and Abuse Following Natural Disasters Advances in Senate

The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) approved Senators Rick Scott and Gary Peters’ bipartisan Disaster Contract Improvement Act to improve the disaster contracting process on the federal, local and state levels of government following natural disasters and mitigate waste, fraud and abuse. The bill will protect victims of natural disasters by ensuring post-disaster services are delivered quickly and taxpayer dollars are spent solely on helping impacted communities. The Disaster Contract Improvement Act now heads to the full Senate for consideration. Senator Jacky Rosen joined as a cosponsor of the bill.

Senator Rick Scott said, “Florida, unfortunately, is no stranger to natural disasters. Every year, hurricanes impact families and businesses across the state. But Florida is resilient because of the intense preparation that goes into our disaster readiness planning. But, even when we prepare, all too often we have seen waste, fraud and abuse following storms. It hurts our families, local governments, and the American taxpayer. My bill, the Disaster Contracting Improvement Act, will help stop this waste and make sure that every dollar is spent with care, preserving resources for future disaster response efforts. I want to thank Chairman Peters and my HSGAC colleagues for coming together to advance this good, bipartisan bill. The Disaster Contracting Improvement Act is a win for American taxpayers and I look forward to it passing the full Senate soon.” Read more HERE.

Sen. Rick Scott to Sec. Blinken: Pan American Health Organization Must be Held Accountable for Human Trafficking

Senator Rick Scott sent the following letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken again urging him and President Joe Biden to lift the legal immunity of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). PAHO has worked with the illegitimate communist Cuban regime to traffic Cuban doctors around the world. Senator Scott strongly believes that these doctors deserve the chance to pursue justice in the courts and hold their traffickers, and those who aided in their trafficking, responsible for their abuses. In the letter, Senator Scott makes clear that he will refuse to consent to expedited floor consideration of all relevant State Department nominees until substantial steps toward fulfilling this request are made. Read more HERE.

El Senador Rick Scott al Sec. Blinken: La Organización Panamericana de la Salud debe rendir cuentas por la trata de personas

El Senador Rick Scott envió una carta al Secretario de Estado Antony Blinken instándolo nuevamente a él y al Presidente Joe Biden a levantar la inmunidad legal de la Organización Panamericana de la Salud (OPS). La OPS ha trabajado con el ilegítimo régimen comunista cubano para traficar médicos cubanos alrededor del mundo. El Senador Scott cree firmemente que estos médicos merecen la oportunidad de buscar justicia en los tribunales y responsabilizar a los traficantes por estas violaciones. En la carta, el Senador Scott deja en claro que se negará a dar su consentimiento para la consideración expedita de todos los nominados relevantes del Departamento de Estado hasta que se tomen medidas sustanciales para cumplir con esta solicitud. Lea más AQUÍ.

Sen. Rick Scott Leads Colleagues in Introducing Bill to Prevent Weaponization of OSHA

Senator Rick Scott led Senators Joni Ernst, Marco Rubio, Rand Paul, Cynthia Lummis, John Barrasso and Dan Sullivan in introducing the OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard Clarification Act. Following the Supreme Court’s recent decision to strike down President Joe Biden’s overreaching and unconstitutional vaccine mandate on private businesses, this legislation prevents further unlawful, sweeping mandates by clarifying the true authority of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)’s emergency temporary standards. 

Senator Rick Scott said, “Hardworking Americans and job creators across the country watched in disgust last year as the Biden administration attempted to misuse a federal agency to impose an unconstitutional vaccine mandate on private businesses. While we are thankful that the Supreme Court confirmed what my colleagues and I have been saying for months – that Joe Biden has no authority to tell Americans how to live their life and what health care decisions they must make – further action is clearly needed to make sure this never happens again. Today, I’m proud to lead my colleagues to introduce legislation that clarifies OSHA’s authority and prevents Joe Biden from using this agency as a political weapon. American jobs are on the line and we must do everything possible to protect our families and their ability to make a living.” Read more HERE.

Sens. Rick Scott, Gary Peters Applaud Committee Passage of Bipartisan Bill Ensuring Federal Property and Assets Are Disaster Resilient, Saving Taxpayers Dollars

Senators Rick Scott and Gary Peters applauded the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee’s passage of their bipartisan Disaster Resiliency Planning Act, which would require federal agencies to account for disaster resilience when making investments in and managing federal property and assets.

Senator Rick Scott said, “Florida is resilient because we prepare. We invested in pre-disaster mitigation and saw big returns for Florida families and our communities after each storm. Preparedness saves lives and dollars. I want to thank my colleagues on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee for coming together to pass this bipartisan and commonsense approach to disaster resiliency. The Disaster Resiliency Planning Act will ensure core federal assets and federal property, like hospitals and critical infrastructure, are safer when disaster strike so families across the U.S. can stay safe. I look forward to this important bill’s full passage when it is brought to the Senate floor.” Read more from the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee HERE.

Sen. Rick Scott and Rep. Stefanik Lead Legislation to Counter Chinese Drones

Senators Rick Scott, Marco Rubio and Tom Cotton introduced the Countering CCP Drones Act to add Communist Chinese drone company Da-Jiang Innovations (DJI) to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Covered List which identifies telecommunication equipment that poses an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States. All companies in Communist China are required to comply with government orders to conduct and assist in espionage activities, which poses a clear threat to America’s national security. Earlier this week, the Washington Post confirmed that the Communist Chinese government is an investor in DJI, which supplies 50% of drones sold in the U.S., directly contradicting DJI’s prior public statements. Congresswoman Elise Stefanik introduced the companion legislation in the House of Representatives this week.

Senator Rick Scott said, “Communist China funds technology, like drones made by DJI, to spy on Americans and steal their data. The United States Government should under no circumstance purchase drones made in Communist China and put our national security at risk and that’s why my colleagues and I introduced the American Security Drone Act. The Countering CCP Drones Act is the next step to ensure that federal funds from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) cannot be used to obtain communications equipment and services produced or provided by DJI. I’m proud to introduce this important bill in the Senate and urge my colleagues to join me in support.” Read more HERE.

Sen. Rick Scott Introduces Legislation to Strip International Olympics Committee of Tax-Exempt Status

As the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing begin, Senator Rick Scott joined Congressman Michael Waltz in introducing the bicameral and bipartisan Irresponsible Olympic Collaboration (IOC) Act in the U.S. Senate. This bill, which Congressman Waltz introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this month, would strip the International Olympics Committee (IOC) of its 501(c)(4) tax-exempt status. The legislation would not affect the Paralympic Committee’s tax-exempt status.

Since 1992, the IOC has been recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(4) tax-exempt organization. However, in recent years, the IOC has given billions to authoritarian regimes, including $880 million to Communist China for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games and $1.25 billion for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. The IOC has provided these funds despite international outcries regarding human rights abuses and atrocities committed by the Chinese Communist Party.

Senator Rick Scott said, “The IOC must answer for its complete failure to address or even acknowledge the horrific human rights abuses and genocide occurring at the hands of the Chinese Communist Party. In helping Communist China whitewash its crimes and abuses, the IOC has lost all credibility and forfeited its ability to operate as a tax-exempt entity. In the United States, we unapologetically stand for human rights and democracy, and Congress must make clear that our taxpayers will never be asked to subsidize the operations of an organization that so shamelessly profits from business with such an evil regime.” Read more HERE.

Sen. Rick Scott and Sen. Mark Warner Introduce Resolution Condemning Communist China’s Silencing of Peng Shuai

As the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing begin, Senator Rick Scott and Senator Mark Warner led their colleagues to introduce a bipartisan resolution calling on the Chinese Communist Party to guarantee the safety and freedom of tennis star Peng Shuai, and rebuking the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for its failure to clearly and forcefully challenge the Chinese Communist Party’s claims about Peng’s safety. The resolution was cosponsored by Senators Shelly Moore Capito, Sherrod Brown, John Hoeven, Ron Wyden, Ted Cruz, Jeff Merkley, Mike Braun, Chris Van Hollen, Marsha Blackburn, Bob Casey, Tom Cotton, Raphael Warnock, Ron Johnson and Jeanne Shaheen

A companion resolution led by Congressman Michael Waltz and Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton was unanimously passed the U.S. House of Representatives in December 2021.

Senator Rick Scott said, “The recent disappearance of Peng Shuai has shocked the world and exposed the disturbing lack of basic rights and human decency experienced by the Chinese people at the hand of General Secretary Xi’s ruthless communist regime. No one, especially the IOC, should ignore what happened to Ms. Shuai or attempt to move past this horrifying incident simply to avoid confrontation with Communist China. This bipartisan resolution, which has already unanimously passed the House, makes clear that the United States will not tolerate these kind of gross abuses and continues to stand for freedom for all people. I’m thankful for all of my colleagues’ support on this resolution, and I look forward to its quick passage in the Senate.” Read more HERE.

Sen. Rick Scott & Rep. Daniel Webster Request Information on Biden’s Cataloging of Federal Employees’ Religious Beliefs

Senator Rick Scott and Congressman Daniel Webster led 40 of their colleagues in a bicameral letter to the Comptroller General of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) after the District of Columbia’s Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) published a notice of its intent to create a database known as the “Employee Religious Exception Request Information System.” The letter requests that GAO determine whether the notice constitutes a rule for purposes of the Congressional Review Act, which Congress can invoke to overturn an agency’s action.

The letter was signed by Senators Thom Tillis, Mike Braun, Roger Marshall, Jim Inhofe, Marco Rubio and James Lankford, along with Representatives Bill Posey, Scott Perry, Jeff Duncan, Randy Weber, Doug Lamborn, Ronny L. Jackson, Bob Good, Andy Biggs, Doug LaMalfa, Brian Mast, Glenn Grothman, Jody Hice, Gus Bilirakis, Louie Gohmert, Eric A. “Rick” Crawford, Mary E. Miller, Lauren Boebert, Tom Tiffany, Warren Davidson, Robert B. Aderholt, Ralph Norman, Dr. John Joyce, Brian Babin, D.D.S., Mo Brooks, Ben Cline, Jim Jordan, Jason Smith, Michael Waltz, Kat Cammack, Lisa McClain, Dan Bishop, Vicky Hartzler, Tom McClintock and Byron Donalds.

This records system is a central database, maintained by the Office of Management and Budget, that tracks the names, religious affiliation, religious beliefs, personally identifying information and other data of federal employees who have requested religious exemptions to the Biden Administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate on federal employees. More than 20 federal agencies, including the Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security and Department of Transportation, have issued similar notices to maintain databases tracking employees’ religious beliefs, and these lists will be shared between federal agencies. Read more HERE.

Sen. Rick Scott: America is $30,000,000,000,000 in Debt

Senator Rick Scott issued the following statement following the U.S. Treasury’s announcement that the United States’ gross national debt has surpassed $30 TRILLION, which equates to $239,800 per U.S. taxpayer.

Senator Rick Scott said, “Today is a sad day for the United States of America. For years, I have been warning about the devastating consequences of our rapidly rising federal debt, but its fallen on deaf ears in Washington. We should be clear – the situation we find ourselves in is not the fault of one party, it’s a total failure of the federal government to take care of the precious taxpayer resources provided by the American people. But, in the face of this looming threat, Democrats have chosen not to reverse course, but throw even more gasoline on the fire and rush to spend trillions more without any accountability to the taxpayer. It is our responsibility to put structural reforms in place, like the multiple pieces of legislation I have introduced over the last three years, to get our country back on the path to economic prosperity and leave the Biden and the Democrats’ reckless tax-and-spend agenda behind. In Florida, we have proven that the path to economic strength and stability is paved by cutting taxes, cutting burdensome regulations and mandates and making sure families have every opportunity to thrive in safe neighborhoods. It’s time for Joe Biden to follow our lead and put our country back on the right track. He owes nothing less to America’s future generations.” Read more HERE.

Sen. Rick Scott Issues Weekly Update on Biden’s Inflation Crisis

Senator Rick Scott released a weekly update on his actions to address America’s debt crisis and rising inflation. Since being elected to the U.S. Senate, Senator Scott has urged government accountability to the American taxpayer. Read more HERE.

The Hill: GOP Senator Calls Out The Olympics For Whitewashing China’s Human Rights Abuses

Newsweek: Senator Rick Scott, Other Elected Leaders Denounce Antisemitic Rallies Held in Florida

The Daily Caller: EXCLUSIVE: CNN Responds To GOP Senators Over CNN Turk Conditions

Forbes: Rick Scott Urges NBC To ‘Talk About The Atrocities’ Committed By China During Olympics

Newsmax: Sen. Rick Scott Blasts Biden on Secret Flights for Migrants

Gray TV: Bill to stop importing at-home COVID tests made in China blocked in Senate

Palm Beach Daily News: Sen. Scott participates in antisemitism events at Palm Beach Synagogue

WFLA: ‘Disgusting’: Rick Scott, other officials condemn anti-Semitic rallies in Central Florida

Cox Media: Group of Senators push for closed briefing on Afghanistan troop withdrawal to be open to public

Florida Daily: Rick Scott: More than 2 Million Illegal Immigrants Entered U.S. in 2021 and Biden is Doing Nothing

Monitoreamos: Rick Scott: “Hay que recuperar la libertad y la democracia en Venezuela”

Voz de America: SOT Rick Scott sobre negociación con Ortega

Voz de America: SOT Rick Scott- informe Telemundo