Since 1984, Washington, D.C. has maintained sister city ties with Beijing, despite Communist China’s well-documented human rights abuses and acts of genocide. The Chinese Communist Party has long sought to isolate Taiwan on the international stage, both diplomatically...
News
Latest News
ICYMI: Rubio Joins The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) joined the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show to discuss the pro-Hamas college encampments, Democrats’ mixed Israel messaging, and more. See below for highlights and listen to the full interview here. On the politically motivated trials...
ICYMI: Rubio: Earth-week Housing Rule Puts “Planet” Over People
Biden Is Making It Harder to Buy Homes — Just to Please Green Radicals and Wall Street U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) May 12, 2024 New York Post …HUD is issuing a new “energy-saving” rule that will instead increase the cost of building homes for federally assisted...
Rubio-led Provisions Included in Senate FAA Reauthorization Bill
The Senate passed the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act (H.R. 3935), which reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) until 2028. The bill includes several provisions led by U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), including an...
Rubio, Rosen, and Colleagues to Biden: Oppose ICC Action Against Israel
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is seeking to politically target Israel for rightfully defending itself from terrorists seeking its destruction following the October 7, 2023 atrocities committed by Hamas. U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Jacky Rosen (D-NV),...
Next Week: Rubio Staff Hosts Mobile Office Hours
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio’s (R-FL) office will host in-person Mobile Office Hours next week to assist constituents with federal casework issues in their respective local communities. These office hours offer constituents who do not live close to one of Senator Rubio’s...
Rubio, Florida Republicans Urge HHS to Reverse Decision to Ration Antibody Treatments
Miami, FL — U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) led members of the Florida congressional delegation in urging Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra to reverse course on the department’s sudden decision to ration monoclonal antibody (mAb) drugs for the outpatient treatment of COVID-19, which will cause the State of Florida to face a severe deficit of doses.
“This decision was made without providing the Florida Department of Health or healthcare providers anytime to prepare for this dramatic shift,” the lawmakers wrote. “Prior to this week, health care providers were able to obtain mAb therapies directly from distributors. With no warning, that changed, leaving Florida providers scrambling for information and a path forward for previously scheduled appointments of this life-saving therapy.”
“State Departments of Health cannot develop procedures or plan for problems they are not aware of,” the lawmakers continued. “In the absence of clear, consistent communication, Florida and other states are now facing a situation where they have been denied the opportunity to develop an equitable, efficient state coordinated distribution system. At a time when Florida’s hospitalization rates are rapidly declining, in part because of the State’s successful mAb deployment infrastructure, this is a dangerous reversal of the Department’s stance.”
Joining Rubio were Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) and Representatives Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Bill Posey (R-FL), Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), Scott Franklin (R-FL), and Neal Dunn (R-FL).
The full text of the letter is below.
Dear Secretary Becerra:
We write with regard to the Department of Health and Human Service (HHS)’s distribution process for monoclonal antibody (mAb) drugs for the outpatient treatment of COVID-19. On September 13, 2021, with no prior warning, HHS established new allocation procedures that will cause the State of Florida to face a deficit of tens of thousands of doses per week.
While these therapies are not a substitute for vaccines, they have prevented thousands of hospitalizations, including in breakthrough cases. It is a benefit that was recognized by President Biden only a week ago when he announced plans to increase the average pace of shipment of mAb therapies by an additional 50 percent. This week’s announcement was dramatically out of step with the change several days later to reduce the amount of Florida and several other states’ allocation without prior notice.
This decision was made without providing the Florida Department of Health or healthcare providers any time to prepare for this dramatic shift. Prior to this week, health care providers were able to obtain mAb therapies directly from distributors. With no warning, that changed, leaving Florida providers scrambling for information and a path forward for previously scheduled appointments of this life-saving therapy.
State Departments of Health cannot develop procedures or plan for problems they are not aware of. In the absence of clear, consistent communication, Florida and other states are now facing a situation where they have been denied the opportunity to develop an equitable, efficient state coordinated distribution system. At a time when Florida’s hospitalization rates are rapidly declining, in part because of the State’s successful mAb deployment infrastructure, this is a dangerous reversal of the Department’s stance.
We urge HHS to immediately reverse course on this decision.
Sincerely,