WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Rick Scott released the following statement after the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) passed his END FENTANYL Act, BOLIVAR Act, Disaster Contract Improvement Act and GAO Database Modernization Act.

Senator Rick Scott said, “I am incredibly proud to see four of my bills pass out of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee today, marking another win in our fight to make Washington work for Florida families. These bills tackle a wide range of issues impacting Floridians, from the deadly fentanyl crisis, to increasing accountability in government and holding ruthless regimes accountable. I urge my colleagues to support each of these bills and look forward to their expeditious passage in the Senate. Florida families expect their government to work every day for them and I will keep fighting to make that happen.”

The END FENTANYL Act:

• Requires the Commissioner of CBP to review and update the Office of Field Operations’ policies and handbooks, as necessary and at least once every three years in order to respond to illegal activity, such as the trafficking of drugs and humans, along the border.
• Requires the Commissioner of CBP to submit a report to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives that summarizes the policy and manual changes every three years.

The BOLIVAR Act:

• Prohibits federal agencies from awarding U.S. government contracts with companies that are engaged in business with the Maduro regime.
• The prohibition would only apply to contracts entered into on or after the bill’s enactment.
• Provides for necessary exceptions, including for rendering humanitarian aid, disaster relief, and when the Office of Foreign Assets Control issues a valid license to do business in Venezuela.
• Allows the Secretary of State to waive the restriction when in the national interest of the U.S.

The Disaster Contract Improvement Act:

• Establishes oversight on debris removal through the creation of an advisory working group comprised of representatives from FEMA, the Army Corps of Engineers, states and local governments, the USDA Natural Resources and Conservation Service, as well as subject matter experts, including those in the debris services contractor industry.
• Requires the FEMA Administrator, no later than one year after the bill’s enactment and in consultation with the advisory working group, to develop and implement guidance and procedures with respect to the oversight and costs associated with debris removal contracts entered into under the public assistance grant program.
• Requires the FEMA Administrator to conduct training and outreach to state, tribal and local governments on any new guidance developed under this program.
• Requires the GAO to conduct further study on the Debris Removal Advance Contracting process to improve oversight and prevent fraud, waste and abuse across the entire system.

GAO Database Modernization Act:

• Requires all federal agencies to submit a report on the rules that are revoked, suspended, replaced, amended or made ineffective to the Comptroller General of the United States.

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