Its a busy weekend for Republicans at both the state and national level. While the RNC meets to elect a chair and the RPOF convenes to select its leader, newly inaugurated U.S. Rep. David Rivera joins fellow congressional Republicans in a retreat in Baltimore.

Rivera said on Friday that he was looking forward to the opportunity.

"This weekend we are getting to work for the American people," Rivera said. "I look forward to meeting with our House Republican leaders, and with my other colleagues, as we discuss the ways that we will put our plans into action.

Florida Democrat U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor announced on Friday that she is going to serve on the Armed Services and the Budget committees in Congress.

Returning to the Armed Services Committee is a natural fit for me, said Castor. I will be able to continue working to create jobs and on behalf of the mission of MacDill Air Force Base, our troops and our veterans. I will fight to make sure our active-duty personnel and their families have the resources and tools they need to fully protect our country and provide for their families.

Former Florida Gov. Bob Graham, who co-chaired the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling, will testify before Congress in two weeks about the Commission's findings and recommendations.

Gov. Rick Scott appointed more members to his staff Friday, adding second-in-commands for his chief of staff, director of communications, general counsels, and naming Melinda Miguel as chief inspector general.

Here is the release from his office:

Senate Majority Leader Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, released a video on Thursday afternoon offering his thoughts on the Senates activities this week. In the video, which clocks under two minutes, Gardiner focused on committee work on immigration reform, fiscal issues and efforts to help the state recover from the oil spill. Gardiner promised there will be more video updates in the future.

Ken Connor, best known to Floridians for heading up the states Christian Coalition and running for the Republican gubernatorial nomination back in 1994, weighed in on the tragedy that occurred in Arizona last week. Connor, formerly head of the Family Research Council and now with the Center for a Just Society, released an essay on the incident on Friday morning.

No surprise on this one as Politico ran a story late on Thursday that Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, confirmed that he was planning to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012.

Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns took to the floor of Congress to speak on the mass shooting that occurred in Arizona on Saturday.

I thank my distinguished colleague; and on behalf of myself and my constituents from the 6th Congressional District in North-Central Florida, we offer our thoughts and prayers to our colleague Gabrielle Giffords and her family, said Stearns. I also join the American people in extending our condolences to the other victims of this terrible event. This is a heartbreaking loss.

Most members of Floridas congressional delegation sent a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, backing requests made first at the end of December by then-Gov. Charlie Crist and later by Gov. Rick Scott to cover 36 of the states 67 counties under a disaster declaration due to the cold weather.

On Thursday, Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, turned to one of his staunchest allies, Rep. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, who chairs the House Economic Affairs Committee, to investigate how the Gulf Coast Claims Facility (GCCF) handles claims resulting from the Gulf oil spill.