Florida ranks as the best state to start a business. We are leading the charge in tax relief, economic development, and entrepreneurship—proof positive that fiscal conservatism works. wallethub.com/edu/best-state…

Americans have given President Trump a mandate to secure the southern border and end the illegal immigration crisis. Florida must step up to help carry out this mission.   Here are some of the proposals I am calling on the Legislature to pass in the upcoming Special Session:

Florida is the only state in the nation that has a university consortium affiliated with one of NASA’s centers. The Florida University Space Research Consortium will facilitate NASA research grants at our state universities, attract new investments in aerospace, and maintain Florida’s position as the national leader in the fast-growing space economy.   This first-of-its-kind collaboration between NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and our state universities, alongside strategic investments from @SpaceFlorida and private sector partners, will ensure that Florida remains unmatched in space-related research and workforce development.

I toured Leonardo Helicopters’ facility outside of Milan and spent time discussing their forthcoming expansion at Florida’s Whiting Aviation Park. We’re glad to have this top-tier aviation company call Florida home, and we look forward to the new ways that they can partner with Florida universities and other Florida-based technology companies to increase commerce and innovate in the aerospace industry.

I presided over the signing of an MOU in Milan between Medical Microinstruments Inc., the University of South Florida, and Tampa General Hospital to work together to introduce cutting-edge, microrobotic surgical technology for reconstructive oncology and the care of cancer patients in Florida. This technology will offer a new level of care and treatment to Floridians. Congratulations to all involved.

In Turin and Milan, we visited with Italian companies like Pininfarina and Mapei to sell Florida as a place to expand operations and do more business. We also want to work with new companies to provide more opportunities for workforce training and specialized apprenticeships. As the #1 economy in the nation, the nation’s top tourist destination, and a state that has recently seen an unprecedented growth of wealth and people, it is an easy choice for companies to invest in the Free State of Florida.

I was pleased to give remarks at the SelectFlorida Business Seminar in Turin to an audience of Italian companies, with a focus on startups. Many in the audience were startups in the healthcare and life science industries. Additionally, our Agency for Health Care Administration secretary—just this week—led a delegation of Florida-based hospitals and medical companies to Germany to forge new business opportunities and relationships, and the delegation joined us in Turin on the heels of their successful summit. We partner with companies in the industry and entice others to move to Florida to ensure Floridians have a wide selection of world-class treatment options at their fingertips. Florida excels in providing quality and state-of-the-art healthcare, and we look forward to innovative new technology coming to our state in the near future.

I oversaw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Insightec, a Florida based company, Florida International University, and the Neurological Institute of Besta to share research for innovations in treating Alzheimer's and other brain diseases. Congratulations to everyone involved. I am proud of this win for Florida that has come from our trip.

It was great to discuss relations between Florida and Italy with the Prime Minister today in Rome. We hope that Florida and Italy’s relationship continues to grow, and we welcome greater investment from Italian companies in our state. Thank you for hosting us, Prime Minister @GiorgiaMeloni!

Today in Viareggio, Italy, we met with three of the world’s top yacht makers at their shipyards—Sanlorenzo, Benetti, and Overmarine—who each have footprints in Florida. We’ve encouraged them to grow their investments in the Free State of Florida’s world-class ports and are working to bring more of their operations to our state.   Florida is proud to be a global leader in boating, yachting, and maritime industry.

I am pleased to announce that, today, Embry Riddle and Sapienza University of Rome have entered into a partnership to share research and increase academic cooperation as Florida continues to grow its aerospace industry.   This is a great example of the global attraction that Florida universities have, and their world-class offerings in practical education opportunities.