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...
NOTICIAS
Últimas Noticias
Photos: Rubio Visits Barrier Islands Post-Hurricane Helene
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...
Rubio, Scott, Florida Colleagues to POTUS: Expedite Resources to Floridians
Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 storm, causing catastrophic damage along Florida’s Gulf Coast. It’s crucial for the federal government to expedite state-requested resources and authorize key policy flexibilities in order for Floridians to make a swift...
Rubio Staff Hosts Hurricane Helene Recovery Assistance
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio’s (R-FL) office will host two in-person events to assist constituents affected by Hurricane Helene and help navigate applications for FEMA assistance. Food, water, and additional resources will be available at the events. Event...
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...
Rubio, Scott Urge FEMA to Expedite Hurricane Reimbursements
Following the impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Debby, some local governments in Florida face looming budget shortfalls that could disrupt disaster recovery efforts. If these local governments receive reimbursements for past hurricanes from the Federal Emergency...
Rubio Joins Colleagues in Sending Bipartisan Letter to Administration in Support of Burma’s Elections
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) joined U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-ID) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, in sending a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and USAID Administrator Mark Green, asking them to ensure that the administration continues to support Burma as it moves toward free and democratic parliamentary elections in 2020.
“Burma’s 2020 elections are a crucial next step towards institutionalizing democracy and preventing backsliding into authoritarian rule,” wrote the senators. “Free and fair elections will buoy supporters of democracy, and narrow the likelihood of a retrenchment of illiberal forces within the government. Free and fair elections can help increase unity in a Burma still afflicted with conflict and religious and ethnic strife. Illegitimate elections would only worsen these problems, and possibly cause escalation in conflict,” said the senators.
“Further institutionalizing democracy is also important to increase Burma’s resilience in the face of external challenges, such growing Chinese Communist Party influence in numerous aspects of Burmese society. Working with the Burmese government and civil society in advance of these elections is important to demonstrating the value of U.S. partnership.”
Joining Rubio, Risch and Menendez in signing the letter were Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Todd Young (R-IN), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).
El texto de la carta en inglés está aquí. .
Dear Secretary Pompeo and Administrator Green:
We write today to express support for the Administration’s recent efforts to support Burma in the run-up to Parliamentary elections set for later this year, and to encourage continued robust U.S. engagement in this regard over the coming year. Although elections will not be held until the end of 2020, preparations must begin well in advance to ensure they are free and fair.
Burma’s 2020 elections are a crucial next step towards institutionalizing democracy and preventing backsliding into authoritarian rule. Free and fair elections will buoy supporters of democracy, and narrow the likelihood of a retrenchment of illiberal forces within the government. Free and fair elections can help increase unity in a Burma still afflicted with conflict and religious and ethnic strife. Illegitimate elections would only worsen these problems, and possibly cause escalation in conflict.
Further institutionalizing democracy is also important to increase Burma’s resilience in the face of external challenges, such growing Chinese Communist Party influence in numerous aspects of Burmese society. Working with the Burmese government and civil society in advance of these elections is important to demonstrating the value of U.S. partnership.
We were encouraged by the Administration’s dedication of funds last year to election assistance. This year, it is imperative that the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) increase that assistance, particularly to civil society organizations. In particular, we believe it is important to prioritize the following areas:
- Providing the necessary infrastructure for free and fair elections, including strengthening the Union Election Commission to function as an independent electoral management body and establishing regulatory frameworks that foster open and transparent processes;
- Supporting independent media outlets and local journalists to provide high-quality coverage and analysis of both the pre-election period and the election itself;
- Supporting civic education, media literacy among the general public, voter education training, capacity building for “get out the vote” campaigns, and civil society efforts to conduct independent election monitoring efforts; and
- Building the capacity of political parties, particularly newly consolidated political parties representing ethnic minorities, so that all political actors can compete on an equal playing field.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter. We look forward to continuing to work with the State Department and USAID to ensure robust U.S. engagement in the lead up to Burma’s elections in 2020.