Rick Scott

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Madam President, in reserving the right to object, I appreciate we all want to help Americans get the healthcare they need, but what my colleagues are proposing is a Federal bailout that will help a handful of States but do little to directly help patients. That is not fair to Americans across the Nation who need better access to affordable healthcare. We have seen that a government takeover of healthcare does not work. ObamaCare was sold on a lie, plain and simple. Let's remember, when ObamaCare passed, they promised it would save $2,500 per family. Not true. Costs and premiums went up. They promised that you could keep your doctor. Not true. Provider networks got narrower, and people lost their doctors. They promised, if you liked your plan, you could keep it. Again, this was not true. The promise of ObamaCare didn't happen. Actually, the opposite happened. Under ObamaCare, costs skyrocketed, and families lost the doctors they liked. The American people don't want more lies. Actually, they want more solutions. The solution is not to create more inequity in the system. What we need is to take concrete steps to make sure we help all families across the Nation actually get the healthcare they need. My colleague's bill does nothing to help patients. States will make their own decisions on Medicaid. Giving certain States free Medicaid is nothing more than a bailout for State budgets. In June, I wrote to all 50 Governors and requested information on how their States have allocated the trillions of dollars in taxpayer funding from the Federal coronavirus response measures that had been passed by Congress. Unfortunately, a majority of the States simply chose not to respond, including Virginia and Alabama. The Federal Government already allocated $1 trillion to States and local governments to respond to the coronavirus, but these States are refusing to tell us how they are spending these extra funds, including the estimated extra $50 billion in Federal Medicaid dollars they received in the Families First Act. Since the Families First Act has passed, Medicaid costs have actually gone down, but the States don't want to tell us that because they simply want bailouts. Instead of pursuing a partisan bailout of a select number of States, I want to use this opportunity to propose a commonsense solution that would use bipartisan principles to help every single American in this country. Though ObamaCare was a failure, I support protecting people with preexisting conditions and ensuring that young adults can stay on their parents' health plans until age 26. I think my colleagues would also support these principles. I have been working with Senator Tillis on the PROTECT Act, which would directly assist Americans by, one, guaranteeing coverage for preexisting conditions and prohibiting insurance companies from excluding coverage of treatment for a patient's preexisting condition; two, prohibiting insurance companies from charging Americans higher premiums due to their preexisting conditions; and, three, guaranteeing the availability of health insurance coverage in the employer or individual market regardless of one's preexisting condition. My amendment builds on the PROTECT Act and adds protections to allow young adults to stay on their parents' health insurance plans until they are 26. We could pass this amendment, which I believe has bipartisan support, and ensure that every American with a preexisting condition is protected no matter how the Supreme Court rules on ObamaCare. The American people and, certainly, the people of Florida, Virginia, and Alabama want us to get something done that would actually reduce healthcare costs and increase access to care. That is what my proposal does. Protecting Americans with preexisting conditions is a commonsense step we can and should take today to lower the costs of healthcare for all Americans. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting these bipartisan healthcare reforms Therefore, I ask the Senator to modify his request to include my substitute amendment, which is at the desk; that it be considered and agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. I want to recognize my colleagues from Arizona, Ohio, Texas, and Iowa for their commitment to holding Communist China accountable and supporting Americans. I rise today to discuss the threat of Communist China--a threat that poses a huge risk to the national security of the United States, our allies, and the stability of world markets. Communist China is simply stealing American jobs and technology and spying on our citizens. General Secretary of the Communist Party Xi is a dictator and a human rights violator who is denying basic rights to the people of Hong Kong, cracking down on dissidents, threatening Taiwan, and militarizing the South China Sea. Uighur prisoners in Communist China are being rounded up, blindfolded, shaved, and loaded onto trains to be taken to concentration camps simply because of their religion. You can't believe this is happening today in this world. Communist China's deceptions surrounding the coronavirus pandemic should be the last straw for every American. It doesn't matter to Communist China that their lies and misinformation killed hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Communist China is on a mission to be the dominant world power. Chairman Xi will stop at nothing to grow Communist China's influence. For Communist China and Chairman Xi, this great power conflict is a zero-sum game. In order for China to be stronger, America and all freedom-loving countries around the world must be weaker. We can't allow that to happen. It is time we finally stand up and address the new Cold War occurring between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party. For too long, Washington politicians have been more concerned with short-term political success than with the long-term threats to our way of life--but not anymore. It is time for action. We can no longer rely on countries like Communist China for our critical supply chain. We need to build up the national stockpile of PPE and our pharmaceutical industry with supplies from American-based producers. We can no longer accept Chinese technology that could be used to spy on us, and we are working to prohibit the Federal Government from purchasing drones from our adversaries. We can no longer allow Communist China to steal from us. We have to be aggressive in protecting American research and American innovation, including potentially lifesaving research into a coronavirus vaccine. We should do everything we can to stop buying products ``Made in China'' because, every time we do, we are putting another dollar into the pockets of those stealing our technology, denying their people basic human rights, and propping up dangerous dictators like Maduro in Venezuela. We have to hold Communist China accountable and financially liable for its lies that led to the coronavirus. It is responsible for the devastation. We have to stand up and say that it is wrong to allow Beijing to host the 2022 Olympics. That is wrong. The world community cannot condone or reward its despicable behavior and human rights violations. It is important to be clear-eyed. We have to see Communist China for what it is. We all must do our part to support our Nation and make it clear to Communist China that the people of the United States will not stand for its behavior. I will not stop fighting until our future and the futures of all of our children and our grandchildren are secure from this threat. I yield to my colleague from Texas

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize and honor a very important group of people in our Nation's history. The 65th Infantry Regiment of the U.S. Army known as the Borinqueneers was comprised of U.S. citizens from Puerto Rico. The Borinqueneers courageously fought for decades to defend the freedoms we enjoy today. They answered the Nation's call to serve, and they are the longest standing and only Active-Duty Latino military unit in U.S. history. On April 13, 2016, Congress awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to the 65th Infantry Regiment in recognition of the Borinqueneers' numerous contributions to American history and outstanding military service from World War I to the recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Today, I am honored to join my colleagues in recognizing the bravery, service, and sacrifice of the Puerto Rican soldiers of the 65th Infantry Regiment and to express deep gratitude for the contributions to the Armed Forces that have been made by hundreds of thousands of patriotic U.S. citizens from Puerto Rico. I am honored to designate April 13 as National Borinqueneers Day to ensure their legacy lives on. History will forever pay tribute to the sacrifices these individuals and their families made to defend our freedom. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to address the Senate in Spanish.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. It is my honor to recognize the service of these brave American citizens from Puerto Rico who fought for our Nation. Your legacy will live on. Thank you for your service. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 641, submitted earlier today.

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

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, first, I want to thank Senator Cardin for worrying about the businesses. I think the Senator is absolutely right. I think we all can acknowledge that in the original bill, it could have been done better. So some of the businesses that got it shouldn't have probably gotten it in the beginning, and we could have targeted more for some of the smaller businesses. I thank Senator Cardin for what he is doing. I am not going to stand in the way of this. I look forward to working with him to try to make sure that the money goes to people who actually need it and that it doesn't go to people who haven't actually had a downturn in their business. We don't have unlimited resources up here, as we all know. I just want to make sure the money is spent well. So I am not going to stand in the way. I yield the floor.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, reserving the right to object. I want to thank my colleague for bringing up this important bill today. This crisis is unprecedented, and leaders across the Nation have taken steps to address the virus and the devastation it has caused both to the health of Americans and to our economy. The Paycheck Protection Program has helped so many businesses in Florida and across the Nation to stay afloat during this unimaginable time. As we continue to reopen our economy and get Americans back to work, we have to continue looking for ways to help our small businesses that are hurting, and extending the Paycheck Protection Program is one way to do that. My focus has always been on how we get this money to those who truly need it. We have heard all the stories--stories of big businesses with thousands of employees that found loopholes to qualify for these loans, universities with massive endowments accepting these loans, and even small businesses taking these loans when they haven't seen a downturn in their revenue. Under my colleague's proposal, companies that are not being harmed at all by the coronavirus crisis will have the ability to receive taxpayer-funded loans that can be forgiven. This program needs to be reformed so money isn't being taken out of the hands of those who really need it. I have offered an amendment to my colleague's bill today that will prohibit businesses that have not seen a downturn in their revenues to the COVID-19--during the coronavirus pandemic from being eligible for a Paycheck Protection Program loan going forward. My amendment would not be retroactive; it would only apply to those businesses applying for a loan going forward. It is incumbent on us to create accountability in the Paycheck Protection Program, and I encourage my colleague to accept this commonsense amendment to help those businesses hurt by this crisis. I ask that Senator Cardin modify his request and instead the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 4116, introduced earlier today, but that my amendment at the desk be agreed to; further, that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Madam President, in America, we are blessed with the protection of the strongest military in the world, one that provides not only for the safety of our country but believes in supporting our allies around the globe. Yet we cannot take our position as the leader of the free world for granted, for there are nations like Communist China that are actively building their militaries with a single goal in mind--to dominate the world stage. So I thank Chairman Inhofe and my colleagues for working to keep our military strong so it can defend the freedoms we cherish and stand for freedom and democracy worldwide. This year, the National Defense Authorization Act includes my Secure U.S. Bases Act, which Senator Ernst and I worked on, to reform and improve foreign military student training programs following the terrorist attack at NAS Pensacola last year. New reports show there was a lack of vetting at multiple levels that led to this tragic attack. This terrorist should never have been allowed in our country, let alone on an American military base, with easy access to American military men and women. The Secure U.S. Bases Act eliminates this unnecessary risk by requiring a thorough vetting process before a foreign student enters the U.S.; by requiring foreign students to follow rules established by U.S. base commanders; and by vastly improving the security of our military installations, servicemembers, their families, and the surrounding communities. I served in the U.S. Navy, and I could never have imagined not feeling safe on base. We must do everything in our power to prevent a tragedy like that of NAS Pensacola from ever happening again, and the Secure U.S. Bases Act is an important step. I am also working on a number of amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act to protect our Nation. The first includes my American Security Drone Act, which prohibits the U.S. Government from purchasing drones manufactured in countries identified as national security threats, like Iran and China. We know Communist China steals our technology and intellectual property; yet the U.S. Government continues to buy with American tax dollars critical technology, like drones, from Chinese companies that are backed by their government. No one in America should buy products made in Communist China, especially not the U.S. Government. We cannot continue this practice, and my American Security Drone Act is a commonsense solution to end this threat to our national security. Second, I am working to protect Florida's gulf coast from offshore drilling. I have an amendment in the National Defense Authorization Act that requires the Department of Defense to report on the importance of the Gulf Test Range, which is used for vital military testing and training and is critical to our national security. Offshore drilling in the area would pose a significant risk to the environment and our military preparedness. I am also proposing an amendment to extend the moratorium on offshore drilling for another 10 years and will keep working to protect our natural resources for generations to come. A strong defense is key to protecting the freedoms that make America great. I will never lose sight of one of the most important roles I have as a U.S. Senator to protect and serve the families of our Nation. I look forward to working closely with my colleagues to make sure we are protecting our national security and investing in America's greatest assets--the men and women of our Armed Forces. I yield the floor.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, I would like to respond to my colleague before he leaves.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, I wasn't here when the tax bill was done. I cut taxes of over $10 billion. We cut taxes and fees. And what happened is our economy grew. We added 1.7 billion jobs. Let's go back and look at this. We talk about money. We have given $150 billion for the expenses. We have given loans. We have given FEMA disaster funds. We have given education funds. We have given mass transit funds. We have given emergency appropriations for a variety of different sections. We have given many healthcare dollars for Medicaid. On top of that, we allocated $175 billion to our healthcare system, and we gave our States $11 billion for testing. It is not like we have been up here and not responding. We have responded. By the way, the dollars have not all been spent. What we need to do is, let's see what these Governors come back with. I have gotten a response from four Governors so far. Let's look at what they said, and then we can make a responsible decision on how we spend our money going forward.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, this is clearly a challenging time for every level of government. I think we will all admit that this crisis was unprecedented, and Congress has already taken bold action to stem this virus and save our economy. But if we are not careful, Congress will create another equally devastating crisis down the road--a crisis of our own making. Our national debt and deficits, already at unsustainable levels, have skyrocketed as Congress has spent almost $3 trillion--$3 trillion--to address this crisis. To put that in perspective, Congress has spent $9,000 for every American. At some point we need to start thinking about the impact this spending will have on the future of our children and our grandchildren, how we are impacting our ability to fund our military and our safety nets like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Again, I know everyone here wants to help our States. I want to help our States, too, which is why I support maintaining the existing restrictions tied to the Coronavirus Relief Fund that were included in the CARES Act to make sure this spending is for coronavirus response. Congress has already allocated billions in direct and indirect aid to States and localities. Total direct funding from the Federal Government already exceeds $1 trillion. Let me just go through it. We gave them $150 billion for COVID-19 expenses. To put that in perspective, while I was Governor of Florida, we had four hurricanes. The Federal Government never funded 100 percent of my cost. We are funding 100 percent of the COVID-19 cost. We have given our State and local governments $500 billion in short- term loans. We have given them $45 billion in FEMA disaster funds, $30 billion in education funds without any information on whether education costs have gone up, $34 billion for mass transit and community grants, $270 billion for CARES Act emergency appropriations, and $50 billion for Medicaid--and as we have all seen with the healthcare costs, Medicaid costs have gone down around the country. Even this doesn't begin to count another $1.3 trillion in indirect assistance to small businesses, individuals, and increased unemployment benefits to families in all of our States. We have given $175 billion to our healthcare community. We have given $11 billion to our States to deal with testing. Now my colleagues want to spend another $1 trillion before the other trillion dollars that was already allocated has even been spent. I sent a letter this month to all U.S. Governors to get more details on exactly how they are allocating the Federal coronavirus response funds that they have already received. I have heard back only from four States. Do you think I have heard back from New York? Of course not, and I don't expect to. Why? Because politicians in these liberal States have refused to live within their means for decades, and they want Floridians to backfill their budgets and pay for the incompetency of Governors like Andrew Cuomo. Andrew Cuomo got elected when I got elected--at the end of 2010, at the end of the financial crisis. I have watched him in my 8 years as Governor. Did he balance his budget? No, he doesn't balance his budget. He keeps borrowing more money year after year. The Wall Street Journal's editorial board said: ``The policy question is why taxpayers in Florida and other well-managed states should pay higher taxes to rescue an Albany political class that refuses to restrain its tax-and-spend governance.'' New York has increased their spending since 2010 by $43 billion, which is $570,000 per new resident--$570,000 per new resident. They already have a State and local personal income tax rate of 12.7 percent. I know why they want money: They can't tax their citizens any more. They have already done it. Because of all of their taxes, people keep moving to States like Florida. They have lost $9.6 billion in adjusted gross income to other States just since 2018. So what these States have done is they don't live within their means, and now they want us to come be responsible for their bad budgets, their pension plans, and things like that. One of my colleagues brought up this concept that some States are donors. I have been up here 18 months. I have looked at the Federal budget. I haven't seen a dime come from the States. It comes from the taxpayers in those States. Do you know how it comes here? It comes here to pay for things like Social Security and Medicare. Then these citizens get sick and tired of the high taxes in places like New Jersey, New York, Illinois, and California and move to lower tax States and then receive these benefits. Then people come up here and say: Oh, our government funded governments in other States. No, they don't. The citizens do it, and then they get sick and tired of those high taxes and move. So we know New York, California, and Illinois have no problem using hard-earned taxpayer dollars to fund their liberal priorities and to backfill their budget shortfalls and solve their longstanding fiscal problems. It is not fair to the citizens of States like Florida where, over my 8 years as Governor, we made the hard choices that put our State on a financially secure path. Because we made those choices, the Governor of Florida was able to sign a responsible State budget today without having to beg the Federal Government for a bailout. Guess what. There are teacher pay raises in there and increased funding for K-12 education. American families make responsible budgetary decisions every day. Successful companies make responsible budget decisions every day. Well- meaning States like Florida have done it for years. It is time for New York, Illinois, and California to do the same. We have to get serious about how we are spending taxpayer money and the fact that this year's Federal budget deficit will be the largest in the history of this country. While it may be tempting to throw money at the problem and then believe that removing the restrictions on funding will satisfy States for a bailout, I am afraid that my colleagues are mistaken. These funds are still needed for coronavirus response, and unfortunately many States have not been shy about their desire for hundreds of billions of dollars in taxpayer bailouts for their liberal agendas. I am not going to let this happen. By the way, when you hear about all these letters that come that want more money--I spent 8 years as Governor of Florida. I don't remember one time that somebody came to me and said: Why don't you spend less money? Of course everybody is going to come up here and ask us for more money, more money, more money. It is somebody's money. I think about this in the context of my seven grandchildren. We cannot saddle them and children like them across the country with mountains of debt--debt that right now stands in excess of $77,000 per American--$77,000 per American. Do you know what it was in 1976? It was $3 per American. It is $77,000. To take away the same opportunities I had to live the American dream from our children and grandchildren would not only be a political failure, it would be an abdication of our moral responsibility. It is time to make the hard choices, to put our Nation on a path to recovery--recovery from this virus, from the economic devastations brought with it, and from the fiscal calamity that decades of politicians have ignored. I hope my colleagues will join me in the fight for our future. I therefore respectfully object.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Madam President, reserving the right to object, I appreciate my colleague's focus on higher education. We both had the same opportunity as Governors to do what we could to drive the cost of tuition down and help make sure all of our students had the opportunity to get jobs. My goal as Governor of Florida and now as a U.S. Senator is to keep education affordable and obtainable and make sure students are able to get a job when they graduate. I know we all are focused on giving our students every opportunity to succeed. My colleague has not shown how giving a blank-check bailout to higher education institutions helps our students--students who are burdened with mountains of debt from these same 4-year colleges and universities. The solution is not to give more money to support the bloated bureaucracies of our public and private colleges and universities. And these very institutions continue to raise tuition year after year on our students and their families. That is why I am instead offering my STEM Act, which is a real solution to make higher education more affordable and ensure schools are preparing students for jobs. We made similar reforms in Florida, and our students are getting a world-class education at a price they and their families can afford. My goal is to bring this success to our Nation. The STEM Act does three things: One, it eliminates all Federal funding for institutions that raise tuition. There is no reason universities should be raising costs on students even one bit. Businesses have to get more productive every year; so should our colleges and our universities. Second, my STEM Act holds colleges and universities accountable for a portion of student loans. By forcing universities to take more responsibility, they will have more of an incentive to actually prepare students for careers, instead of encouraging mountains of debt and degrees that don't lead to jobs after graduation. Third, the STEM Act creates a metric system for accountability to make sure all higher education institutions are doing their most important job--preparing our students for the opportunity to get a great job, build a career, and become more self-sufficient. Our higher education system doesn't serve the student, and we need to change that. Our students deserve more than just throwing money at our institutions with no checks and balances. It is time we get something done to fix the problems in our higher education system and realign incentives. I look forward to working with my colleagues to do this. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that Senator Kaine modify his request and, instead, the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be discharged from further consideration of S. 2559, the Student Training and Education Metrics Act, and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration; further, 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. Reserving the right to object, I look forward to working with my colleague from Virginia to do what we both tried to do as Governors and we were both focused on. It is hard to keep tuition down and to make sure kids get jobs at the end. It is a very difficult job. I don't think what we are doing today with Senator Kaine's proposal is going to help our students get the jobs they need and help keep our tuition down. I don't think we ought to be giving a blank check to our institutions that raise tuition on our students. We all know the mountains of debt--over $1.7 trillion--which is ridiculous. I think my STEM Act is a solution to help make our higher education system affordable and ensure kids have a future. But, unfortunately, we are not able to do that today. I respectfully object. I look forward to working with Senator Kaine to try to do everything we can to get this tuition down and help our kids get jobs.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Madam President, I rise today to encourage all Americans to join the fight to support our Nation and our jobs and stand up against the growing threat of Communist China. I have been saying it for months, but the best way each and every one of us can make a difference is to buy American products whenever possible. It is time we addressed the new Cold War occurring between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party and be crystal clear about the negative impacts of continuing to buy Chinese-made products. Communist China is stealing American jobs and technology and spying on our citizens. Data collected by Chinese companies is shared with the Communist Government of China, which is focused solely on global domination. Xi, the General Secretary of the China Communist Party, is a dictator and human rights violator who is denying basic rights to the people of Hong Kong, cracking down on dissidents, militarizing the South China Sea, and imprisoning more than 1 million Uighurs in internment camps simply because of their religion. The coronavirus pandemic should be the last straw. We can no longer rely on other countries like Communist China for our critical supply chain. Washington politicians have been too concerned with short-term political success and have long ignored the long-term threats to our way of life. It is time for action. Now, more than ever, Americans must remember that every time we buy a product made in China, we are putting another dollar into the pockets of the people who steal our technology, deny people their basic human rights, and are propping up dangerous dictators like Maduro in Venezuela. I am proud to lead my colleagues in a bipartisan resolution calling on Americans to buy products made in the United States whenever possible. Buying American is not partisan, and I am glad my colleagues on both sides of the aisle are coming together to encourage Americans to take a stand. I know it is not always easy, but it is an important step we can all take at home to support American jobs, American producers, and American manufacturers and help build up the U.S. supply chain. I am also working with Senator Baldwin to pass our COOL Online Act, which will make sure all goods sold online list their country of origin to create more transparency for American consumers. In my State, we take immense pride in products made in Florida. It is a driving force that led to our incredible economic turnaround. A return to this pride in homegrown businesses ensures America remains strong and the undisputed leader in the global economy. We must all do our part to support our Nation and make it clear to Communist China that the United States will not stand for their behavior. I am committed to supporting American businesses over Chinese products. I hope my colleagues will join me.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, Floridians will never forget the horrific events of June 12, 2016. Four years ago, our State, Nation, the city of Orlando, and Hispanic and gay communities were attacked, and 49 innocent and beautiful lives were lost. It was an evil act. It was an act of terrorism designed to divide us as a nation and strike fear in our hearts and minds, but we didn't let it because Floridians are resilient. We came together, and we supported each other. The weeks following the attack will always stay with me--days spent in hospitals with families, at funerals, at wakes with loved ones, and countless events throughout the community. As a father and grandfather, it was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. It was heartbreaking. Yet, in this horribly dark time, the selfless courage of so many--from community members, to law enforcement, to healthcare workers--provided a sense of hope. This incredible strength, love, and bravery uplifted the community and helped us repair and rebuild. On the fourth anniversary of this unthinkable tragedy, the State of Florida comes together to honor the lives lost too soon, and we vow to always stand up and fight against evil and hatred in this world. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 614, submitted earlier today.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. I ask unanimous consent that 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

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, I rise to speak today about the growing threat of Communist China. Xi, the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, is a dictator and human rights violator who is denying basic rights to the people of Hong Kong, cracking down on dissidents, militarizing the South China Sea, and imprisoning more than 1 million Uighurs in internment camps simply because of their religion. General Secretary Xi is interested in one thing--global domination. It is time we all open our eyes. Communist China despises the freedoms Americans cherish. The threat we face from Communist China is the new Cold War. This is a Cold War created by General Secretary Xi. It is a Cold War fought with technology, misinformation, and political persuasion. And Communist China's latest weapon of choice is the coronavirus. Communist China lied about what they knew and spread misinformation around the world, costing hundreds of thousands of lives, millions of jobs, and creating massive economic impact. All freedom-loving nations around the world need to come together to hold Communist China accountable and financially liable. One thing we can do today is make sure Communist China can't steal or sabotage American COVID-19 vaccine research. We know Communist China steals U.S. research and intellectual property. We have seen this at our universities; we have seen it at our research institutions and hospitals. U.S. officials have been warning American firms to safeguard their research against China and others known for stealing U.S. technology. The FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency recently warned organizations researching COVID-19 of likely insider threats, targeting, and network compromise by Communist China. Communist China wants to be first in vaccine development, and unlike the United States and other freedom-loving countries, Communist China will not be quick to share. Communist China wants to be the dominant world power, and they have made clear they don't care who is harmed in the process. That is why I led my colleagues in introducing the COVID-19 Vaccine Protection Act, which will require a thorough national security evaluation and clearance by the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of State, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation of all Chinese student visa holders taking part in activities related to COVID-19 vaccine research. We need to know who in our country is working on vaccine research so that we can make sure American efforts are protected. The United States and all Americans need to get serious about the threat from Communist China. The COVID-19 Vaccine Protection Act is a great first step, and I look forward to all of my colleagues supporting this effort. I am also urging everyone to buy American products. It is the single most important thing we can do to send a message to Communist China that their behavior is unacceptable Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. 3837 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration. 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. The PRESIDING OFFICER is there objection?

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, I appreciate my colleague's remarks. Florida and the United States are amazing melting pots, and our States and country have both benefited greatly from the contributions of people from all over the world. This bill isn't about race. This is a commonsense bill to protect American citizens from the Government of Communist China, which has decided to become our adversary. This is about protecting Americans from a regime that is actively trying to sabotage our efforts to create a vaccine. We have evidence from our intelligence community that China is trying to do this. My bill would help identify who in our country is trying to steal or, more importantly, delay, sabotage our success of a vaccine, and that is Communist China's goal. My colleague has even introduced her own resolution recognizing the importance of vaccinations and immunizations in the United States, and we all agree with her, so blocking my proposal today makes absolutely no sense. Why would my colleague not want to save American lives and make sure we have a vaccine done as quickly as possible? American lives are on the line and depend on this vaccine. I am clearly disappointed my colleague objected to passing this bill today, but I am completely committed to working with her to get it across the finish line. As long as our vaccine research remains vulnerable, Communist China will not hesitate to use any tool necessary to obtain this sensitive information I yield the floor.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, I rise today to proudly support the confirmation of Judge John Badalamenti to serve as a U.S. District Court Judge for the Middle District of Florida. Judge Badalamenti has a distinguished record of public service, during which he has demonstrated a deep and abiding respect for the rule of law and a commitment to upholding the U.S. Constitution. He served as an Assistant Federal Defender in the Middle District of Florida for nearly a decade, and, as Governor of Florida, I had the privilege to appoint him to the Second District Court of Appeal in 2015. During his time on the State appellate bench, he has consistently demonstrated his keen legal acumen and devotion to upholding the proper function of the judiciary in our democratic system. I am proud of the work he has done, and I am proud to support his confirmation to the Federal bench today, where he will continue to serve our State and Nation well.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Madam President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.