Major Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall in Florida, bringing with it devastating storm surge, winds, and inland flooding. The Seminole Tribe of Florida should have access to the federal resources required for emergency response and recovery preparations on...
Major Hurricane Milton is forecasted to potentially hinder or obstruct the Port of Tampa Bay, which receives more than 40 percent of Florida’s petroleum products. It’s crucial for the federal government to expedite all requested measures to protect Florida’s economy...
Major Hurricane Milton is forecasted to impact Florida with devastating storm surge, winds, and inland flooding. After just being hit by Hurricane Helene, it’s crucial for the State of Florida to have the support of the federal government. U.S. Senators Marco Rubio...
This year marks the first anniversary of the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks against Israel. 32 Americans died in those attacks, and four of the Americans taken hostage that day remain in captivity. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) released a video remembering the...
Following Hurricane Helene’s catastrophic damage throughout Florida’s gulf coast, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) met with the Florida Farm Bureau as well as local agricultural producers, farmers, and growers to discuss the storm’s impact. Photos are courtesy of...
Following Hurricane Helene’s catastrophic damage throughout Florida’s Gulf Coast, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) met with local officials and volunteers from the barrier islands to discuss the storm’s impact and current recovery efforts. Photos are courtesy of...
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) today reintroduced the Escambia County Land Conveyance Act, legislation that would give certain residents of Santa Rosa Island the option of owning the property they are currently leasing, and preserve public access to Escambia County’s current conservation, recreation, and parking areas.
“Seventy years ago, Santa Rosa Island had just a few small beach homes,” said Rubio. “Now it’s a vibrant, flourishing community, but an outdated law means some residents are unable to own the lands on which they reside and pay for. I’ve worked with Escambia and Santa Rosa county officials to fix this problem so that leaseholders have the option of owning the property their houses sit on and no longer being unfairly taxed.”
Ownership of Santa Rosa Island has switched between the federal government and local counties several times. Most recently, in 1947, the federal government deeded interest in the portion of the island not contained in the Gulf Islands National Seashore back to Escambia County, Florida, with the caveat that the county could only lease the land or return it to the federal government. The county has since leased property to businesses and homeowners who paid fees but were not charged property taxes, until court rulings allowed leaseholders to be assessed property taxes in addition to the improvements and lease fees they were already paying.
U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) introduced the bill in the House last week. Rubio previously introduced the legislation in 2015.