Rick Scott

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, reserving the right to object. The first thing I want to do is I want to thank my colleague from Louisiana for the kind words about my tenure as Governor and tell him I respect and admire his passion for being a U.S. Senator and his passion for the wonderful State of Louisiana, which is a wonderful State. As we all know, this is a challenging time for every level of government. This crisis was unprecedented, and Congress absolutely took bold action to stem the spread of the virus and work to 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, as my colleague said, almost $3 trillion to address this crisis. To put that in perspective, Congress has spent $9,000 for every American--$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 and 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, including my colleague from Louisiana, wants to help their State. I want to help States too, which is why I support continuing the existing restrictions tied to the coronavirus relief fund that were included in the CARES Act to make sure this spending is for coronavirus relief and response. Regardless of whether we are removing existing guardrails or talking about completely new funding, both actions would result in a blank-check bailout for States. Let's remember, we are talking about $150 billion. To put that in perspective, the median income for a worker in Florida is approximately $30,000; $150 billion will pay the total annual income for more than 5 million Floridians. And let's talk about who we are bailing out here: Not those on unemployment, we took care of them in the CARES Act; not our teachers, we took care of them in the CARES Act; not our healthcare workers, we took care of them in the CARES Act. We are bailing out liberal politicians who cannot live within their means, and now, we are asking Floridians to pay for the incompetency of Governors like Andrew Cuomo. We know California, New York, 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. But it is not fair to the citizens of States like Florida, where we made the hard choices to put our State on a financially secure path. The Wall Street Journal laid it out clearly for us this week when they said: Democrats in Albany are claiming to be victims of events that are out of their control. But they have increased annual spending by $43 billion since 2010--about $570,000 for each additional person. Florida's annual budget has increased by $28 billion while its population has grown by 2.7 million--a $10,400 increase per new resident. New York has a top state-and-local tax rate of 12.7 percent, while Florida has no income tax. Yet New York has a growing budget deficit, while Mr. Scott, as Governor of Florida, inherited a large deficit but built a surplus and paid down State debt. The difference is spending. The Wall Street Journal concluded: 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 . . . Mr. Scott is right. The Wall Street Journal is right, so is the Chicago Tribune, which called out its own State leaders this week for mismanaging Illinois taxpayer dollars. The Chicago Tribune said: Preparing for the next recession and the next unanticipated crisis--think pandemic--is a huge component of leadership. So when our politicians whimper that they're helpless in the face of disaster, remember: They and their forebears had decades in which to prepare for whatever would surprise them. Instead they chose to borrow more money, spend on new programs and watch their pension indebtedness sore. American families make responsible budgetary decisions every day. Successful companies make responsible budget decisions every day. Well- managed States like Florida have done it for years. It is time for New York, Illinois, and California to do the same. Let's look at--and my colleague said some of this: We have given States $150 billion--billion--for their COVID expenses. Now, to put that in perspective, with hurricanes, we don't give 100 percent. We had four major hurricanes while I was Governor. The Federal Government, one, did not cover all the expense of the hurricane and did not cover any budget shortfalls I had, any lost revenues I had, which I had when tourists couldn't come during a hurricane and after. Five hundred billion dollars in short-term loan opportunities for municipal governments, $45 billion in FEMA disaster funds, $30 billion for education, and we have no earthly idea whether education costs have gone down or gone up. I would assume education costs have gone down; $34 billion for mass transit community grants; $270 billion for emergency appropriations; $50 billion for Medicaid, and, again, we haven't seen it, but I would assume our Medicaid costs so far have gone down. Then on top of it, through the small business relief, individual checks, unemployment, we have given our States another $1.3 trillion. Now, put that in perspective, their annual revenues, not including Federal dollars, is a little over $1 trillion a year, so look at what we have already spent. So as you can see from this chart, Congress has already allocated billions in direct and indirect aid to States and localities. Total direct funding from the Federal Government exceeds $1 trillion dollars--trillion. Even this doesn't begin to account for another $1.3 trillion in indirect assistance to small businesses, individuals, and increased unemployment benefits to families in all of our States. These numbers, as my colleague has said, are staggering, what we have already spent. 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 our Nation. While it may be tempting and easy to believe that removing the restrictions on the coronavirus relief fund will satisfy States looking for a bailout, I am afraid that we are all mistaken. It will never be enough. These funds are still needed, one, for coronavirus relief, 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. I think about this in the context of my seven grandchildren. We cannot saddle them and children like them all across our great country with mountains of debt. Right now, the debt stands at over $77,000 per American. Now, think about that for a second. The median income for Americans is about $33,000, and we already have put them on the hook for $77,000--$9,000 just with what we have done this year. Now, to put that in perspective, after the first 200 years of this country's existence, national debt per person was around $3--$3, after 200 years--and now, we are at $77,000. I think about that in the context of a Social Security recipient like my mom. How are we helping people like my mom when we run multiple trillion-dollar deficits and grow our national debt to an excess of $26 trillion? What happens to those living on fixed incomes when our deficits and national debt cause high inflation? I grew up in a poor family in public housing. My mom worked three jobs and my parents--my adopted dad and my mom--were constantly struggling for work. Even though my mom had no money, she told me: You are the luckiest kid alive because you grew up in this country. She was optimistic, and she was hopeful. She told us that we were blessed because God and our Founders created the greatest country ever, where anything was possible. 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 we make the hard choices to put our Nation on a path to recovery--recovery from this virus, from the economic devastation it brought with it, and the fiscal calamity that decades of politicians have ignored. I hope my colleagues will join me in this fight to keep our country's future bright. To do that, we have to make hard choices; we have to be fiscally responsible. Mr. President, I therefore respectfully object.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I appreciate the comments and I respect the opinion of my colleague from Louisiana. The coronavirus pandemic is a significant and life-altering time in our Nation. Our country and our economy will never be the same. This is absolutely a challenging time for every level of government. We continue to work together to try and help the small businesses and individuals that are hurting and to get our economy back open as soon as possible. This crisis was unprecedented, and Congress took bold action to stem the spread of the 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 sustainable levels--have skyrocketed as Congress has spent almost $3 trillion to address this crisis. At some point, we need to start thinking about the impact this spending will have on our country's financial future and the future of our children and our grandchildren. As I mentioned during my remarks last week, I appreciate the spirit of my colleague's proposal and understand his desire to help his State. I know he cares as deeply for Louisiana as I do about Florida. I want to help States too, which is why I support maintaining the existing restrictions tied to the Coronavirus Relief Fund that were included in the CARES Act. While imperfect, the Coronavirus Relief Fund makes sure spending is for coronavirus response. Regardless of whether we are removing the existing guardrails or talking about completely new funding, both actions would result in a blank-check bailout for States. Let's remember that we are talking about $150 billion. To put that in perspective, the median income per capita in Florida is about $30,000, and $150 billion will pay the total annual income for more than 5 million Floridians. Let's talk about who we are bailing out. It is not those on unemployment. We took care of them in the CARES Act. It is not our teachers. We took care of them in the CARES Act. It is not our healthcare workers. We took care of them in the CARES Act. We are bailing out liberal politicians who cannot live within their means, and now we are asking Floridians to pay for the incompetency of Governors like Andrew Cuomo. We can't give hard-earned taxpayer money to poorly managed States that are going to turn around and spend it on their liberal priorities and to backfill their budget shortfalls and solve their longstanding fiscal problems. States like California, Illinois, and New York have big budgets, high taxes, and tons of debt because they refused to make the hard choices and live within their means. They know they cannot tax their citizens more. So now they have their hands out to the Federal taxpayers to rescue them. But that is not fair to citizens of States like Florida, where we made the hard choices. Let me show you this chart. From 1985 to 2018, this is how many people moved to Florida from other States. We gained over 2 million people. This is how many people left New York, Illinois, and California. Why did they leave? Partially, because they may like our weather better. But look at the tax rates. They are way higher in these States. Look at their business climate. Those three States are the three worst in the country. Look at what the Tax Foundation ranking is--some of the worst States in the country. Then look at the debt. We have more people than New York by about 2 to 3 million people, and their debt is seven times as much. As for Illinois, we are at least double, and they have almost three times as much debt. You look at this, and this is why income is moving to our State and away from these States. Now these States want us to tax our citizens to pay for their debt, their pensions, for all of their fiscal irresponsibility, and that is not fair to the citizens of our State When I became Florida's Governor in 2011, we had a big budget shortfall, and we had lost 832,000 jobs in 4 years. When I became Governor, we started cutting taxes every year. We cut $10 billion over 8 years. And guess what. Our revenues increased. The State went from losing hundreds of thousands of jobs over 4 years to adding 1.7 million jobs in 8 years. We turned a $2.5 billion shortfall into a $4 billion surplus, with $3 billion in a rainy day fund. I was the first Florida Governor in 20 years to actually pay down State debt. I paid down--with the support of my legislature and the success of our State--one-third of our State debt in 8 years. That didn't happen in California. It didn't happen in Illinois, and it didn't happen in New York. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said it was irresponsible and reckless not to bail out States like his--a State with 2 million fewer people than Florida, with a budget almost double ours. The opposite is true. It is irresponsible and reckless to take money from America's taxpayers and use it to save liberal politicians from the consequences of their poor choices. Every day, American families make responsible budgetary decisions. Well-managed States like Florida have done it for years. It is time for New York, Illinois, and California to do the same. As you can see from this chart, Congress has already allocated billions of dollars in direct and indirect aid to States and localities. Total direct funding from the Federal Government already exceeds over $1 trillion, and 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 $150 billion. Again, it is billions of dollars for expenses. By the way, this is not the way it is done with FEMA. This money has been sent with no obligation of the States to pay a portion. When I had my hurricanes, I had to pay a portion of the cost that the Federal government would participate in, but we still paid a part of the cost. We have $500 billion in short-term loans for municipal governments; $45 billion in FEMA disaster funds; $30 billion for education, without knowing whether education costs went up or down; $34 billion for mass transit community grants; $270 billion under the appropriations, on top of the indirect funding. So we have not ``not sent'' a lot of money to the States already. I appreciate that the Senator from Louisiana is seeking a vote on this proposal. However, this legislation has not been considered by any committee. Although I think we both agree that the CARES Act was far from perfect, Congress must work methodically before we make large- scale changes such as those proposed by my colleague. We have to get absolutely 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 our Nation. I have seven grandchildren. Four of them are watching here today: Auguste, Eli, Quinton and Sebastian. I have no interest in saddling them or children like them across the country with mountains of debt. To do so would not only be a political failure; it would be an abdication of our moral responsibility. It is time that we make the hard choices to put our Nation on a path to recovery--recovery from this virus, from the economic devastation it has brought with it, and from the fiscal calamity that decades of politicians have ignored. I hope my colleagues will join me in this fight to keep our country's future bright. I, therefore, respectfully object.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I clearly appreciate my colleague's remarks. State, local, and Tribal governments across our great country are working tirelessly during this difficult time and have received Federal funding through the CARES Act, specifically directed to aid in their efforts to keep families safe. While I understand the spirit of my colleague's proposal, I am very concerned that removing the important limitations related to the appropriate uses of the Coronavirus Relief Fund in the CARES Act would siphon resources away from the coronavirus response efforts that desperately need these resources. Further, I am unfortunately hearing that some States and localities would simply like to use Federal dollars to backfill their decades of fiscal mismanagement. Hard-working American taxpayers should not be on the hook to bail out poorly run States or to fund areas of State budget expenses that have nothing to do with coronavirus. We see States like California, Illinois, and New York with big budgets, high taxes, and tons of debt. Contrast that with States like Florida, where we made the hard fiscal decisions to pay off debt and live within our means. Floridians should not be punished and forced to backfill the budgets of these States. I have a chart here that shows what has happened as a result--I just picked out three States--of their fiscal mismanagement. From 1985 to 2018, you can see here that Florida gained significant population while these poorly managed States lost population. You can see that in Florida we watched our budget and didn't keep borrowing more money. We lived within our means. You can look at our debt--$27 billion. When you look at California, it is $155 billion; New York, $148 billion, and Illinois, $67 billion. You see what people are doing. They are leaving these high-tax States. Look at the personal income taxes and look at their attitude toward business. These are the three worst States for business. The Tax Foundation shows how poorly they do with their tax policy. If you look at what has happened, people have left these States and moved their income to Florida and other lower tax States and more business-oriented States. I am completely opposed to bailing out these States. Now, the difficulty in my colleague's proposal is that it is very difficult how you decide what is going to be used for one expense in a State budget or another expense in a State budget. Let's not forget that this year's Federal budget deficit will be the largest in the history of our Nation--the largest in the history of our Nation--in excess of the cumulative deficits for the first 200 years of our country's existence. As my colleague said, we will end the year with an excess of $25 trillion worth of Federal debt. More than ever, I think my colleague will agree with me that we have to be focused and very careful with our taxpayer dollars. I am very supportive of continuing to get needed resources to the communities and first responders in need. That is why, when the Senate passed the CARES Act, we wisely placed limitations on how this money could be spent. We need to maintain those guardrails to ensure that the country can continue on a path to recovery. For these reasons, Mr. President, I object.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, under this bill as it is written now, the government will pay many Americans more to be on government assistance than they would make if they were working at their regular jobs. I support expanding the unemployment insurance program. It is the best and quickest way to get money to people who need it most. But we should not create a system where unemployment insurance benefits are higher than their salary. We cannot pay people more to not work than to work. This is common sense. Most people will choose the bigger check, and I don't blame them at all. No person who understands anything about business, economics, or human nature would create such a perverse and ridiculous system. This bill creates an incentive for people to be unemployed for the next 4 months--fact. Without workers, our economy cannot reopen--fact. If our economy remains essentially closed for 4 more months, we will be in a very deep recession--fact. You may ask, how do I know all this? I grew up poor, in public housing. My mom worked three jobs. My parents were constantly struggling to find work. I know what it is like to skip Christmas and see the family car repossessed. On the other end of the spectrum, I have run businesses, small and large, and had great success. That is exactly how I know these things. This is not conjecture; these are facts. There are many good things in this bill, and there are many provisions that I wholeheartedly disagree with, but the worst thing we can do right now is to create a disincentive to work. We can get our economy up and running again, we can recover from this, but it will take a lot longer if we don't amend this bill to eliminate these perverse incentives.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, first, I want to thank the Senator from Alaska for his ``Alaskans of the Week'' each week. I have had the opportunity to preside a few times when he recognizes the Alaskan of the Week, and the stories are unbelievable. The story last week of what the young man from the great State of Florida did up in Alaska was just remarkable. So I say to the Senator, thank you for what you do.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, I speak today in honor of the three victims of the tragic terrorist attack that took place at Naval Air Station Pensacola on December 6, 2019. Airman Mohammed Sameh Haitham, known to friends and family as ``Mo,'' just 19 years old, from St. Petersburg, FL, was a great athlete who loved to make others laugh. Ensign Joshua Kaleb Watson of Enterprise, AL, a 23-year-old natural- born leader and selfless volunteer, who lifted others up, died a hero after giving first responders information on the shooter's location while he was mortally wounded. Airman Apprentice Cameron Scott Walters of Richmond Hill, GA, was just 21 years old, with a contagious smile, whose dream was to serve his country. Our sailors and law enforcement officials showed heroism and bravery in the face of evil, as they ran toward the shooter that day, saving lives, and our first responders came to the first aid of those in need. Following this attack, I promised to do everything possible to prevent a tragedy like this from happening again. I called for a hard reset of the entire foreign national's training program and for all Saudi nationals training in the United States to be sent home until the U.S. Department of Defense completed a thorough review. We now know that 21 of the foreign military students were withdrawn from the program and returned to Saudi Arabia after an investigation found that they were engaged in dangerous activities, including accessing anti-American jihadists websites and child pornography. Withdrawing these students was a positive step, but there are still more than 850 military students from Saudi Arabia who remain in the United States at 38 military installations in 17 States, and there are thousands of additional foreign nationals from countries around the world training at U.S. military basis across our great Nation. I am not calling for an end to these programs. Our alliances around the world, including our longstanding relationship with Saudi Arabia, are invaluable in defending American national securities and our interests abroad. These programs play an important role, but we cannot put the lives of our military men and women at risk. We need to make sure that our men and women in uniform are safe at all times, especially when they are training right here in the United States. Today, I am proud to join with my colleague Senator Joni Ernst to introduce the Secure U.S. Bases Act, to make sure these programs are operated with American interests first and that our men and women in uniform are protected. The Secure U.S. Bases Act does three things. First, it creates a new visa category for foreign military students training on U.S. bases, with restrictions on their travel and actions while they are in our country. Individuals who receive the new visa will be prohibited from possessing, acquiring, or using firearms, except for uses specifically required by their training program, and they will be under the continual oversight of their commander. Second, the bill changes the application process and vetting requirements for foreign military students. The application to train on U.S. bases will now require an official endorsement letter from the chief of intelligence of their home country, additional personal information, an in-person interview, and an extensive background check that will include a review of social media activity. The U.S. Director of National Intelligence will also be responsible for the final decision on whether to admit an applicant into this program. Finally, the Secretary of Defense must develop a method for classifying relative risks by country and consider the overall risk profile of each country when making determinations of an applicant's eligibility. If a program could be implemented in another country instead of the United States, the Department should consider that when appropriate. This terrorist should have never been allowed into our country, let alone on any American military base with easy access to military men and women. The Secure U.S. Bases Act makes sure foreign military students training at U.S. bases are thoroughly vetted and monitored and that our troops are protected and never have to experience a tragedy like this again. I had the opportunity to serve in the U.S. Navy and can't imagine our military men and women feeling unsafe on their post. It is a place where they train and serve, where their families live--some on base and some off--and where they deserve to feel safe and secure. I hope all my colleagues join me in this effort and keep our U.S. bases secure. I yield the floor.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent the remaining votes in this series be 10 minutes in length.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. Chief Justice, I send a question to the desk on behalf of myself and Senator Braun, and it is to the President's counsel.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, President Trump is working to defend the freedom of our country. He was right to take swift and decisive action to kill one of the world's worst monsters. Soleimani was responsible for the death and maiming of thousands of Americans and tens of thousands worldwide. He ordered the attack on the United States Embassy in Iraq. He had plans to kill more Americans. There are some in this body who are trying to curtail the President's authority to defend Americans and defend American interests. This is not only foolish; it is fool hardy. Our President does and should have the authority to defend Americans, period, but it is an authority he doesn't take lightly. President Trump is right to use restraint and avoid further escalation unless Iran continues their provocations. The regime in Iran--a regime that chants ``Death to America'' and wants to wipe Israel off the face of the map--needs to know that the United States will not tolerate acts of aggression against America or our allies. The death of Soleimani was a strong warning, but they should also know they have the opportunity to become productive members of the world community and bring peace and prosperity to their people. The choice is theirs. We all want peace, and the greatest deterrent to war is our economic and military strength, but Iran must make the choice for peace. It is a choice that is theirs alone. During this trying time, I want to pause and take a moment to remember the brave men and women of our Armed Forces. We often forget in Washington that the people carrying out the orders of our Commander in Chief are just that--people. They are not pieces on a chess board. They are fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters. I remember my father talking about his experience in World War II--a conflict he certainly had no expectation to return from. He loved his service to our country but never forgot those we lost. I remember friends going to Vietnam and Korea. I have spent many hours sitting and talking with Gold Star parents. As Governor, I watched Florida National Guard units leave for wars in the Middle East. The cost of war is great. As Ronald Reagan said, ``Freedom is not bought cheaply.'' We should never forget that. I am praying for our brave men and women in uniform--some of them Floridians--headed overseas to protect Americans and prevent an escalating conflict, and I am praying for peace. These heroes put their lives in danger to defend our Nation, and we cannot thank them enough for their sacrifice and their service. We must recognize the dangers and threats that our world faces today, and we must always stand together united to defend freedom and democracy. I yield the floor.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, Judge Anuraag Singhal has honorably served the State of Florida for several years, and I proudly support his confirmation as a district judge for the Southern District of Florida today. He has built a distinguished legal career, serving as a criminal prosecutor for Florida's Seventeenth Judicial Circuit and later opening a private practice focused on criminal defense and appellate work. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a firm commitment to the rule of law, and as Governor of Florida, I had the distinct honor to appoint Judge Singhal to Florida's Seventeenth Judicial Circuit court in 2011. I am equally honored to support his confirmation to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida today and know he will continue to serve our State and Nation well.

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. Today we come together to honor the courage of our brave men and women in uniform--our heroes--and remember the victims of the tragic terrorist attack that took place at Naval Air Station Pensacola on the morning of Friday, December 6. I would like to thank my colleagues, Senators Rubio, Perdue, Isakson, Shelby, and Jones, for standing with me today as we honor the sacrifice and memory of the three victims and their families. Amn Mohammed Sameh Haitham, known to friends and family as ``Mo,'' was just 19 years old from St. Petersburg, FL. He was a great athlete who loved to make others laugh. ENS Joshua Kaleb Watson of Alabama was a 23-year-old natural born leader and selfless volunteer who had lifted others up. Joshua died a hero after giving first responders information on the shooter's location while he was mortally wounded. Amn Apprentice Cameron Scott Walters of Richmond, GA, was just 21 years old, with a contagious smile. His dream was to serve our country. Our sailors and law enforcement officials showed heroism and bravery in the face of evil as they ran toward the shooter that day, saving lives. To our first responders who came to the swift aid of those in need, I would like to thank each one of them. Today, the State of Florida stands united around the community of Pensacola and the families of victims as we pray for healing. I join my colleagues as we do everything we can to prevent future terrorist attacks. Mr. President, as in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 457, submitted earlier today.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. I yield the floor to Senator Rubio.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. I stand with the people of Venezuela and will always fight for freedom and democracy in Latin America. I understand my colleague has an objection. I am disappointed, but I look forward to working with him to address his concerns. Thank you.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Madam President, I rise to speak again today about the crisis in Venezuela--a defining human rights issue of our time. Nicolas Maduro is starving his own people, and innocent children are dying. It is a genocide right here in our hemisphere. Every day that passes, the situation in Venezuela grows more dire. The United States and all freedom-loving countries around the world must do more. As Governor, I strictly prohibited the State of Florida, including all State agencies, from investing in any company that did business with Maduro's repressive regime. I am grateful for the bipartisan support this bill has received, and I specifically thank Senator Rosen for her leadership and for joining me in this effort. We must never give up on the fight for freedom, and I look forward to all of my colleagues joining me in support of the people of Venezuela. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to address the Senate in Spanish.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Madam President, I rise to speak today about the things Congress is failing to accomplish while Democrats in the House continue their obsession with impeaching this President to overturn the results of the 2016 election. Let's be clear. That is what is happening here. Democrats lost the election in 2016 and realized they are going to lose again in 2020. They are trying to use the impeachment process to hurt the President. That is shameful enough, but let's think about what Congress is not doing. Congress is not passing a budget. Congress is not funding our military. Congress is not securing our border. Congress is not lowering the cost of prescription drugs. Congress is not doing the things the American people sent us to Washington to do. I won't accept that. I have a background in business, and in the real world, if you don't do your job, you don't get paid. It is that simple. If Congress can't accomplish even the most basic tasks--passing a budget and appropriations bills in an orderly fashion--lawmakers shouldn't get a paycheck, period. The current system is broken. No one takes responsibility, and there are no consequences. That should change. That is why we need to pass my No Budget, No Pay proposal now. Withholding paychecks from Members of Congress who fail to pass the budget will help prevent government shutdowns, which hurt the economy and millions of everyday Americans. It is also an important step to promote fiscal responsibility in the face of our staggering national debt, which stands at over $23 trillion. No Budget, No Pay is moving through Congress with bipartisan support. It was approved by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in June, and it is included as part of the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act. We need to pass No Budget, No Pay now to show we are serious about the future of this Nation. Members of Congress make $174,000 a year. All we are asking them to do is the most basic function of government--pass the budget. It is not complicated. If you are a Member of Congress, rich or poor, and you don't believe Congress can or should pass a budget every year, then go home. There are lots of other competent people who can have your job. When the American people don't do their job, there are consequences. It is time we make Washington just a little bit more like the real world, so I ask all my colleagues to join with me to pass No Budget, No Pay. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, Florida is the Nation's greatest melting pot, with people from all over the Nation choosing to make Florida their permanent home. Our State has the best colleges and universities in the Nation, including many Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Serving Institutions. As Governor of Florida, I made historic investments in higher education and fought to keep higher education affordable so more students can get a great education in Florida. As Senator, I will continue to fight to make sure every child has access to a quality education at a price they can afford. Our Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Serving Institutions are critical to the success of our State and the future of our children, and I will always work to support their mission. The best way to support our colleges and universities is to make sure our economy is thriving so we have the resources we need to invest in education. That means we have to be careful about how we are spending taxpayer dollars. I have concerns any time the government permanently funds a program, no matter what that program is. Funding anything permanently means there is little to no accountability or oversight. We must be careful to regularly review every government-funded program to make sure taxpayers are always getting the best return on their investment.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Madam President, I rise today to speak about the greatest threat the United States faces in the next century, the threat of Communist China. I have been saying, for months, Communist China is not our friend. They are stealing our technology; refusing to open up their markets to foreign goods as required by the WTO; militarizing the South China Sea, even after promising President Obama they wouldn't; holding over 1 million Uighurs in prison camps just for their religion; harvesting the organs of detainees against their will; and Communist China is intentionally pushing fentanyl into the United States, killing Americans every day. Communist China continues to strip the people of Hong Kong of their basic rights. I was the first Senator to visit Hong Kong since the protests started nearly 6 months ago. I had the opportunity to meet with the protestors--students, parents, and grandparents--who are fighting to regain the freedom they were once promised. I heard their stories, horrible and frightening stories of police brutality, threats against individuals and their families, and mysterious disappearances. Six months in and no signs of Communist China loosening their grip-- their efforts to crack down on the protests in Hong Kong reflect their commitment to denying basic human rights and snuffing out any opposition to their totalitarian goals. We cannot stay silent. General Secretary of the Communist Party Xi is trying to be the dominant world power. It is Hong Kong now, then it will be Taiwan. Communist China believes that, in order for them to be stronger, other freedom-loving countries must be weaker. As Communist China becomes more and more aggressive, we must ask ourselves: Is this the next Tiananmen Square? We all remember that famous image. Times have changed, but one thing stays the same: Wherever totalitarian regimes exist, there will be brave freedom fighters who will stand up against injustice and stand for human rights. That is what we are seeing in Hong Kong today. Beijing soldiers have been appearing on the city streets, raising questions about the army's future role. Will Communist China once again use its military might to quash peaceful protests? Will they once again stand against those fighting for human rights and democracy? Will the United States stand by and allow this to happen? We are seeing Americans like Michael Bloomberg putting profits above human rights and propping up the Chinese Government by continuing to host huge events in Communist China. It is time for the world to stand and present a unified front against Communist China's aggression, and that starts with supporting the brave people of Hong Kong. We must do everything we can to communicate our commitment to democracy, freedom, and human rights. I am proud to stand in support of the Hong Kong Freedom and Democracy Act, which will give the United States more authority to reevaluate Beijing's influence on Hong Kong. This bill makes it clear that General Secretary of the Communist Party Xi needs to comply with what China agreed to in 1997. Communist China must give Hong Kong its autonomy, or the United States will continue to ramp up pressure on Communist China. We cannot underestimate this threat. We must be vigilant. We must be aggressive. America's role of fighting for freedom and liberty worldwide depends on it. The future of our children and grandchildren depends on it. To the brave and resilient people of Hong Kong, the United States is with you. Your fight will not be in vain, and it does not go unnoticed. And to Communist China and General Secretary of the Communist Party Xi, consider your next moves carefully. The world is watching. I won't stop fighting until America's economic and political future-- and the freedom of nations across the globe--is secure from the threat of China's influence. I want to thank Senator Rubio and Senator Cardin and all Senators of the U.S. for their support of this bill. I yield the floor.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Madam President, reserving the right to object. I am disappointed in yet another political stunt from the Democratic leader. It is clear this is nothing but a political attack on the President. President Trump's goal is to bring American troops home and keep our partners, the Kurds, safe and our ally, Israel, secure. The Democratic leader is requesting information from President Trump but refuses to join me in asking for information about the sequence of events and the strategy under President Obama that led us to this point. This is sad, but it is not surprising. It is just another charade in a long list of political games. Americans deserve a safe Israel and a safe Syria, so I stand today to object.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Madam President, reserving the right to object. I thank the Democratic leader for his concerns about the defeat of ISIS. If there is one thing I hope we can all agree on, it is that Turkey is not our ally or friend right now. Turkey's invasion of Syria is benefiting ISIS, Iran, and Russia, and hurting our great ally, Israel. The United States must stand up for our partners, the Kurds, who helped us fight ISIS. I am hopeful the ceasefire will last, keeping American soldiers and our partners, the Kurds, safe. Nobody wants our men and women in uniform involved in unnecessary, extended military conflicts. Bringing our troops home is a goal we all share. In order to achieve that goal, we need to have a fuller understanding of the crisis in Syria and what got us there--with the hope our troops can finally come home. I also agree that the President should always be clear with Congress on where all U.S. troops are located and the purpose of their deployment. Unfortunately, my colleague's proposal would produce a report that only tells a small part of the story. In the name of transparency and a fuller understanding of how we got here, I am proposing a modification to my colleague's bill to require a report that includes information on President Obama's plan for Syria. We didn't get here overnight. The Democratic leader knows that. He said himself it took us 5 years to get here. So I think we all would like to see what the strategy--or lack of strategy--was from the last administration that put us in this position today. Let's get all the facts on the table so lawmakers in Congress and Americans all across the country can have all the information we need to keep Americans and our allies safe. Reserving the right to object, therefore, I ask that the Democratic leader modify his request to include my amendment, which is at the desk. I further ask that the amendment be considered and agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Madam President, as a member of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize a small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit at the heart of our economy. This week, it is my privilege to honor a business that provides quality women's clothing while also fostering economic development within its immediate community. It is my pleasure to recognize Pink Stable of Camden, SC, as the Senate Small Business of the Week. Pink Stable is a boutique located in historic downtown Camden. Established in 2014, Kathryn Couch's business provides both classic and trendy clothing at an affordable price for women of all ages. Kathryn filled an empty space in Camden's downtown after noticing there were few places where women could buy contemporary clothing with an element of southern flair. After securing private financing, she began implementing her unique business plan and quickly developed a loyal customer base. Currently, the business is expanding their brand and brainstorming ideas to create a greater following outside of Camden. Their Instagram page has amassed over 4,000 followers. This social media outlet is used to scale their business and provide merchandise to a wider range of potential customers. Since its founding, Pink Stable has also made a significant positive impact in the community by maintaining its commitment to customer service and quality products. Through the Main Street South Carolina Program, the city of Camden has allocated $32.5 million to revitalize the historic downtown area and expand the local economy. Kathryn's business has helped inspire others to consider opening shops and restaurants in downtown Camden. Pink Stable has become an integral part of the community, proving that a Camden-based business can flourish through determination and a well-executed business plan. Kathryn was recently awarded with the honor of South Carolina Young Entrepreneur of the Year by the South Carolina Small Business Administration in 2019 for her outstanding contributions. Pink Stable's success has led Kathryn to open another small business in the Camden area, Evelyn's Bridal Store, which was recognized as South Carolina's Best Bridal Store in 2017. I am honored to recognize Kathryn and the entire team at Pink Stable as the Senate Small Business of the Week. Their boutique is a great example of how strategic vision and determination can create commercial success, and I look forward to watching their continued growth.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, what we heard this week from my Democratic colleagues on healthcare is more of the same--more fearmongering and more misinformation. The issue this week is about what is called 1332 waivers. These waivers allow States flexibility in how they implement healthcare programs. It is a simple concept. Every State is different. Every State should have the flexibility to design their healthcare programs and regulations in a way to best meet the needs of their citizens. As a former Governor I know how important this is. Top-down, one- size-fits-all Federal healthcare programs increase costs and aren't the way to best serve the needs of the American people. Even the Democrats realized that when they passed ObamaCare. They created the 1332 waiver for State innovation. As Governor, I used a similar waiver authority, an 1115 Medicaid waiver to reform our Medicaid system and transition it from a fee-for- service to a managed care system. This resulted in lower costs to taxpayers and better service and access for Florida families--a win- win. These waivers work, and if you believe in States' rights, these waivers are the way to give States the opportunity to provide better healthcare to their citizens. But here is the problem: The Democrats don't believe in States' rights or allowing State taxpayers and citizens any flexibility to provide better healthcare services to their citizens. The Democrats want these top-down, one-size-fits-all Federal programs. If there is choice and flexibility, they want to restrict it. It is how Big Government works, and the Democrats love Big Government, restrictive mandates, and socialism. When the Democrats are not attacking Republicans for trying to dismantle ObamaCare, the Democrats turn around to their supporters and talk about their efforts to replace ObamaCare. They don't want to keep ObamaCare programs as they are. They know ObamaCare is not working. They want to replace it with Medicare for All, which would be the biggest expansion of government healthcare in history. By some estimates, Medicare for All would cost more than $30 trillion over 10 years. This one program would double the Federal budget and would require massive tax increases on each and every man, woman, and child in America. Right now, we collect $3 trillion in Federal revenue. Medicare for All would require everyone's Federal taxes to more than double. Coincidentally, the Congressional Budget Office has so far been unable to do an official score of the Medicare for All bill. I have asked the sponsor of the bill, the junior Senator from Vermont, who happens to be the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, to join me in requesting the CBO score for his bill. So far, crickets. Why wouldn't the Senator want a score of his bill? It is because the Democrats don't want you to know how much it would cost. They don't want you to know how many people would lose the employer-sponsored healthcare they have and like. They don't want you to know how much taxes would have to go up. Medicare for All is the Democrats' dream: every American on a government-run healthcare program, every American reliant on the Federal Government for their healthcare. Any effort to undermine this goal is anathema to them. So this week they are going after 1332 waivers and claiming they somehow undermine protections for people with preexisting conditions. The Senate Democratic leader claimed yesterday that these waivers are an effort to ``sabotage healthcare for millions.'' I find that statement interesting. I wonder what Democratic Governor Jared Polis of Colorado thinks of the Democratic leader's claim that he is trying to sabotage healthcare. His State used these 1332 waivers to offer healthcare plans to best meet the needs of Coloradans. They have seen premiums go down by 16 percent. I wonder what Democratic Governor John Carney of Delaware would say? His State also used this waiver and has seen premiums drop by 13 percent. I wonder what Democratic Governor Gina Raimondo of Rhode Island would say? Premiums in her State have gone down 6 percent since they got their 1332 waiver. Contrary to the misinformation from the Democratic leader, these waivers do not eliminate protections for people with preexisting conditions. These core protections, which I strongly support, remain unchanged. This is personal to me. My brother grew up with a preexisting condition, and my mother had to drive 200 miles to a charity hospital just to get treatment for him. The Democrats are misrepresenting the facts about 1332 waivers because they realize they are losing the argument. Remember the ObamaCare promise: You can keep your insurance plan, your doctor, and every family will save $2,500. ObamaCare only benefited hospitals, insurance companies, and the pharmaceutical industry. That is why they originally supported it. But for the average American, millions lost their insurance and their doctors, premiums skyrocketed, deductibles skyrocketed. The result is that while more people have healthcare insurance, fewer people have access to healthcare. Now they want to double down with Medicare for All. There are three problems with our current healthcare system, all caused by government: cost, cost, and cost. None of the Democrats' proposals would do a thing to address the cost of healthcare. Their proposals only make the problem worse. Keep that in mind as you listen to the Democrats' fearmongering on healthcare. They have to misrepresent information because they can't defend their own position. The American people don't want and can't afford Medicare for All. We need to reduce healthcare costs and provide a safety net for those who cannot afford their healthcare, not create a Federal Government- organized healthcare market, which causes healthcare costs to skyrocket. Giving flexibility to the States is an easy way to increase access and quality of care for the American people. So, of course, Democrats oppose that--except for the Democratic Governors who are doing it every day. If you needed any more evidence of how out of touch Washington Democrats have become, look no further than their criticism and their vote against Democratic Governors for supporting good policies that make sense. Enough with the misrepresentations, enough with the nonsense, enough with the fearmongering. The American people deserve better. Let's work together to lower the cost of healthcare so that all taxpayers can get the care they need at a price they can afford. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, I further ask unanimous consent the committee-reported substitute amendment be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed, and 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. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the bill be considered read a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.