Senator Rick Scott said, “At times of crisis, we come together. That’s exactly what we’re going to do to help our Bahamian brothers and sisters. I’m working on what we can get done on the federal level right now to help the Bahamas, and I will do everything in my power to help the Bahamas recover and rebuild.”

This week, Senator Scott released four proposals to help the Bahamas recover:

• Changing the U.S. Tax Code to Incentivize Charitable Giving
  Senator Scott will file a bill to eliminate the cap on deductibility of individual and corporate charitable contributions to organizations doing disaster relief in the wake of Hurricane Dorian. Families and businesses should not have restrictions on how much they can donate to relief efforts.
• Providing Humanitarian Assistance
  Senator Scott is thankful for all the work by the U.S. Coast Guard to help with search and rescue and medical evacuations in the Bahamas. Senator Scott is also supporting efforts by NORTHCOM to provide additional humanitarian assistance to the Bahamas.
• Redirecting Foreign Aid to the Bahamas
  Senator Scott is proposing that the U.S. redirect some foreign aid currently being distributed to our adversaries, including Russia, North Korea, China, Iran, Syria, Cuba and Yemen, to support Bahamian recovery efforts.
• Transferring Peace Corps Resources to the Bahamas
  Senator Scott is calling on the Peace Corps to terminate all activities in China and instead use those resources to support recovery in the Bahamas. All Peace Corps personnel and resources should be transferred from China to the Bahamas by October 1, 2019.

See more of what Senator Scott has been up to this week below.

Senator Scott is committed to doing everything he can on the federal level to help families in the Bahamas recover and rebuild. This afternoon, Senator Scott joined Senator Marco Rubio in urging President Trump to waive or suspend certain visa requirements for Bahamian citizens with relatives residing in the United States.

Senator Rick Scott said, “What happened in the Bahamas is absolutely devastating. Your heart goes out to all the families impacted. I want to thank all of those that are coming together to quickly provide relief for families in the Bahamas – your efforts mean so much. The people of Florida are generous and the outpouring of support for our neighbors in the Bahamas has been inspiring. I’m committed to doing everything I can on the federal level to help the Bahamas rebuild and recover following Hurricane Dorian.”

See below for more details on efforts to help families and businesses in the Bahamas impacted by Hurricane Dorian:

• The United States Coast Guard is positioned in the Bahamas to conduct medical evacuations, support search and rescue operations and provide humanitarian aid. The U.S. Coast Guard has also taken the Prime Minister and Bahamas opposition leader to survey damage.
• The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to the Bahamas to assess damage, identify humanitarian needs, and bring urgently needed assistance to those affected by this hurricane.
• USAID is working with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) of the Bahamas to pre-position personnel in Nassau to help the Bahamian government with providing aid.
• The Bahamian government has announced that any relief supplies being shipped or brought by boat to the Bahamas will be exempt from duties and fees.

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Senators Rick Scott, Marco Rubio Urge President Trump to Waive Some Visa Requirements for Bahamian Citizens with U.S. Relatives

Following the devastation of Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas, Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio urged President Donald Trump to waive or suspend certain visa requirements for Bahamian citizens with relatives residing in the United States. Read more, including the full letter, HERE.

Following a visit to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, ahead of Hurricane Dorian, Senator Rick Scott stopped by the American Red Cross on Saturday to receive an update on their efforts to prepare for and respond to Hurricane Dorian and keep Floridians safe.

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Sen. Rick Scott Thanks Law Enforcement for Hurricane Dorian Preparedness and Response Efforts

Senator Rick Scott visited the Atlantic Beach Police Department, Neptune Beach Police Department, and Duval County Emergency Operations Center to thank law enforcement officers and employees for their incredible work to keep Florida families safe before, during, and after Hurricane Dorian.

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Sen. Rick Scott Visits Bahamian Hurricane Relief Donation Sites in Miami

Senator Rick Scott joined City of Miami Mayor Francis Suarez and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Giménez to tour donation and relief supplies collection sites for Bahamian families impacted by Hurricane Dorian. Senator Scott was also joined by Senator Rubio at the American Red Cross in Miami to learn about how they are helping families and business impacted in the Bahamas. Read more HERE.

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Were you or your loved ones affected by Hurricane Dorian? 

Visit www.rickscott.senate.gov/hurricanes/resources for resources and information to help your family recover from the storm.

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Judicial Vacancies

Senator Scott remains committed to filling Florida’s federal judicial vacancies in Florida’s Southern District and Middle District with the best-qualified candidates to serve our state and nation. Interested candidates may contact our office or find more information on current federal judicial vacancies HERE.

Fox News: Rubio, Scott ask Trump to waive visa requirements for Bahamians to seek refuge in US

USA Today: Florida senators call for help for the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian devastates country

News Service of Florida: Senators Marco Rubio, Rick Scott call for aiding Bahamas storm victims

Breitbart: Marco Rubio, Rick Scott Ask Trump to Provide U.S. Refuge to Bahamians Hit by Hurricane Dorian

Cox Media Group: GOP Senator calls for foreign aid to be redirected to the Bahamas

Sun Sentinel: Florida lawmakers ask Donald Trump to ease visa rules for Bahamians after Hurricane Dorian

Sunshine State News: Rubio, Scott Plead with Trump: Waive Some Visa Rules for Bahamian Citizens with U.S. Relatives

Florida Daily: Florida Senators Want Trump to Suspend Visa Requirements for Some Bahamian Citizens After Hurricane Dorian

Florida Politics: Marco Rubio, Rick Scott want visa waivers for some Bahamians

The Floridian: Rubio, Scott ask Trump to “suspend certain visa requirements” for Bahamians

Florida Daily: Marco Rubio, Rick Scott Want Feds to Do More to Help the Bahamas Recover From Hurricane Dorian

Fox News: Florida Sen. Rick Scott urges residents to remain vigilant as Hurricane Dorian looms

Fox News: Rick Scott urges Floridians to take Dorian seriously: ‘This is about your survival’

Fox News: Florida Sen. Rick Scott on Hurricane Dorian: ‘Don’t take a chance’

Fox News: Officials issue stern warnings as Dorian nears U.S.: ‘Take this storm seriously’

Fox News: Sen. Scott expects flooding, wind and tornadoes to accompany Hurricane Dorian

Fox News: Sen. Rick Scott urges Floridians to evacuate as Hurricane Dorian approaches

Fox Business: Sen. Rick Scott: Hurricane Dorian’s storm surges matter more than its category

The Floridian: Scott and Trump monitor Hurricane Dorian from FEMA HQ

Fort Myers News-Press: Hurricane Dorian: U.S. Senator Rick Scott visits the National Hurricane Center in Miami

Politico: Rick Scott: Florida ‘not off the hook’ when it comes to Hurricane Dorian

The Daily Caller: Florida Sen. Rick Scott Says Dorian Could Bring Destruction On The Level Of Mexico Beach

Newsmax: Fla.’s Sen. Rick Scott Warns Dorian Has Deadly Disastrous Potential 

Newsmax: Sen. Rick Scott to Fla.: Heed Dorian Evacuation Orders

WPEC: Sen. Rick Scott speaks at National Hurricane Center in Miami

WPEC: Florida Sen. Rick Scott speaks with CBS 12 as Dorian tracks north

WSVN: Gimenez, Scott visit Doral warehouse amid supply collections for Dorian survivors

Florida Today: Hurricane Dorian: Sen. Rick Scott talks about the expected storm surge