Florida Governor Ron DeSantis delivered wide-ranging remarks in South Florida, outlining significant progress across the state’s major environmental restoration efforts. The governor announced more than $29.5 million in new grants aimed at Everglades restoration, Biscayne Bay water quality improvements, and expanded coral reef recovery initiatives. He highlighted more than 1,170 environmental projects currently underway statewide, describing them as part of a long-term strategy to strengthen Florida’s coastal ecosystems.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Thanks for what you've done to lead on that issue. So with that, I will turn it over to you,
00:04Governor, and thank you again for being here.
00:09Well, thank you, Madam President. It's great to be here back in South Florida. I was like,
00:16when we were coming down, I'm like, is Art Basel over? Because that's a zoo. And so yeah,
00:20it's over. I'm like, all right, good. I just want to make sure. Not that the traffic was good,
00:24but it would have been even worse. And so I want to thank Jeanette for what she's done,
00:29for the state in this new role. She's doing a fantastic job. And FIU is really on the rise,
00:35and I'm excited for you guys. We also have Alexis Lambert, our Florida DEP secretary,
00:42Drew Bartlett, South Florida Water Management District Executive Director. I think we have
00:47some mayors. Some of the South Florida mayors are down here. Homestead, North Miami Beach,
00:52and Miami Beach. We had to work on the spring break a few years ago with Miami Beach. I mean,
00:58what was going on. So I was like, you know, I told the mayor when he got elected, I said,
01:02why don't we just deal with it on the front end instead of having to call us in in the middle,
01:06the highway patrol, when everything gets out. And I'll tell you, it's worked very well the last
01:10couple years. We also have representatives from Moat Marine Lab, Newfound Harbor Marine Institute,
01:16the Reef Institute, and the playoff-bound University of Miami Hurricanes. That was,
01:22you know, we had to, I had to chime in a little bit on that. It was the type of thing where we had
01:28two years ago, Florida State was undefeated, won the conference, and got excluded from, that was only
01:34four teams then got excluded. You know, that was a huge, huge issue, and really was a black mark for
01:40the whole college, the politics of this. And then, so this one, you know, you had kind of Notre Dame,
01:46Miami, similar records, but, you know, we had a game here, right? And they did that. You know,
01:52my son is in second grade. I mean, all he cares about is Florida State. Well, they're not making
01:57it, right? So I was like, well, who do you think should make it? There's two slots, Miami, Notre Dame,
02:01and Alabama. He says, Miami and Notre Dame. I was like, well, why not Alabama? He's like, because two
02:07years ago, Alabama took Florida State's spot in the playoff, and he's still not over that. So, you know,
02:13so we'll see. So I wish them well. You know, we haven't had a team make the playoff for a while. I
02:19think Florida State made it the first year of the playoff. Florida, the University of Florida's never
02:23made it. It's the first time the U's made it. So I wish them all the luck in the world. I think it's
02:28very, very exciting for the community down here. We have done a lot, as Jeanette mentioned, on
02:35environmental restoration. This was something that a lot of people cared about. There wasn't a lot of
02:40momentum behind it, particularly with respect to Everglades and the Springs and the Indian River
02:46Lagoon and in Biscayne Bay. So we put our money where our mouth is. We set out to do the most
02:53ambitious program that the state has ever done. We not only met those expectations and goals, but
02:59we've exceeded those expectations and goals. And we are looking at historic support for these
03:06restoration projects. We've done things like the C-43 and the C-44 Reservoir. We've done our part of
03:14the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir. And we even did a historic agreement with the Trump
03:19administration so that they delegate some of the federal projects to us to complete since we do it
03:26so much quicker in Florida. And so we've broken ground on two major projects already. And I don't
03:32think those projects would have broken ground for years had we not gotten it. And so now because of
03:38that agreement with the Trump administration, the completion date on all of the EAA south of the lake
03:46infrastructure is now moved forward five years. So under Biden, it was going to be 2034. Now we got it
03:54for 2029. And that's going to really be a historic thing. So we have funded more than 1174 projects
04:03across the state designed to reduce harmful nutrients in our waterways, massive reductions in
04:09nitrogen and phosphorus each year. We have completed more projects than has ever been completed in this
04:17timeframe. And I think people look to see what's going on in the Everglades. And they're very, very
04:23pleased with really the tangible accomplishments. I mean, you look at Biscayne Bay, you look at the
04:29salinity there. It's changed for the positive. Why? Because water is moving down south like God
04:34intended. And it's now reaching there. It's a natural filtration system. You need this. You even
04:39see the flora and fauna on the Everglades. People are noticing some of the things that they hadn't seen,
04:45hopefully even more as we get more of these pythons out of there. You know, we got huge increase in
04:50python removals now this year. So we have a new program, and we're going to keep doing all of that.
04:55So we have done major stuff for the Florida Everglades. But we've also done things for
05:02water resources writ large, not just simply Everglades, but a whole host of other things. The
05:09Indian River Lagoon has been a huge thing. Florida Springs. I mean, if you go to different parts of the
05:15state, we have the best springs of any place in the country, major restorations that have been done
05:21there. Now, here in South Florida, one of the things we've done that is related, but not the same
05:29as Everglades restoration is the reduction or the restoration of Biscayne Bay. And we launched this
05:37project, I think in 2021. And after today's award, a grant awards, we will have reached $100 million
05:45in support for Biscayne Bay restoration.
05:52So we will be awarded 20 today, we'll be awarding 20 million in grants and aid for the Biscayne Bay water
06:00quality improvement projects. These grants will support a total of eight projects, including six
06:06new projects and supplemental funding for two existing and expanding projects. And the recipients
06:12include Miami-Dade County, cities of South Beach, Homestead and Miami Beach, North Miami Beach water,
06:19and the town of Cutler Bay and Miami Shores Village.
06:24So these projects include septic to sewer conversion, wastewater storage projects that will lead to
06:35improved water quality of Biscayne Bay. You know, what we've already done has made a difference. I mean,
06:40people are very pleased with that. But we're not we're not done. And we're going to continue to do
06:44that. And there have been a lot of applications that came. And basically, the department selects the
06:52ones that are going to have the biggest the biggest impact on on what we're trying to accomplish.
06:58Also today, we're awarding 9.5 million in grants and aid for Florida's coral reef restoration and
07:05recovery initiative. As the home of the continental U.S. is only living barrier reef, we have worked very
07:12hard to protect this natural treasure. Since 2014, the reef has experienced an outbreak of stony coral
07:19tissue loss disease. It's progressed rapidly to affect the entire reef ecosystem in January 2023.
07:27We established through executive order, and this initiative aimed at developing the infrastructure,
07:33technology, workforce and logistics necessary to support long term recovery of Florida's coral reef.
07:39So today we'll be funding 11 projects. They were a project prioritized and awarded based on impact
07:46of scaling up land based coral infrastructure and capacity. Recipients for this will include Sea Foundry,
07:53the Florida Aquarium, Eye Care Corporation, Moat Marine, Reef Institute, Plan a Million Corals Foundation,
08:00Reef Renewal USA, Newfound Harbor Marine Institute, Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida,
08:06and higher education institutions like Nova Southeastern, University of Miami,
08:12and Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute. So this will help both
08:20the academic and private partners that are doing research to establish, expand and maintain Florida's
08:27in-state coral propagation and grow out facilities. So I want to thank the folks in the legislature who've
08:34been supportive of these initiatives over many, many years. I mean, we started in 2019 and it was a little bit
08:40different than the muscle memory that they had been doing in terms of how they handled some of the
08:44stuff. And there was a little bit of trepidation and we're just like, you got to do it. And we had
08:49some great champions in the legislature. And then after we did it a year or two, we got a lot of momentum,
08:54had huge support through the years. And I think this is something that is really, really meaningful.
08:59So, you know, as the state of Florida is reducing taxes on people, as we're paying down,
09:05we've done accelerated debt repayment. You know, we now hit reducing our state taxpayer-supported debt by 50%
09:13just since I've been governor. Out of all 180 years of our history, we've knocked out 50%.
09:18We're doing a whole bunch of other things with maximizing the rainy day fund, doing a lot of great
09:24stuff. And by the way, our budget's less than the budget of New York City, which only has 8 million people.
09:29And that's before Mindhami takes over the grocery stores. That's going to cost more, I'm telling you.
09:34It's not going to be pretty. But we, so we've done all that and been very fiscally responsible.
09:40And yet we've done historic support for these initiatives for conservation and environment.
09:47And we're really showing how it's done. And I'm proud of the folks that have been involved because,
09:51you know, the fact that we have the Army Corps and the Secretary of the Army and some of these folks
09:58saying, look, we know Florida's faster. We know Florida gets it done. We want to work together.
10:05We want to empower you guys. So for them to be block granting the money for those federal projects,
10:11and we're taking the lead on those, you know, that is a really, really great team effort.
10:15And we're making huge, huge progress. So thanks to everybody involved. Alexis, come on up.
10:20Good morning. Thank you, Governor. Thank you, President Nunez and FIU for hosting us here this morning.
10:31It's great to be here on windy Biscayne Bay.
10:33A few places in Florida show the connection between our environment and our economy more clearly than this one.
10:40The Bay supports millions of Floridians, including one of the busiest cruise ports in the world,
10:46and it plays a vital role in the health of Florida's coral reef.
10:50Together, the Bay and the Reef generate $64 billion in economic output and support 440,000 jobs in the region.
10:58Under Governor DeSantis' leadership and with the support of the Florida legislature,
11:03we're taking decisive action to protect these waters and the communities that depend on them.
11:09Today's awards build on the coordinated effort launched in 2021 with the creation of the Biscayne Bay Commission,
11:18which brings key stakeholders together to carry out a clear plan for restoring this vital resource.
11:24Since then, as the governor stated, we've awarded $100 million through the Biscayne Bay Water Quality Improvement Grant Program
11:33to reduce nutrient pollution, improve wastewater systems, convert septic systems to sewer,
11:39and strengthen stormwater management.
11:42Improving water quality here is also critical to what lies just beyond the Bay, Florida's coral reef.
11:49We're investing $9.5 million to advance coral propagation and restoration to help reach our goal of restoring 25% of Florida's coral reef by 2050.
12:00Through this initiative, DEP and our partners are now propagating tens of thousands of resilient coral colonies each year
12:07and restoring critical reef-building species.
12:10With continued support from Governor DeSantis and the legislature, we will keep making real, measurable progress for Florida's coastal waters.
12:21Drew?
12:22Drew Bartlett, Executive Director for the South Florida Water Management District and $64 billion economy coming out of Biscayne Bay for the state of Florida.
12:41That's a big economy, a lot of jobs.
12:45But I didn't need to study to tell me that because my wife and I, we plan a trip to Biscayne Bay every year.
12:52And in my last interaction, I was like, honey, I'm making the reservations on the hotel for Biscayne and Miami.
12:59She said, make sure you get the Bay View.
13:02I'm like, okay.
13:03Checked it.
13:04Honey, it's more expensive.
13:06She said, I love you too.
13:08I guess we're going to get the Bay View.
13:11All right.
13:12So, you know, because it's important to people, it's important to economy, this type of thing.
13:17And I've been in the water business since 1992.
13:21I started when I was five.
13:22Yes, I know I look young.
13:23But we, what we learn over those years is that infrastructure investment is what is necessary to protect our environmental resources.
13:32And for the first 29 years of my career, there was none of this money going into Biscayne Bay, right?
13:39It only happened under you, Governor DeSantis, where you started this.
13:42You say, look, this Bay is important.
13:44We need to start bringing state dollars, partnering with the local governments to get this infrastructure investment.
13:49And now we're up to 37 projects going on for Biscayne Bay.
13:53And let me tell you, it will make a difference.
13:55I manage projects, we put projects in at the Southwater Water Management District, and we see the difference right away as soon as they come online.
14:03And we're seeing it in the Everglades, we're seeing it in Florida Bay.
14:06And I'm happy to say, last month we celebrated the 80th project, starting with the pump station to get lake water south.
14:14And this afternoon at 1.30, I'm going to add 81 and 82, where we are restoring almost 4,000 acres of coastal habitat south of here in Cutler Bay and close to Homestead for the critters in Biscayne Bay.
14:29This has been envisioned, this project has been envisioned since 2000 as part of Everglades restoration.
14:35And at 1.30 today, I invite all of you here to come celebrate that restoration project, too, because let me tell you, this is a great day for Biscayne Bay.
14:44It's a great day for all of us in the water profession, all of us that care about Biscayne Bay.
14:49And it's a great day for Drew, because I've got the best job on the planet getting to do this.
14:53Thank you, Governor, for giving me the best job.
14:56Well, we're excited about this, and we'll be doing our budget very shortly.
15:06And, you know, the thing I think that I can say is you're going to see robust commitment, but because we've completed so much stuff, you know, you actually are not going to need to spend the same levels that we've been spending in recent years.
15:19I mean, those were really serious investments.
15:22These are major projects.
15:24And when these projects come online, you know, look, there's operation and maintenance, of course, but we've really done the heavy lifting.
15:30So there's going to be more to do, of course, but I think you're on a great path.
15:35And certainly from a fiscal perspective, you know, it's going to be something that's really good.
15:39You know, I was talking with a fellow great guy that runs our revenue department, and, you know, it's like, you know, you hear a lot about, you know, the economy nationally and everything like that.
15:49And it's like, so they just had November, and they always forecast the revenue.
15:54And, like, sales tax revenue was, like, $240 million over estimate in Florida.
16:00And that's kind of been the story for so many years now.
16:03So we've got, you know, really strong fiscal, strong reserves, strong rainy day fund, and we're going to continue the commitment to doing all the stuff for environmental restoration.
16:13But, man, having these reservoirs done, having what we've done, the stormwater treatment part of the EAA, you know, we'll have these pump stations done, you know, not too distant future.
16:24All we've done with Tamiami Trail finishing, I mean, this is really, really major.
16:29And it's going to end up being something that people will be thankful for for many years.
16:33Okay, do we have any questions back there?
16:35Yes, Dr. Warren will be asking for taking a question.
16:39Can you talk about very much about the issues that the state of Florida has made a fair by the state of the organization,
16:45and it's about 40 minutes there and holding the press conference to announce that there is fully in the state of Florida's act,
16:51saying that the state of Florida is the official of the public civil rights, please write that.
16:55Well, I welcome the lawsuit.
16:57First of all, I get rolled out of bed anymore.
17:00Someone's suing us for it.
17:01It's like, you know, some of it's just lawfare, right?
17:04But we welcome that.
17:05I mean, you know, we did do the designation for both the Muslim Brotherhood and CARE.
17:10This is something that has been a long time coming.
17:12I know the federal government is now working in a similar direction.
17:16The legislature is working on statutory laws that are going to impact this area.
17:23So I think our executive order is kind of the beginning.
17:26I think you're going to see statutory codification.
17:29of the種 is, you know,
17:39like they had translated the law from the private sphere.
17:42Registered away.
17:44And you know, a lot like the state of Florida administration has started taking seriously.
17:47And then there's a total amount of credit.
17:50And his preferred influence comes to 2006 of the company.
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