STATEMENT: Rick Scott Votes For Government Shutdown That Will Hurt Floridians and Delay FEMA Aid

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September 27, 2023

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STATEMENT: Rick Scott Votes For Government Shutdown That Will Hurt Floridians and Delay FEMA Aid

MIAMI – In response to Rick Scott’s vote against the continuing resolution to keep the federal government open, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell released the following statement:

“Last night, 77 Senators voted on a bipartisan plan to keep our government open, and fund critical work such as FEMA, the TSA, and Meals for Seniors. Rick Scott was not one of those senators. Rick Scott is cheering on a government shutdown, voting with the most extreme Republicans in Congress to raise costs and risk the paychecks of active duty soldiers, border patrol agents, and TSA agents.

“Yet again, Senator Rick Scott is failing Floridians — but we aren’t surprised he’s putting himself and partisans political games ahead of Floridians, because he spent a year campaigning on a plan to end Social Security and Medicare. Senator Rick Scott is more focused on political games than fighting for the things Floridians need, starting with emergency relief funding during Hurricane season. It’s time to put Floridians first.”

Today, the Washington Post released a new report that found that FEMA aid is delayed due to the shutdown battle. This includes $555 million for longer-term Florida recovery projects including Hurricane Ian from last year. Rick Scott’s political games are directly impacting our state. As the Post wrote, Scott’s move illustrates “how a Republican-led standoff in Congress could unleash real hardship in Americans’ lives.”

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About Debbie Mucarsel-Powell

Debbie Mucarsel-Powell came to the U.S. from South America at a young age with her mom and sisters, fleeing violence and searching for a better life. Debbie was raised in Florida and worked at a doughnut shop to help support her family, while her mother worked double shifts as a home-health care provider. After supporting herself through school and college, Debbie worked for Florida International University’s Colleges of Health and Medicine, where she led a program to expand access to affordable healthcare to more Floridians.

In 2018, Debbie defeated Carlos Curbelo, a two-term Republican incumbent in Florida’s 26th District and became the first South American immigrant elected to the House. Serving in Congress, Debbie wrote a bill to expand seniors’ Medicare Advantage coverage, fought to provide economic relief to families and small businesses, and secured $200 million for Everglades restoration.

Debbie has been a lifelong advocate for keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous criminals, after tragically losing her father to gun violence when she was 24 years old.

Now, she is running for the U.S. Senate because Floridians’ basic rights are under attack. Extremist Republican Rick Scott wants to cut Social Security and Medicare coverage, raise taxes for working families, and advance a national abortion ban. Floridians deserve a Senator like Debbie, and our nation needs a second Latina Senator who will fight for our democracy, economy, and our rights.

Debbie and her husband Robert live in Miami and have three children.