News

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) secured critical funding for Florida in the appropriations minibus package (H.R. 3055) that passed the Senate today by a vote of 84 to 9. Notably, the bill includes critical funding and language for continued progress on Everglades restoration projects, coral disease research and response, Harmful Algal Blooms, water quality, wildlife, infrastructure, and the Space Coast. Rubio serves as a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and previously secured funding for Florida in the FY2020 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, which passed the committee last month.
 
“Ensuring continued progress for Florida’s environment and natural resources—cornerstones of our state’s economy—remains one of my highest priorities,” Rubio said. “I am proud to have secured critical federal funding in this bill to continue progress on Everglades restoration, monitor coral reef health, and enhance water quality.
 
“For the second year in a row, I secured $100 million in federal funding for the STOP School Violence Act, which will help local communities and states identify dangerous individuals and harden schools to make them safer,” Rubio continued. “I look forward to the House swiftly passing this bill so the president can sign it, sending this important funding to Florida.” 
 
Rubio provisions in the appropriations minibus package (H.R. 3055):
 
Interior and Environment:

• Report language and funding highlighting the critical progress towards Everglades Restoration (CERP Bird Drive Recharge Area Project, Tamiami Trail Next Steps, Central Everglades Planning Project) 
• $4.704 million for the South Florida Geographic Program ($1.5 million increased)

o    $1 million to monitor coral health in South Florida
o    $650,000 to enhance water quality and seagrass monitoring in Caloosahatchee Estuary and the Indian River Lagoon, especially with respect to assessing the impact of Lake Okeechobee discharges and HABs
o    $650,000 to enhance water quality and seagrass monitoring in Florida Bay and Biscayne Bay, especially with respect to assessing the impact of Everglades Restoration projects and HABs
 
Commerce, Justice, Science:

• $100 million for STOP School Violence Grants
• $5 million for NOAA to work with academic institutions and non-government research organizations to establish innovation restoration projects to restore degraded coral reefs 
• $6.2 billion for NASA Exploration account to advance NASA’s human exploration program, like the Artemis missions and SLS/Orion.$590 million for Exploration Ground Systems to support critical missions (housed at Kennedy Space Center) 

 
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration:

• $8.5 million for citrus greening research and response, $25 million (authorized mandatory levels) for the Citrus Trust Fund, and report languages highlighting the continued need for Citrus Greening Disease Research, Citrus Health Response Program, Huanglongbing Emergency Response, Huanglongbing Multi-Agency Coordination, and the Citrus Disease Research Program.
• $3 million in directed funding for marine aquaculture seedstock development research.
• $5.76 billion for the FDA (user fees + appropriations), including increases to implement 21st Century Cures, the SUPPORT Act (comprehensive opioids package), and the RACE for Children Act which will go into effect in late FY2020.

 
Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development:

• $1 billion for BUILD grants and $2 billion for Capital Investment Grants that Florida counties and cities can tap into to fund priority infrastructure projects. 
• $26 million for the Office of Commercial Space Transportation 
• $23.8 billion for tenant-based Section 8 vouchers
• HOME program is funded at $1.3 billion