Capital Soup

Florida News Straight From the Source

You are here: Home / Archives for Senator Marco Rubio

Senator Marco Rubio

Sens. Nelson and Rubio ask Dept. of Transportation for post-storm coordination and support

Posted on

U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio today sent the following letter to Dept. of Transportation Secretary Chao.
Following is the text of the letter sent to the Dept. of Transportation:

September 11, 2017

The Honorable Elaine Chao
Secretary
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20590
Dear Secretary Chao:
As you are aware, Hurricane Irma made landfall in the state of the Florida as a category four hurricane early Sunday morning. Local officials have reported substantial damage to the bridges, roadways, and airports across the entire state. We thank the Department of Transportation for its swift release of emergency relief funding to begin addressing the immediate recovery needs.
While the infrastructure has yet to be fully surveyed, the need for assistance is expected to be significant. Florida Highway Patrol has already reported that portions of Interstate four in Central Florida have been washed out, and early indications are that northeast Florida roads are inundated with water. We are also hearing that bridges in the lower keys have sustained damage and are covered with debris. These roads, highways, and bridges may serve as critical routes, necessary for emergency response efforts, or vital to the delivery of much-needed fuel, food, water and other necessities post-storm. In addition, airports serve as a key hub for recovery as well, and are in the process of assessing damage. Without full functionality of these transportation pathways, Floridians are unable to resume their normal day-to-day lives.
The Department of Transportation plays a critical role in ensuring the safety and operability of our transportation network. While the level of damage to our state in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma is unclear, it is essential that all federal resources are provided to aid in restoring our state’s infrastructure to its optimal function and usability for our constituents. As state and local officials continue to assess the infrastructure damage incurred by this natural disaster, we ask the Department of Transportation to continue to coordinate with relevant federal agencies to provide all possible aid, staff and resources to address any deficiencies.
Thank you for your prompt consideration of this matter.

Sincerely,

Nelson, Rubio call on Congress to approve additional funding for Hurricane Irma

Posted on

U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) are calling on Senate leaders to include additional funding in a $7.85 billion disaster aid package the House passed earlier today for Hurricane Harvey to “account for the additional costs FEMA will likely incur responding to Hurricane Irma.”
“Hurricane Irma is now one of the most powerful hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean and is currently on track to make landfall in South Florida as early as Sunday,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter today to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Charles Schumer. “This massive category-5 storm has the potential to cause catastrophic destruction throughout the state and we are deeply concerned that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will not have the resources it needs to respond if Congress doesn’t act soon.”
Following is the full text of the senators’ letter:

September 6, 2017

The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Majority Leader
S-230, U.S. Capitol
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Charles Schumer
Minority Leader
S-221, U.S. Capitol
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Majority Leader McConnell and Minority Leader Schumer:
Hurricane Irma is now one of the most powerful hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean and is currently on track to make landfall in South Florida as early as Sunday. This massive category-5 storm has the potential to cause catastrophic destruction throughout the state and we are deeply concerned that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will not have the resources it needs to respond if Congress doesn’t act soon.
As of right now, FEMA is scheduled to run out of money by Friday, Sept. 8, just two days before Hurricane Irma is expected to hit Florida. Unfortunately, the current disaster relief package Congress is considering for Hurricane Harvey doesn’t account for the additional costs FEMA will likely incur as a result of Hurricane Irma. In fact, according to FEMA, even with the Harvey supplemental aid package, FEMA is likely to run out of funds before the end of September.
As Floridians are preparing for one of the worst storms on record, they need to know that the federal government is both ready and willing to direct the necessary resources needed to help them in the recovery process. As such, we strongly urge you to include additional funding in the Hurricane Harvey aid package to account for the additional costs FEMA will likely incur responding to Hurricane Irma.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Nelson, Rubio introduce bill to reform VA

Posted on


U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced legislation today aimed at reforming the Department of Veterans Affairs by making it easier for the VA Secretary to fire poorly-preforming employees.
The legislation aimed at holding VA employees more accountable would also create new protections for VA whistleblowers and ensure that employees who are terminated have an adequate opportunity to appeal their dismissal.
“This bill will help the VA provide better care to our veterans by removing the bad actors and protecting the good ones,” Nelson said. “The brave men and women who have served our country deserve nothing but the best, and this bill is another small step in ensuring that they receive the care they deserve.”
For years, the VA has been plagued by reports of inefficiency and long wait times. VA Secretary David Shulkin has repeatedly expressed support for legislation to hold VA employees more accountable.
The legislation filed today is the third bill Nelson has sponsored in as many years to hold VA employees more accountable. Nelson says that while he believes it’s important to hold poorly-performing employees accountable, he also believes it’s important to protect the rights of those employees who may have been wrongly terminated, especially at the lower levels, by giving theman opportunity to appeal a supervisor’s decision to fire them.
Specifically, the legislation filed today would:

  • Authorize the secretary to reprimand, suspend, involuntarily reassign, demote, or remove a covered individual from a senior executive service position, including removal from civil service, if the secretary determines that their misconduct or performance warrants such an action, subject to a VA-internal grievance process established by the secretary that must be completed within 21 days.

 

  • Authorize the secretary to remove, demote, or suspend for longer than 14 days without pay, subject to an appeal of their removal or demotion to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) for most non-senior executive service (SES) employees. The MSBP would then have 180 days to complete an expedited appeal and render a final decision, subject to judicial review by the U.S. Federal Circuit.

 

  • Protect whistleblowers from retaliation by not allowing the secretary to use this authority to fire employees who have filed a complaint with the Office of Special Counsel (OSC). The proposal would also establish an Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection for employees to bring to light major problems at the VA without losing their job or facing retaliation.

 

  • Streamline authority for the secretary to rescind an employee’s bonus or relocation expense reimbursement if the secretary deems it appropriate, and allow reduction to an SES employee’s retirement pension upon their conviction of a felony related to work performance.

 

  • Require the VA to provide periodic training to each supervisor on the rights of whistleblowers; how to address a report by an employee of a hostile work environment, reprisal, or harassment; how to effectively motivate, manage, and reward employees; and how to effectively manage employees who are performing at an unacceptable level.

 

  • Authorize the secretary to directly appoint individuals to the positions of Medical Center Director and Director of Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) if they have demonstrated ability in the medical profession, health care administration, or health care fiscal management.

 

  • Require the VA to provide reports to Congress on employee morale and the types of administrative action taken against employees and their effectiveness in disciplining employees.

Full text of the legislation is available here.

Nelson, Rubio call on feds to extend red snapper season

Posted on

U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) are urging the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration to extend this year’s red snapper season for recreational fishermen. In a letter sent today to NOAA Acting Administrator Benjamin Friedman, the lawmakers cite concerns for angler’s safety and the economic impact such a short season will have on local communities.
“We are writing regarding this week’s announcement that the 2017 Gulf of Mexico red snapper fishing season will be nearly a week shorter than last year’s season,” the senators wrote. “For the anglers, boat captains, and related industries dependent on access to this fishery, this is deeply concerning.”
The lawmakers’ letter comes after NOAA’s recent announcement that the 2017 red snapper recreational fishing season would be just three days long, nearly a full week shorter than last year’s season.
“We ask that you consider incorporating all available reliable data to ensure anglers can safely fish for an appropriate season, which contributes valuable tourism revenue to coastal economies and ensures access to this public resource,” the senators wrote.
Below is the text of the senators’ letter, and here is a signed PDF copy.

May 4, 2017

Mr. Benjamin Friedman
Acting Administrator
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Room 5128
Washington, DC 20230
Dear Acting Administrator Friedman ,
We are writing regarding this week’s announcement that the 2017 Gulf of Mexico red snapper fishing season will be nearly a week shorter than last year’s season. For the anglers, boat captains, and related industries dependent on access to this fishery, this is deeply concerning.
According to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the 2017 Gulf of Mexico red snapper federal season will be limited to just three days for recreational fishermen and 49 days for charter fishermen. We also understand that NMFS is likely to keep the South Atlantic closed for another season as well.
In years past, we have raised concern that setting a rigid fishing season of consecutive days may put anglers in harm’s way due to Florida’s unpredictable and frequent summer storms. We continue to believe that allowing more flexibility in the season to accommodate dangerous weather would help fishermen avoid hazardous conditions.
Once again, we ask that you consider incorporating all available reliable data to ensure anglers can safely fish for an appropriate season, which contributes valuable tourism revenue to coastal economies and ensures access to this public resource.

Sincerely,