Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2019

Floor Speech

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Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, I rise today as a voice for the people of Puerto Rico. I intend to be their voice in the U.S. Senate. They are Americans--as American as the people of Florida whom I was elected to represent. They are our brothers and sisters, and they deserve a voice. Their success is America's success. Their recovery is America's recovery.

In September of 2017, Puerto Rico was hit by a devastating hurricane. Maria's landfall changed the landscape of the island forever. As Governor of Florida, I worked to be there for the people of Puerto Rico. I worked with Congresswoman Jenniffer Gonzalez Colon, Governor Rossello, Lieutenant Governor Luis Rivera Marin, Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz, and House Speaker Carlos Johnny Mendez to provide whatever support and aid they needed.

Jennifer has been a tireless advocate for Puerto Rico, and she has been fighting so hard for this funding. I am proud to join her in this fight.

In Florida, we created welcome centers at the airports in Orlando and in Miami to support those coming to Florida from the island. We waived housing and education regulations to make sure families coming from Puerto Rico could easily settle in Florida, whether they planned to stay permanently or just for a short period of time.

I have visited Puerto Rico eight times since the deadly storm and provided Florida State resources to the citizens of Puerto Rico to aid in rebuilding and recovery, but the island still has a long way to go.

The bill I supported today does many good things. It reopens the government after the longest shutdown in U.S. history. It provides significant funding to secure our southern border--funding that is long overdue and that is needed to keep American families safe. It extends protections for children who were brought to this country illegally through no fault of their own, and it extends TPS. While I would prefer a permanent solution for the DACA kids and TPS, this is a positive step. Putting protections for the DACA population into law is also long overdue.

The bill also provides significant disaster funding for the State of Florida following the devastation of Hurricane Michael, which hit Florida's Panhandle just a few months ago. The funding includes resources specifically for Tyndall Air Force Base. I would like to thank Majority Leader McConnell for putting a bill forward to help Florida recover from this horrible hurricane.

On all of these points, I join many of my colleagues in support, but, unfortunately, the Senate version of the government funding bill does not include $600 million in essential disaster funding for our brothers and sisters in Puerto Rico.

I am offering an amendment today that would add the $600 million included in the House bill back to the Senate version.

Puerto Rico's recovery continues, and the U.S. Congress must do everything we can to support that, with responsible safeguards against fraud and waste. As long as I am a Member of the U.S. Senate, I will fight to make sure the people of Puerto Rico are represented. I am proud that the first amendment I filed and my first speech on the Senate floor is to fight for Puerto Rico.

To the people of Puerto Rico, know this: I will be your voice in the Senate. I will fight for what is right, and I will never give up.

I will now address the Senate in Spanish. I provided the translation to the Senate for the Record.

(English translation of the statement made in Spanish is as follows:)

The people of Puerto Rico deserve real change. We have to strengthen the economy of the island. As a Senator, I will fight for the families of Puerto Rico and work to ensure that Puerto Rico is treated fairly.

Thank you so much.

Mr. President, the amendment is at the desk.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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