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...
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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 Praises USDA Enforcement of Standards for Imported Grapefruit
Last fall, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) suspended Section 8e grapefruit juice content standards for imported grapefruit without warning. As a result, low-quality grapefruit products from abroad flooded the U.S. market, forcing domestic producers in Florida to compete against new volumes of low-cost and subsidized grapefruit imports.
That misguided decision resulted in millions of dollars in real economic harm to growers in Florida and Texas. In response, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) led a bipartisan letter in December 2021 to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack demanding answers and urging a reversal.
Due to Senator Rubio’s leadership, the USDA announced it will now enforce the juice content maturity requirements on imported grapefruit under Section 8e of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 to protect American growers this harvest season, while collecting the necessary data to issue a new and lasting marketing order.
- “The USDA’s failure to protect Florida grapefruit growers during last year’s harvest season is inexcusable. Not only did it harm the local economy, but it threatened to undermine America’s food security.
- “While I am glad the USDA will finally enforce these standards to ensure low-quality grapefruit does not flood the market, our growers need lasting certainty. I remain committed to holding USDA to its word to issue a lasting marketing order.” – Senator Rubio
Looking ahead … The USDA’s enforcement will help prevent low-quality, subsidized grapefruit from displacing U.S. growers this harvest season. Rubio will continue efforts to provide certainty to domestic growers beyond the 2022-23 harvest season.
Want more? Senators Rick Scott (R-FL) and Ted Cruz (R-TX), along with Representatives Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), Bill Posey (R-FL), Daniel Webster (R-FL), Scott Franklin (R-FL), Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), Brian Mast (R-FL), Al Lawson (D-FL), John Rutherford (R-FL), Greg Steube (R-FL), Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), Tony Gonzales (R-TX), Michael Waltz (R-FL), Louie Gohmert (R-TX), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Michael Cloud (R-TX), Kat Cammack (R-FL), Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), Darren Soto (D-FL), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) all signed the December 2021 letter.