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ICYMI: Rubio Joins The Aaron Renn Show

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) joined The Aaron Renn Show to discuss Rubio’s Labor Day report on working (and non-working) men. See below for highlights and listen to the full interview here. On protecting American jobs and interests: “We made a series of economic...

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ICYMI: Rubio Debates Coons on China, Environment

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) debated Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) on China, global leadership, and environmental policy at an event hosted by the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Senate Project at George Washington University. “We have to shape a future that recognizes...

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Next Week: Rubio Staff Hosts Mobile Office Hours

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio’s (R-FL) office will host in-person and virtual 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...

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Rubio Habla en Maxima 92.5 de Tampa Bay

El senador estadounidense Marco Rubio (R-FL) habló con Nio Encendio de Maxima 92.5 de Tampa Bay, sobre cómo la inflación ha impactado a las familias, sobre las olas de migración ilegal, sobre el juicio político de Biden vs. el de Trump, sobre el canje de prisioneros...

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Trump Signs Bill with Rubio Provisions to Boost Emergency Response Personnel, Protect Seniors After Natural Disasters

Jun 28, 2019 | Press Releases

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) applauded President Trump signing the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act (PAHPAI) of 2019 into law. This legislation enables the federal government to prepare for, and respond to, natural disasters and public health threats – both natural and man-made. PAHPAI includes Rubio’s provisions to establish specific disaster response protocols to ensure the unique needs of seniors are addressed, enable states to surveil and abate mosquitoes carrying Zika and other viruses, and give the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) direct hiring authority so they have the personnel necessary to respond to disasters.
 
“After Hurricanes Irma and Michael devastated Florida in 2017 and 2018, not only were our emergency response personnel exhausted and stretched thin, but we learned the hard way that our response protocols do not always ensure seniors receive the care they needed,” Rubio said. “I thank President Trump for signing this important legislation into law, ensuring that we will be able to deploy the medical response teams necessary to adequately assist Americans in the event of future natural disasters.”
 
Specifically PAHPAI includes the following Rubio priorities:
 

  • Legislation to develop preparedness protocols to ensure we are able to quickly care for seniors’ unique needs after disasters.
  • Legislation to expedite hiring authority for vacant positions in our nation’s emergency response healthcare workforce for HHS to respond to disasters. Before the 2017 hurricane season ended, there were about 2,000 open positions in HHS’ disaster medical response system, which strained response efforts.
  • Provision to strengthen regional public-private partnerships to improve disaster response.
  • Legislation to improve mosquito control programs and prevent mosquito-borne diseases.