A multitude of Republicans in the U.S. Senate, including Florida’s very own Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) have come together to introduce a bill looking to make life easier for local governments who are attempting to apply for federal grants.
The bill is known as the Simplifying Grants Act, which applies to local municipalities with less than 50,000 people.
Senator Rick Scott said, “While Biden’s border crisis continues to enable record amounts of lethal drugs to flood across our border, local municipalities—which fund local law enforcement—require more support to address the influx of crime and lethal narcotics we are seeing across the country. The Simplifying Grants Act will make it easier for small towns across the country to access crucial federal funding to protect their communities. I fully support this legislation and urge its quick passage through the Senate.”
With the border crisis affecting everyday Americans all throughout the nation, many Republicans have declared that every state is “a border state,” redefining who and what states are feeling the effects of illegal immigration, drug trafficking, etc.
“Local governments use federal dollars to invest in infrastructure, public safety, law enforcement, and our children’s education, among other important priorities,” said Marco Rubio. “Regretfully, our current grant process leaves small local governments and their residents behind. This bill would provide a simplified process so small local governments are able to apply for and receive the funds they need.”
In the past, Republicans such as Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) have called for the simplification of the federal government, even going as far as to saying that the American people’s taxes can be done on a postcard. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) echoed this sentiment, calling for a more streamline process in the way local governments ask for help.
“Congress should look for ways to cut red tape and make the government more efficient for the American people. The Simplifying Grants Act will do just that, giving valuable time and resources back to public servants in smaller towns across the country,” said the Alabama Senator. “In a state like Alabama, where nearly 60 percent of counties would benefit from the changes in this bill, that time will be well spent on projects in those communities. I’m proud to join my colleagues in this effort to make it easier for small towns in every state to access the tools they deserve.”
Other than Scott, Rubio, and Tuberville, 6 other Senators joined the introduction of the bill as well.
