1. If a student defaults on their federal loan, the institution where they took classes should be responsible for a portion of that default.
2. Apply the same rules to not-for-profit institutions as we do to for-profit institutions, so all institutions would be held to the same standards when it comes to preparing students for jobs, and ultimately be held accountable for their performance.
3. If a college or university raises tuition or fees, they will be automatically cut off from ALL federal funding, including federally-guaranteed loan programs.
4. Allow Pell Grants to be eligible for use at technical colleges. Current law arbitrarily limits Pell Grants. If a student has a Pell Grant, they should get to use it to get the job they want.
5. Remove onerous Obama-era regulations that hinder private lenders from giving loans.

Senator Scott also introduced the Hurricane Dorian Charitable Giving Act this week, which will change the U.S. tax code to incentivize charitable giving to organizations supporting Hurricane Dorian relief and recovery. He also co-sponsored the Florida Shores Protection Act to help protect Florida’s coasts from off-shore drilling.

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

Senator Rick Scott released the following statement commending Florida’s public universities after the release of the 2020 Best Colleges rankings by U.S. News & World Report. Out of the Top Public Schools, the University of Florida is ranked #7, Florida State University is #18 and the University of South Florida is #44.

Senator Rick Scott said, “For three years in a row, U.S. News & World Report has rated Florida’s higher education system as the best in the nation, and I want to thank our universities and our students for continuing this success. Florida has experienced a 9.5 percent increase in its college graduation rate over the last five years, and our public universities, especially University of Florida, Florida State University and the University of South Florida, continue to score impressive ratings every year. We worked hard in Florida to provide our students with a world-class education that leads to a good-paying job at a price they can afford, and today’s rankings show Florida continues to be a leader in higher education. I look forward to working in the Senate to share Florida’s success with the nation and to make education more affordable for all families.” Read more HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott: Current Visa Situation in the Bahamas Must be Clarified

Following confusion in the Bahamas regarding current visa rules, Senator Rick Scott released the following statement.

Senator Rick Scott said, “It’s important Customs and Border Protection and the Bahamian government work together to clarify the current rules regarding visas in the Bahamas. As hundreds of thousands of Bahamians seek refuge or start to rebuild after Hurricane Dorian, we cannot have the kind of confusion that occurred in Freeport. Senator Rubio and I continue to urge President Trump to waive some visa requirements for those in the Bahamas that have family in the United States. But until that happens, there needs to be clarity on the current rules.”

“I also encourage Customs and Border Protection to work with the Bahamian government to set up a temporary site at their ports of entry. Professionals should be on site to help the many Bahamians trying to leave destruction.” Read more HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott Statement on CBP Commissioner Morgan Announcement Regarding Bahamian Refugees

Senator Rick Scott released the below statement following Customs and Border Protection Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan’s announcement that Bahamian refugees fleeing the devastation of Hurricane Dorian can temporarily stay in the United States.

Senator Rick Scott said, “I’m glad Commissioner Morgan has agreed to allow Bahamians fleeing the destruction on the islands to temporarily come to the United States. We should all be there to support our friends from the Bahamas. I would urge everyone at the state and local level of government to join us in supporting those fleeing the Bahamas. If the American Red Cross asks any county in Florida for temporary assistance housing refugees, I hope they will accommodate. We all have a responsibility to help our neighbors…” Read more HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott Applauds DHS for Bahamian Visa Clarification

Senator Rick Scott released the below statement after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released clarification regarding visa requirements for Bahamian citizens traveling to the United States. This announcement follows Senator Scott’s call for Customs and Border Protection and the Bahamian government to work together to clarify the current rules regarding visas in the Bahamas.

Senator Rick Scott said, “I applaud DHS for responding to our request and clarifying visa requirements for Bahamians fleeing the destruction on the islands to temporarily come to the United States. We should all be supporting our friends from the Bahamas, and we want to make sure there is no confusion. I look forwarding to further discussions about my proposals to help the people of the Bahamas.” Read more HERE.

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Congressman Spano Joins Senator Scott to End Surprise Medical Billing 

Congressman Ross Spano announced his sponsorship of the House companion bill to Senator Scott’s Protecting Patients from Surprise Medical Bills Act.

Senator Rick Scott said, “One way we can lower the cost of healthcare for American families is to force hospitals to be more transparent in their medical billing. There is no reason patients should be surprised by unconscionable charges for simple procedures and every patient should know what the price will be up front. I fought for and signed similar legislation as Governor of Florida, and this common sense idea will help all American families.” Read more from Congressman Spano’s office HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott: Time for Administration to Sanction Turkey for Dealings with Russia

As the Administration considers imposing sanctions related to Turkey’s purchase of the Russian-made S-400 air defense missile system, Senator Rick Scott released the following statement.

Senator Rick Scott said, “I’ve been greatly concerned about Turkey siding with Russia over NATO, culminating in their purchase of the Russian-made S-400 air defense missile system. As I have previously stated, it is time for the Administration to declare this sale a significant transaction under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), and fully implement the sanctions required under CAATSA. NATO exists to safeguard freedom and democracy – in particular because of the threats from Russia – and Turkey’s actions actively undermine these goals.” Read more HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott: Update on Bahamas Recovery Efforts

Senator Scott is committed to doing everything he can on the federal level to help families in the Bahamas recover and rebuild, and has released four proposals to help families on the islands. On Tuesday, Senator Scott spoke to UN Secretary General António Guterres to get an update about the UN’s relief efforts in the Bahamas following his letter urging their support. Last week, Senator Scott also joined Senator Rubio in urging President Donald Trump to waive or suspend certain visa requirements for Bahamian citizens with relatives residing in the United States. Read more updates on efforts to help families and businesses in the Bahamas impacted by Hurricane Dorian HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott: Under No Circumstance Should Nicolas Maduro be Issued a Visa to Come to the U.S.

Senator Rick Scott issued the following statement on the current situation in Venezuela and requested information from the Department of Defense about the flow of oil between Venezuela and Cuba.

Senator Rick Scott said, “Nicolas Maduro is not the legitimate leader of Venezuela. He is a thug and a dictator who is perpetrating a genocide on his people. Under no circumstance should he be issued a visa to enter the United States. The United Nations General Assembly should not be an excuse to allow Nicolas Maduro to cover up his crimes and promote his propaganda. We should also be very careful about what Cuban officials we allow to enter the United States.”

“I’m also very concerned with the continued flow of oil between Venezuela and Cuba. I’ve requested information from the State Department and the Defense Department about how much oil continues to flow between the two countries and what schemes are being used to circumvent U.S. and international sanctions.” Read more HERE.

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Senador Rick Scott: Bajo ninguna circunstancia se le debe emitir una visa a Nicolás Maduro para venir a los EE. UU.

El senador Rick Scott hizo la siguiente declaración sobre la actual situación en Venezuela y le solicitó información al Departamento de Defensa sobre el flujo de petróleo entre Venezuela y Cuba.

El senador Rick Scott dijo: “Nicolás Maduro no es el líder legítimo de Venezuela. Es un matón y un dictador que está perpetrando un genocidio contra su pueblo. Bajo ninguna circunstancia se le debe emitir una visa para entrar a los Estados Unidos. La Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas no debería ser excusa para permitir que Nicolás Maduro encubra sus crímenes y promueva su propaganda. También debemos tener mucho cuidado con los funcionarios cubanos que permitimos que entren a los Estados Unidos. 

“También estoy muy preocupado por el flujo continuo de petróleo entre Venezuela y Cuba. He solicitado información al Departamento de Estado y al Departamento de Defensa sobre la cantidad de petróleo que continúa fluyendo entre los dos países y qué esquemas están utilizando para evadir las sanciones estadounidenses e internacionales”. Lea más AQUÍ.

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Sen. Rick Scott Sends Letter to FAA Administrator Following Security Concern at MIA

Senator Rick Scott sent a letter to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Steve Dickson following the arrest of an airline employee accused of attempting to sabotage a flight departing from Miami International Airport to the Bahamas. In the letter, Senator Scott requests that the FAA provide information on the certification and oversight of commercial airline mechanics. Read more, including the full letter, HERE.

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Senators Rick Scott, Marco Rubio, Lindsey Graham and Johnny Isakson Introduce the Hurricane Dorian Charitable Giving Act

Senators Rick Scott, Marco Rubio, Lindsey Graham and Johnny Isakson introduced the Hurricane Dorian Charitable Giving Act, which will change the U.S. tax code to incentivize charitable giving to organizations supporting Hurricane Dorian relief and recovery. Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart will be introducing the bill in the House.

Senator Rick Scott said, “What happened to the Bahamas in the wake of Hurricane Dorian is absolutely devastating. Our friends in the Bahamas have a long road to recovery, and I am working to make sure they have the support they need. Additionally, many of our friends in the Carolinas are also working on rebuilding their homes and businesses. One thing we can do to help today is get rid of any restriction on the amount an individual or business can give towards recovery efforts. I’m proud to work with Senators Rubio, Graham, and Isakson, and Congressman Diaz-Balart, on this common-sense proposal.” Read more HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott Applauds Committee Passage of $200 Million for Florida Everglades Restoration

Senator Rick Scott applauded the Senate Appropriations Committee’s passage of the Energy and Water spending bill, which includes $200 million in construction funding for the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration (SFER). In May, Senator Scott joined Senator Marco Rubio and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in a letter urging President Trump to include this vital funding in his budget requests to Congress.

Senator Rick Scott said, “I was the first Governor to put state funding towards fixing the federal dike at Lake Okeechobee and I’ve consistently fought for federal funding for projects to help restore and protect Florida’s Everglades, including this $200 million SFER project. I’d like to thank Senator Marco Rubio and his colleagues on the Senate Appropriations Committee for their commitment to protecting Florida’s natural treasures for generations to come. I hope the full Senate will join in support of this vital project to protect the Everglades and pass this funding quickly.” Read more HERE.

On Thursday, Senator Scott urged Attorney General Barr to seek answers from the FBI on what steps the agency has taken to address critical deficiencies in its handling of actionable intelligence on the perpetrators of acts of mass violence in Florida, including the tragic shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and Pulse Nightclub. This follows the FBI’s inadequate response to the Senator’s continued requests for this information.

Also this week, following a request from Senator Scott and Senator Marco Rubio, President Trump issued a Presidential determination certifying Colombia’s commitment to working with the U.S. to combat illegal drug trafficking. Senator Scott also applauded the Trump Administration’s strong stand against Nicolas Maduro’s genocide in Venezuela by imposing a total economic embargo against the government of Venezuela.

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

Senator Rick Scott and Senator Marco Rubio sent a letter to President Trump urging him to certify Colombia’s commitment to working with the United States to combat illegal drug trafficking. This follows Senator Scott’s trip to Colombia in April, where he met with President Duque and other leaders to discuss the issue of narco-trafficking and the shared goal of freedom and democracy in Venezuela. Read more in Senator Scott’s op-ed HERE. See more on the letter from Senator Rubio’s office HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott on Venezuela Embargo: U.S. Will Not Tolerate Genocide

Senator Rick Scott released the following statement after President Trump signed an executive order imposing a total economic embargo against the government of Venezuela.

Senator Rick Scott said, “I’m proud the United States is taking a strong stand against Nicolas Maduro’s genocide. I’ve been calling for the Administration to use every option available – including an embargo – to end Maduro’s brutal regime, and I applaud the President and national security adviser John Bolton for taking action. Now the countries that continue to prop up Maduro, including Cuba, Russia and China, will face economic consequences for their support. This is an important day in the fight for freedom for the people of Venezuela and signals to Maduro and his supporters in Cuba, Russia and China that the United States will not tolerate genocide.”  Read more HERE.

Senators Rick Scott and James Lankford Introduce Bill to Protect Victims of Natural Disasters

Senators Rick Scott and James Lankford announced their introduction of the Disaster Contract Transparency Act to improve the disaster contracting process on the federal, local and state levels of government following natural disasters. 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. Last year, the Government Accountability Office reported that, as of May 31, 2018, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) executed $4.5 billion in advance contract obligations – about 56 percent of the total obligations made by these agencies for response and recovery efforts – for three hurricanes and California wildfires in 2017.

Senator Rick Scott said, “In Florida, we experienced firsthand the devastation and destruction massive storms have on families, communities and businesses across our state. During my time as Governor, we were faced with many hurricanes, and I always appreciated the assistance FEMA provided to Florida families and businesses. However, despite the good work done by our federal partners, one thing was clear: the federal contracting process is full of waste, inefficiencies, and bloated spending that didn’t always directly help the people in Florida who were impacted. When I ran for Senate, I promised to fight waste and make Washington work – and this landmark legislation will make sure the federal response to storms gets rid of the inefficient and costly bureaucracies in response efforts and keeps it focused on helping the victims and communities impacted.” Read more HERE.

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As Maduro Regime’s Repression Worsens, Senators E.U. to Strengthen Sanctions to Match Those Imposed by the U.S. and Canada

Senator Rick Scott joined Senator Jim Risch, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and colleagues in a letter to European Union leadership. In the letter, the senators urge the E.U. to stand strong against Maduro’s oppressive regime in Venezuela by aligning its sanctions with those of the U.S. and Canada.

On July 5th, Senator Scott spoke at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe to urge the European Union and all member nations to do more to support the fight for freedom and democracy in Venezuela. And just last month, Senator Scott wrote an op-ed for Fox News saying that “Europe needs to stand for freedom in Venezuela.” Read more, including the full letter, from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott to AG Barr: I’m Still Waiting on Information and Accountability on FBI Failures

Senator Rick Scott sent a letter to Attorney General William Barr urging him to seek answers from Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray. Senator Scott has been seeking information on what steps the FBI has taken to address critical deficiencies in its handling of actionable intelligence on the perpetrators of acts of mass violence in Florida, including the tragic shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and Pulse Nightclub. This letter follows an inadequate response from the FBI to Senator Scott’s continued requests for this information. Read more, including the full letter, HERE.

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Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio Applaud Certification of Colombia in Fight Against Drug Trafficking

Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio applauded President Trump’s Presidential determination certifying Colombia’s commitment to working with the United States to combat illegal drug trafficking. This announcement follows the Senators’ letter to the President urging him to certify the United States’ joint efforts with Colombia.

Senators Scott and Rubio said, “President Trump’s certification of Colombia’s commitment to combat the illegal drug trade reiterates the joint effort between our nations in the fight against narco-trafficking in the Western Hemisphere. We welcome this certification as a step for both of our countries to continue working together to counter the threat of Maduro’s narco-terrorist tyranny in Venezuela.”  Read more HERE.

Senator Rick Scott wrote an op-ed in the Orlando Sentinel on Puerto Rico’s opportunity to turn its economy around and prosper under new leadership.

In the op-ed, Senator Rick Scott wrote, “Over the past few decades, we’ve seen many Puerto Rican families move to Florida for the chance at a more prosperous future — but they deserve that future on the island.

Just like Florida families, Puerto Rican families want great jobs, they want their kids to get a world-class education and they want to live in safe neighborhoods. 

Puerto Rico has an opportunity to usher in a new wave of leadership that will focus on turning around the island’s economy and investing in the island’s future.…

There are many opportunities for Puerto Rico to invest in its economy and its people. I’m certain that many hard-working people there have better ideas than I do about opportunities for economic growth. But they need strong, responsible leadership to have a chance to see the future the people deserve.

As the new U.S. Senator from Florida, I am committed to fighting for Puerto Rico in Congress and making sure families on the island have their shot at living the American Dream. I vowed to be Puerto Rico’s voice in the U.S. Senate, and that will never change.”

Read the full op-ed in the Orlando Sentinel HERE.

Sen. Rick Scott on TV Venezuela: U.S. Should Use Naval Assets to Block Oil Between Venezuela and Cuba

Senator Scott joined TV Venezuela last week to discuss his ongoing call for the United States to use naval assets to block the flow of oil from Venezuela to Cuba. Cutting off the supply of oil to the Castro Regime would be the most effective action the United States can take to end the brutal regime of Nicolas Maduro.

In the clip, Senator Rick Scott said, “I spoke to President Trump about a week and a half ago at the White House about cutting the flow of oil [to Cuba]… We need to understand that Cuba is key to the problems in Venezuela. The thugs in Cuba have shown they are violent and dangerous.” See more in the clip HERE.