Rick Scott makes first visit to Puerto Rico as U.S. Senator

U.S. Sen. Rick Scott landed in Puerto Rico on Sunday, where he plans to help with continued rebuilding efforts.

“This will be my ninth trip to the island since Hurricane Maria hit,” Scott said. “As Governor of Florida, I worked with the Puerto Rican government to support their rebuilding and recovery efforts, but the Island still has a long way to go.”

As he landed on the island, the Florida Republican on Twitter emphasized he plans to continue a strong relationship with the U.S. territory in his new job.

“I intend to be the Island’s voice in the U.S. Senate,” he tweeted Sunday. “Looking forward to meeting with the island’s leadership to get an update on the recovery and see what I can do to support our PR brothers and sisters.”

He previously visited in his capacity as Florida’s governor. But this marks Scott’s first trip abroad as a member of the Senate.

“I was proud that the first amendment I filed in the U.S. Senate was to fight for Puerto Rico and that my first trip as a U.S. Senator will be to the Island,” Scott said.

Scott referred to an amendment to a bill to fund the federal government that included $600 million in disaster relief funding. Those dollars were part of the bill approved by the Democratic-controlled House but initially were not included in the package crafted by the Republican-controlled Senate.

Scott said he would work with Jenniffer González-Colón, resident commissioner of Puerto Rico. González-Colón represents Puerto Rico in the U.S. House as a non-voting member of the body. Scott, with one of 100 votes in the Senate, hopes to provide added influence for the territory in Washington.

“I look forward to working with Congresswoman Jenniffer González-Colón and leaders in Puerto Rico to discuss what more we can do to support Puerto Rican families,” Scott said.

González-Colón said she would welcome Scott to the island Sunday.

“His first speech and first action as Senator was to support Puerto Rico, which shows that he was serious when he promised to fight for us,” she said. “I am honored to work with him to continue to make sure Puerto Rico has all the resources we need to rebuild.”