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DeSantis touts $1B in environmental spending

DeSantis speaks in Naples
Posted at 7:54 AM, Nov 16, 2021
and last updated 2021-11-17 07:58:26-05

NAPLES, Fla. — Florida Governor Ron DeSantis visited the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve on Tuesday to discuss his administration's plans for environmental spending in the upcoming budget.

He pledged an estimated $1 bllion in "robust plans" for items ranging from water quality and water supply infrastructure to python removal and other protection efforts in the Everglades.

DeSantis also discussed money set aside for protecting Florida homes from storm surge, floodwaters and tropical storm and hurricane-force winds.

"That will make us more able to handle some extreme weather events," said DeSantis.

The governor said $35 million has been earmarked for tackling harmful algae blooms such as the Red Tide that has affected shorelines across Florida.

The money to pay for these budget items will come from the governor's "Resilient Florida" program that is meant to address fallout from climate change.

The state legislature would have to approve of the governor's budget for it to take effect.