Rick Scott

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Madam President, I yield the floor.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Madam President, as our Nation continues to battle against COVID-19, we know that the best way forward for defeating this virus is making sure Americans have adequate prevention and treatment options against this terrible illness. While I understand that we are still learning about COVID-19 every day, I share the frustrations of public health leaders and the American people at the Federal Government's lack of proactive leadership in fighting this virus. Even with a vaccine developed under the previous administration, President Biden has not been able to slow COVID-19's spread. The Federal Government's most important role during a public health crisis is to provide accurate information to the American people. Unfortunately, over the past year, there has been mixed messaging, cruel and unfair finger-pointing, baseless censorship, and a striking lack of effort put into comprehensive public health education efforts. You should be able to get a test, period, but many Americans have been frustrated at the lack of at-home tests as the virus has continued to spread under President Biden. However, as we seek to ensure the health and well-being of American families, we must do so while using taxpayer dollars responsibly. It is imperative that the Federal Government do everything in its power to complete our public health mission in a manner that prioritizes support for domestic manufacturing. That is why, as soon as I learned about the administration's intent to purchase 500 million at- home COVID-19 rapid tests for the public earlier this year, I wrote to the HHS Secretary and urged him to prioritize the purchase of American- made COVID tests and prohibit the purchase of tests made in communist China. We know that at least two FDA-authorized at-home COVID-19 antigen tests are manufactured in communist China and imported into the United States. The last thing the American tax dollars should go towards is funding a country that is guilty of starting the pandemic, covering up and lying about the origins of COVID-19, committing genocide again millions of Uighurs, destroying democracy in Hong Kong, persecuting Tibetans, harassing and threatening Taiwan, stealing American technology and research, and engaging in illegal and unfair trade practices. Giving communist China taxpayer money would be a complete abuse of the public trust. Sadly, although unsurprisingly, that is exactly what the Biden administration has done in its decision to funnel $1.28 billion to Andon Health, a Chinese company. That is right--instead of supporting American manufacturing and exclusively ordering American- made tests, the Biden administration is handing nearly $1.3 billion of taxpayer funds to a company in communist China. This isn't a secret; it was widely reported by Reuters last month. I am sure we all remember Biden's promise to ``Buy American.'' It is a commitment I and many of my colleagues in the Senate applauded. But, like so many promises made by this President, it has been broken. That is why I introduced the No Taxpayer Dollars for Communist China COVID Tests Act--a bill to right the wrongs of the Biden administration and prohibit buying or importing COVID-19 tests made in communist China with U.S. tax dollars. I would like to thank Senator Roger Marshall for cosponsoring this bill. We need this legislation because President Biden has announced that the government will be purchasing 500 million more at-home tests, and just last week, the Department of Defense announced it was buying more than 100 million tests from Andon Health to achieve Biden's goal. That is more money for communist China's economy and less investment in our own economy. The Federal Government has a responsibility to support American manufacturers, especially as our economy recovers from COVID-19. We cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that it was the Chinese Communist Party that lied about this deadly virus, tried to hide it, and has continuously covered up the origins of COVID-19. We know that every dollar spent on COVID-19 tests manufactured in communist China goes directly to supporting General Secretary Xi and his genocidal regime. People in this town think taxpayer money is free money to use as they want. They forget that for every dollar collected, there is a hard- working American who earned that money by the sweat of their brow. We have a duty and obligation to ensure that we spend that money wisely. Thankfully, we won't lose anything or experience shortages by not giving these contracts to Chinese companies. It means HHS will have to work harder to get good, responsible contracts. But the Biden administration's willingness to fund the communist Chinese economy instead of the American economy is an absolute disgrace. It is another example of Joe Biden's willingness to appease dictators and forsake democracy, freedom, and human rights. So, with many of these tests already repurchased and the Biden administration planning to spend billions more taxpayers dollars, it is important that Congress act on this immediately, which is why I will be asking to pass this good and commonsense bill today. As if in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 3565, which is at the desk; further, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. First off, if my colleague actually wanted to help American families, he would do whatever he could to get American families jobs. I can't understand why my colleague would object to this bill. When did the Democrats decide that they no longer care about the oversight authority of Congress? My colleague never said that HHS couldn't find American manufacturers for these tests. He didn't go back and check to see if they did. It seems like every one of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle is just another member of the Biden administration focused on covering up for Joe Biden and his appeasement of General Secretary Xi. I am actually trying to support American jobs and American families so they can support themselves. I want to support American manufacturers and the American supply chain. The Biden administration is actively choosing to support the communist Chinese regime and their economy instead. This is what he was elected to do, and this is the last thing American families want to see their tax dollars go for. As stewards of taxpayer dollars, it is our duty to make sure we are doing everything we can to support the American economy, not the communist Chinese economy, especially following the pandemic and during this time of record-high inflation. So I think objecting to this bill is a choice just to appease communist China, and it is dearly disappointing that we couldn't pass this good, commonsense bill today.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Reserving the right to object, look, I get it. I understand why my colleague is anxious. He has got to distract from the bill I came here to pass today. Democrats have shown again and again that they will do anything to cover up for Joe Biden and his weak appeasement of communist China. From the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, my focus has been on providing targeted help to families who truly need it. That is where my focus remains. My colleague is well aware that this program that he is talking about is actively being debated, and there are concerns on both sides of the aisle. Just one of the many issues being discussed in the program is the program's lack of work requirements and insufficient means testing. It would be irresponsible to cut those discussions short and pass a measure that does not have the unanimous support of the Senate tonight. Therefore, I object.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Madam President, like many of my colleagues, I often speak about my family here on the Senate floor. As most of my colleagues know, I grew up poor and spent years of my childhood living in public housing. I never knew my biological dad, and my mom and my adopted father did the best they could for our family with the very little they had. I think that small part of my life is well known, but what may not be known to many people is that my parents were Democrats. Sadly, the Democratic Party my parents belonged to no longer exists. Today's Democratic Party would be totally unrecognizable to my parents, just as it is to millions of Americans all across our country right now. I am a proud Republican. It is no secret that I am trying to expand my party, but I still believe in the benefits of our centuries-old two- party system. It makes our Nation stronger; it pushes us to listen to both sides, work together, and leads to progress. That is why the filibuster is so important. As a rule, the filibuster embodies what is most essential to the survival of our Republic. It weakens the sometimes attractive nature of tribalism and bolsters the importance of and need for consensus when crafting policy. The filibuster protects our democratic process. That is why the Founders designed the Senate to operate this way, as a cooling saucer that could resist the temptation of political expediency that leads our country to wild swings in policy and position. I make this point not only to highlight the foolishness of doing away with this rule as my Democratic colleagues would like to do but to draw attention to the gravely concerning abandonment of democratic principles we see in today's Democratic Party. Madam President, I take no joy in saying this, but today's Democratic Party has become the new anti-democracy party. The terrifying examples of this are all around us: packing the Supreme Court, pushing a radical Federal takeover of State elections, ignoring our laws on border enforcement and criminal prosecution, and forcing unconstitutional vaccine mandates on American workers. None of these things give more power to the people we are elected to represent. What these dangerous ideas show is that today's Democrats don't believe that people are capable of getting it right. Democrats don't think their ideas can win enough elections to control a majority in the Senate. Senator Schumer said as much just last week. He said that if the Democrats don't pass their ``Corrupt Politicians Act,'' they will lose their majority. A party that once prided itself on being a voice for working Americans like my parents is now turning to authoritarian tactics to impose its will on government by force because it does not trust the decision voters will make. In trying to pack the Supreme Court, Democrats are saying they do not trust the decisions of the State legislatures--bodies comprised of the people's elected representatives. In pushing the Federal takeover of State elections, Democrats are showing that they know their ideas are too radical to win the approval of voters, so they need to leave the backdoor open for fraud and the dilution of votes to win elections and stay in power. That is why they want to give noncitizens--those here illegally and who may be dangerous criminals--the sacred right to vote. In pushing an unconstitutional vaccine mandate, Democrats are making clear that they don't trust the American people to make smart decisions for themselves and their families when it comes to their own health. In the eyes of today's Democrat leaders, disagreement is intolerable. There are no more opponents; only racists. They allow no room for compromise because all who disagree are evil, bigoted, and backward. When the ruling class strips the people of their voice, democracy dies. When the elites in Washington decide they know better than the families they are supposed to represent, our American experiment fails. Madam President, it is a sad day when I think about how unrecognizable today's Democratic Party would be to my parents, not because it has naturally evolved or modernized but because it has abandoned the principles it once fought so hard to protect. I am sure these words will upset many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. I hope they do, and I hope it drives them to refocus their party back where it belongs: on the needs of American families. I yield the floor.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Madam President, yesterday marked 6 months since July 11--a day when brave Cubans all across that island marched for democracy, cried out for freedom, and sent a clear message that the time was up for the illegitimate communist regime. From Havana to Santa Clara to Santiago de Cuba, the message of ``Patria y Vida!'' could be heard from the people. Cuban families and demonstrators stood against the revolution's motto of ``Patria o Muerte'' to once again declare that the revolution had failed. That failed revolution promised prosperity and equality for all, but the only equal thing about it was poverty, suffering, and oppression for all. We watched as families gathered outside the headquarters of the Cuban Communist Party to chant ``Cuba isn't yours!'' Their message was clear: It is time for a new day of freedom and democracy in Cuba. Instead of listening to the cries of their people, the communist Cuban regime lashed out with violence and the oppression it has used for more than 60 years to silence opposition to its reign. The regime and its thugs kidnapped innocent democracy activists and kept others trapped in their homes. Right now, hundreds of Cubans have been indefinitely detained or unjustly sentenced to prison simply for demanding basic human rights. Some of these protesters are facing prison sentences as long as 30 years. One of them is Jose Daniel Ferrer, the leader of the pro- democracy UNPACU group and a dedicated freedom and human rights activist. Since his detainment, I have had the chance to talk to his family several times. Each time we speak, the stories they tell me are more heartbreaking. Jose Daniel is being tortured by the communist regime in an attempt to end his life. He is suffering from severe headaches, mouth bleeding, malnutrition, cough, and insomnia--all products of the cruel torture and inhumane treatment from the regime. We can also think about Felix Navarro, another longtime freedom activist who helps lead a pro-democracy group on the island. He was arrested, not for demonstrating but for asking police about the status of some of the members of his group who had been detained. Reports indicate even young teenagers are being detained indefinitely. The unjust imprisonment, beatings, and torture of the Cuban people is abhorrent. It is inhumane, and it cannot be tolerated. It is clear that these actions stem from the regime's paralyzing fear over the freedom movement spreading across Cuba. They are terrified that there is a new day of freedom on the rise for the Cuban people, so they resort to total oppression and to the silencing of any mention of independence or freedom. As the greatest beacon of freedom and democracy in the world, the United States must stand against the communist regime and with the Cuban people. I am thankful that U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Brian Nichols recently called for the immediate release of the July 11 demonstrators. Along with his calls, we need the voices of President Biden and Secretary Blinken, and their calls need to be coupled with action that actually pressures the illegitimate communist Cuban regime now. It was only a couple of weeks ago when I called the White House to talk about the case of Jose Daniel Ferrer. The first time I called, they asked me to leave a message, so I did. When I called the next day, the White House hung up on me. Throughout his entire first year in office, Joe Biden has been shamefully silent about Cuba. Just like he does with communist China, Biden's strategy on Cuba is to do the bare minimum. Even while the protests were ongoing, he did nothing to alleviate the suffering of the Cuban people. Compare that to the Organization of American States. After I spoke with them a few weeks ago, Secretary General Luis Almagro issued a statement demanding the immediate release of all arbitrarily imprisoned political prisoners. He expressed special concern for the well-being of Jose Daniel Ferrer and urged the Cuban regime to allow a humanitarian mission that can immediately verify the state and situation of political prisoners in the country. Why can't Joe Biden make that same request? Where is the President? He has had 6 months to help provide internet to the Cuban people to help disseminate information and help the freedom movement, but he has done nothing. His silence is appeasement, and those of us who love freedom will not simply sit by idly while he refuses to act. As long as the illegitimate communist Cuban regime continues to deny the people their freedom, democracy, and basic human rights, I am going to fight alongside them and demand action. Today, the Senate can do something. Today, the U.S. Senate can pass a resolution honoring Cuban activists like Jose Daniel Ferrer, condemning the Cuban dictatorship's repression, and calling for the international community to stand with the Cuban people. I have introduced a resolution that does exactly that, and it is something that everyone in the Chamber should agree with. I am thankful for Senators Marco Rubio and Mike Braun for cosponsoring this resolution. I am also thankful for Mario Diaz-Balart, Congresswoman Salazar, and Congressman Gimenez for introducing the companion resolution in the House. We must make sure our message to the Cuban people is clear: America has not and will not forget you. We have seen your bravery and courage. We have heard your calls for freedom. You have risked everything for the freedom of Cubans across the island. You are an inspiration to us all. I ask unanimous consent to address the Senate in Spanish.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, I am glad to see this resolution pass. I want to thank my colleagues, Senators Marco Rubio and Mike Braun, for cosponsoring this resolution and Congressman Diaz-Balart, Congresswoman Salazar, and Congressman Gimenez for supporting this resolution in the House. In my roles as a U.S. Senator and the Governor of Florida, I have had the honor of meeting and speaking with countless Cubans who have risked their lives to flee Castro's brutal regime. Many of them came here with nothing, scarred by the oppression of the regime but hopeful for a new life. With what little they had, they started businesses and families and built thriving communities and are a major part of the economy of Florida. We have all seen their resolve to fight for freedom, support their families, and contribute to their communities. They are an example of the American dream and a testimony to the ills of communism and socialism. The Cuban people are a source of inspiration for all of us. They show us what can be accomplished when you have freedom and opportunity. That is why we continue to fight for the end of communism in Cuba and for the freedom and liberties of every Cuban family. It is why we should all join them and say ``Abajo la Dictadura!'' ``Patria, vida y Libertad!''

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Madam President, since the founding of our Republic, the Senate has existed to encourage extended debate and protect the rights of the minority party. Over the centuries, as various political parties have risen and fallen from power, the Senate's rules have been respected and followed. One of those rules is the legislative filibuster, which protects the minority party's rights by requiring a 60-vote threshold to pass legislation in the Senate. Unfortunately, many of today's Democrats in Washington only care about one thing: radically transforming this Nation into a new socialist state. And they will use any means necessary to keep their grip on the Federal Government. Now we are seeing Democrat leadership in the Congress wield their historically narrow majority to push one partisan bill after another without even attempting to get Republican input or support. Instead of working together with their Republican colleagues, they are searching for ways to make it easier to jam through progressive, socialist policies without any compromise. Just look at the majority leader's most recent statements on the filibuster. Last week, the majority leader wrote a letter to all Democrat Senators explaining his plans to fundamentally and permanently alter the rules of the U.S. Senate and change the legislative filibuster. His statements could not be more hypocritical or self-serving. The legislative filibuster, which has been in place for decades, has been repeatedly defended as a vital and necessary rule to protect the minority party's rights, including by Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and even Senator Schumer. In 2017, Senator Schumer urged then-Majority Leader McConnell to ``find a way to build a firewall around the legislative filibuster,'' which is the most important distinction between the Senate and the House. He went on to say: Without the 60-vote threshold for legislation, the Senate becomes a majoritarian institution like the House, much more subject to the winds of short-term electoral change. No Senator would like to see that happen, so let's find a way to further protect the 60-vote rule for legislation. These are the direct quotes from the Senator from New York. He called the filibuster the most important distinction between the Senate and the House, and now he is turning his back on them. Of course, my colleague from New York isn't the only one caught in a bind here by previous statements and actions. Just remember that, in 2018, the current Senate majority whip, Senator Dick Durbin, said doing away with the legislative filibuster ``would be the end of the Senate as it was originally devised and created going back to our Founding Fathers.'' He further admitted: ``We have to acknowledge our respect for the minority, and that is what the Senate tries to do in its composition and its procedure.'' Or remember in 2017, when 32 Democrats signed a bipartisan letter urging Senate leadership to keep the sacred part of the Senate intact. Most of those same Senators who defended minority party rights are still in office today, but only one has expressed any opposition to Senator Schumer's plans to destroy the filibuster, now that he is in the majority. And just last Congress, most of the Democrat caucus used a filibuster to block a police reform bill from my Republican colleague Tim Scott and a bill that would have protected newborn babies who survived attempted abortions. So my Democrat colleagues think the filibuster is great when it works in their favor, but they can't stand it when it blocks their radical socialist agenda, an agenda we know the American people do not support. So why the change of mind? Why are they willing to be so blatantly hypocritical and so obviously flip-flop? Because they know if they pull this off and pass this radical, dangerous bill to federalize elections, it will all but secure their power into the future. That is what we are talking about here. Democrats want to push through this bill that will completely upend our current election system, and they are willing to abandon their principles and flip-flop on the filibuster if it means permanently maintaining power. Senator Schumer admitted it earlier today on MSNBC. He said the quiet part out loud and explained that Democrat Senators are saying things like ``I'll lose my election'' or ``We'll lose our majority'' if they don't change the filibuster to pass their election takeover bill. Democrats say this is about ``voting rights.'' It isn't. The right to vote is more readily accessible and easily exercised by eligible voters across the country than ever before. This is really about federalizing our elections and enacting policies that they think will give them an advantage in future elections. And all along the way, they will revel in their hypocrisy and self-righteously pretend that they are ``protecting democracy.'' But make no mistake, a change to the filibuster won't protect democracy. It will ruin it. Democrats in this Chamber can posture all they want, but the American people see them for what they really are: self-serving, power-hungry politicians. We all know that if the Democrats' bill was good, if it included policies that would actually improve our Nation's elections, it would pass. But there is nothing in the bill worth voting for. The Democrats' bill is an assault on American elections. It will fuel voter fraud, waste taxpayer dollars on political campaigns and attack ads, and make it nearly impossible to conduct fair elections that our citizens can trust. We need an end to this self-serving hypocrisy, and we need Members who will stand up for what is right. I am urging my Democratic colleagues to see past their party's own partisan, short-term interests, and I ask them to consider the health and future of our democracy. That is what the American people deserve. I yield the floor.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Madam President, last month I was proud to see the Senate come together in a bipartisan effort and pass a Congressional Review Act measure to overturn President Biden's unconstitutional Federal vaccine mandate on private businesses. In that bipartisan vote, a majority of U.S. Senators sent a clear message that these job-killing mandates are wrong and have no place in our country's fight against COVID-19. Then, just days after Christmas, President Biden said something very interesting. While he was talking with Governors about the COVID-19 pandemic, he admitted: Look, there is no Federal solution. This gets solved at a State level. This is President Biden's message: States should be leading the effort. Now, that doesn't mean there isn't a role for the Federal Government. But what we have seen from the Biden administration is no progress, just worsening cases, and the horrible job-killing consequences of his unconstitutional mandates on private businesses. I want to be clear: His unconstitutional mandates are job killers. Back in October, the Federal Reserve reported that vaccine mandates were widely cited by businesses as a reason for low labor supply and hiring and retention issues. It was a finding my Republican colleagues and I have been warning about for months before their report, and it is directly tied to inflation. When the labor supply is reduced, prices go up, and families, especially those on low and fixed incomes, suffer. Restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, and small businesses all have to charge more. I heard about a restaurant owner in St. Petersburg, FL, who had to take certain items off the menu because they simply cost too much, and he can't pass the cost on to his customers. He has even seen the price of oil and to-go boxes more than double. I talked to an operator of a food bank in Osceola County, FL. She used to see 15 families each day, and now she is seeing upward of 70 families. Food prices have gone through the roof. It is more expensive for her to get food to give to people hurting at the very time demand is up. This is the reality for families and small businesses all across America, and vaccine mandates do nothing but make these problems even worse. I can't imagine why, just when our country is working to get back on its feet, the President of the United States would be pushing policies that kill jobs, but that is exactly what he is doing. Now lockdown- loving Dr. Fauci and President Biden want to double down on their insane mandates and are considering forcing every American who wants to fly to show proof of vaccine before boarding an airplane. This is just another Orwellian response from the Biden administration and radical Democrats that does nothing to protect the American people. Providing information about the virus, providing tests, supporting vaccine and therapy developments, and getting the economy back on track should be the only role of the Federal Government in this pandemic. Congress has to take a stand and protect the American people from these communist China-style policies that are meant to divide us. That is why a few months ago, I introduced the Prevent Unconstitutional Vaccine Mandates for Interstate Commerce Act. The bill would prevent Federal Agencies, like the Department of Transportation and Department of Commerce, from requiring proof of vaccination for companies trying to do business across State lines. Importantly, it would block the Federal Government from making airline passengers show proof of vaccine before catching a flight, which is exactly what Dr. Fauci wants to do. This bill also protects truckers and will ensure that the Biden administration can't ruin our supply chains even more. Our truckers are the key to fixing Biden's supply chain crisis, and we should do everything we can to protect them. President Biden has continually showed us his track record of failed policies and a mandate for domestic airline passengers would only add to his growing failures and blame shifting. We saw it in his failed and deadly withdrawal from Afghanistan. We have seen his administration's complete failure to handle the crisis across the southern border. We see it every day in President Biden's inability to fight inflation by stopping reckless spending. We continue to see his failure and complete void of leadership in how this administration is fighting COVID-19. Now, I am sure my Democrat colleagues will say that this legislation isn't needed because at this exact moment, there is not a vaccine mandate to fly on a plane, but they said the same thing last year when we tried to preemptively block vaccine mandates for private businesses. They claimed the President has committed not to do that. We know the President broke that promise. The American people deserve better than politicians who continue to mislead them on the Federal Government's failures to fight COVID properly. The back-and-forth has to end. We must end these ridiculous, unconstitutional vaccine mandates and focus on getting our economy back on track. That is why, as I mentioned earlier, the U.S. Senate passed a Congressional Review Act measure to invalidate President Biden's vaccine mandate on a bipartisan basis. The Senate, along with the majority of Americans, doesn't believe that the Federal Government should force people to choose between taking the vaccine and losing their job. That is why I am again demanding that the Federal Government stop trying to force the American people to follow draconian, job-killing mandates that hurt families. This is the second time I have come to the floor to try to pass this bill and protect the rights of American families and businesses. I would like to thank Senators Cynthia Lummis, Ron Johnson, Mike Lee, and Roger Marshall for joining me in introducing this important and urgently needed legislation. This is a commonsense bill, and I hope all my colleagues will support it. As if in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be discharged from further consideration of S. 2895 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration. I further ask that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. First off, I want to make sure my colleague understands what this bill would do. This bill would prevent Federal Agencies, like the Department of Transportation and the Department of Commerce, from requiring proof of vaccination for companies trying to do business across State lines. So what this bill does is say that the Federal Government is not going to mandate this. If a private business wants to say that you have to have a vaccine to come in, that is a decision that private business gets to make. But government shouldn't be in the position to tell a new business that they have to require a vaccine. I mean, that is not what you do. What this does do is it is killing jobs. It is killing people and killing the jobs of people who worked their tail off in the prior 12 months. Now, I don't know why this is controversial. The Senate, on a bipartisan basis, just passed a Congressional Review Act measure striking down President Biden's vaccine mandate. On a bipartisan basis we already decided we don't believe in what the President is doing. We have got families and businesses all across this country that are struggling to keep up with the cost of inflation, and the government should be doing everything it can to reduce inflation and get the economy going. Look, I know what it is like to go hungry because groceries cost too much. I watched my mom and my dad struggle for years. When prices rose, my mom took in odd jobs. When she struggled, we didn't have as much food on the table. It is the responsibility of the Federal Government to improve the economy and help families get ahead. We know the vaccine mandates are absolutely causing prices to rise. When prices rise, people are getting hurt, and they are making interstate commerce much more difficult. So instead of taking action to help families and curb inflation, the Biden Administration is taking every possible step to make it harder for them to put food on the table and afford to live in this country. The President has already said that this must be handled at the State level. I agree. And the Federal Government can take a step in this direction by ensuring vaccine passports won't be required for interstate commerce. They shouldn't be required to get on a plane. They shouldn't be required to carry goods across State lines. Even our Nation's healthcare providers know that mandates don't work. They stopped doing it in most cases. Just last month we saw hospitals across this country delay or suspend their vaccine mandates because they knew it was killing jobs. We know that Biden's unconstitutional mandates are going to make it more difficult to retain staff and deliver quality care to their patients. I don't understand why my colleague wants to give the government more power, more power, more power--upholding regulations that are causing prices to rise and forcing people to choose between keeping their jobs and getting a vaccine. We ought to give people the freedom to live their lives, to do exactly what my colleague just said: If a business wants to require a vaccine, they should require that. But if they don't, the government shouldn't be doing that. Our government should be giving people information, and let them make the decisions they want to make. I trust American families. I trust American businesses. They are smart enough to make informed decisions about their health. But my colleague's objection is bad for American families and bad for business owners, and I hope she will reconsider her objection.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, I would do what I did in Florida. I walked into a $4 billion budget deficit. I balanced the budget. I cuts taxes and fees 100 times. I paid off a third of the State debt. I never increased my State debt. I actually cut it by $10.5 billion. That is exactly what we ought to be doing here. We can't keep wasting money because somebody is going to pay for it.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Say again?

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Absolutely.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Part of it. Last year, what we did was suspend the debt ceiling.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Reserving the right to object, the one thing that has not been addressed is, if this were so important, why didn't my colleagues go to the majority leader--same party--and ask him to file cloture on these nominees? I still also have never been told why, when I have been asking for this for weeks, these two Secretaries won't show up and tell my citizens why they can't solve the supply chain problem. Therefore, I object.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Reserving the right to object, as my colleague is aware, I have an outstanding request with the Commerce Committee, which my colleague chairs, for us to hear testimony from Commerce Secretary Raimondo and Transportation Secretary Buttigieg or their Senate- confirmed leadership about the supply chain crisis. I have been clear that until we hear from these Agency leaders, either in the Commerce Committee or in an open meeting, that I would be holding all Department of Transportation and Department of Commerce nominees from moving forward in an expedited manner. We have had crisis after crisis due to the failed leadership of President Biden and his appointees. Just look at the inflation crisis caused by the Democrats' reckless spending that is hurting families and putting too many Americans in the position of deciding whether to fill their gas tank, heat their house this winter, or put food on the table. Just this week, I spoke with a veteran in Land O' Lakes, FL. He is a small business owner, and he has seen prices on raw materials rise by 50 percent just this year. Even though he has seen greater demand, he is not making more money because of the rising prices. If he tries to pass those costs on to his customers, he will lose business. On top of that, rising gas prices are making it difficult to afford taking his kids to basketball and karate practices. I have also talked to an operator of a food bank in Osceola, FL. She used to see 15 families each day, and now she is seeing upward of 70 families each day. Food prices have gone through the roof, making it more expensive for her to get food to give to people who are hurting at the very time demand is up. I talked to a mom in Punta Gorda, FL. Her gas costs have more than doubled, and her monthly grocery budget doesn't go as far as it used to. Recently, she has started visiting her local food pantry once a month so she has enough to feed her kids. That is something she has never had to do before. These are real Floridians who are hurting. Thank goodness for organizations like food pantries and everyone else who is helping families who are struggling because the Biden administration has spent months doing nothing to solve this crisis. In fact, they are actively hurting them as inflation rises to record highs and is threatening to rise even more as Biden pushes his reckless tax-and-spend agenda. I cannot and I will not consent to allowing these nominees to move forward in an expedited manner. We should take a vote so every Senator can get on the record with their support or opposition to these nominees. Therefore, Mr. President, I object.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, I still can't understand, if the Biden administration is doing so many things, why wouldn't they want to come brag about it? Why wouldn't they want to tell all Americans exactly what they are doing? The reason they don't want to do it is it is not getting better. I am still hearing day in and day out from people all over my State who are hurting because the Biden administration is not doing anything to solve the supply chain crisis. Therefore, I object.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, you know, my father was an over-the-road truckdriver. He drove for Admiral Freight Line. My uncle was an over-the-road truckdriver. He drove for a consolidated freight line. I watched the difficulties my father and my uncle had performing their jobs, and it was at a time when truckers weren't paid well, and, actually, most truckers were laid off by Thanksgiving because most of the goods were there for the Christmas season. In my father's case, I don't remember a Christmas that my dad was actively working. So I think it is very, very important that we do everything we can to help truckers, and I am glad that truckers today are paid better than they were back when my father and my uncle drove. My uncle actually died in a trucking accident. So I think it is very important that we do everything we can to support our truckers. And what I still can't understand is why the Commerce Committee does not want to hear exactly what the Secretary of Transportation or the Secretary of Commerce is doing to help our truckers. What are they doing to improve the supply chain? You would think they would want to come down here to say exactly what they have done to make the life of truckers better so that we get more people in trucking rather than less. So I think we should--I cannot allow these nominees to go forward in an expedited manner. Therefore, I object.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, you know, my colleagues keep talking about the infrastructure bill. The difference between their infrastructure bill and what we did while I was Governor of Florida is this: I actually spent our infrastructure money on roads, bridges, airports, and seaports, and, at the same time, we spent $85 billion in 8 years in one State doing that. We also cut taxes and fees 100 times, and we actually reduced our debt by a third, over $10 billion. The infrastructure bill--the so-called infrastructure bill--had less than 50 percent of it in infrastructure. People said it was paid for, and it wasn't. So I am glad people want to keep saying that it is a so-called infrastructure bill, but let's remember: It wasn't paid for; they said it was. And it wasn't all for roads, bridges, airports, and seaports, which is what they said it was in the beginning. So, therefore, I object.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, first of all, facts are facts. Less than 50 percent of the bill had anything to do with roads and bridges, airports and seaports. We were told all along it was going to be paid for; it wasn't. The Congressional Budget Office confirmed that. So facts are facts. On top of that, the majority leader could have, if these were important nominees, as my colleagues keep saying they are, they could have filed cloture and done these nominees. I mean, think of what we have done this last 2 weeks that we have been up here. Very few nominees have come through.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, so I think my colleague doesn't understand that when you borrow money, you eventually have to pay it back. The government doesn't produce income. It takes money from people. That means that when that bill--the so-called infrastructure bill--runs deficits, somebody's taxes are going up. Whether they go up today or tomorrow, they are going to go up. And, by the way, it is part of why the Democrats had to raise the debt ceiling by $2.5 trillion, and that is $2.5 trillion that Americans families are going to have to pay for.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, my experience is totally different than my colleague from Montana's experience. My experience is you build your economy by growing jobs. You build your economy by investing in education, where you get a return. So, in my 8 years as Governor of Florida, we added 1.7 million jobs. We cut taxes and revenues grew. It allowed us to make record investments in education, in transportation, and in the environment. By the time I left office in Florida, we had the second lowest tuition of higher education in the country. According to the U.S. News & World Report, we were No. 1 in education, but we did it by getting a return on all of the dollars. We didn't do it by just spending money without getting a return. I yield the floor.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, reserving the right to object. Let's remember why I am here. For weeks, I have been asking the chair of the Commerce Committee to invite the Secretaries of Transportation and Commerce to come tell us what they are doing to fix this supply chain crisis. We still have 100 cargo ships off the coast of California. Is it getting better? No, it is not getting better. I was on a call this week, and I did not hear one thing that has been done to solve this supply chain crisis. When I was the Governor of Florida, we had hurricanes. We had to work hard to make sure we didn't run out of fuel. To make that happen, what we would do is we would put everybody together. I often went to the ports to make sure that we got the fuel through, and we did. We got it done. I have not seen the Secretary of Transportation go out to the Port of Palm Beach to solve any problems at all. I have not heard of anything the Secretary of Commerce has done to go out to California and solve this supply chain crisis. On these nominees, cloture could have been filed by the majority leader. For whatever reason, the majority leader decided not to do it. Therefore, I object.