The new budget deal passed by Congress will make an impact here in Florida. Billions of dollars in disaster relief is on the way.
Senator Bill Nelson and Senator Marco Rubio sent a request to the Army Corps of Engineers, encouraging them to use money in the budget deal to speed up repairs at the Herbert Hoover Dike.
Nelson said if they can get $200 million for the next five years they can finish construction at the dike by 2022 instead of 2025.
“This is a win especially for the folks around Lake Okeechobee,” said Nelson.
The disaster relief will also help citrus farmers with billions of dollars in federal funding to help farmers avoid bankruptcy.
State Representative Lois Frankel voted against the budget deal saying in a statement she didn’t like the fact that immigration reform was not included.
“The Florida delegation, including myself, worked very hard to include disaster relief in the budget bill. The thing is that it is unconscionable that the Republicans in the House refused to give a commitment to take up the desperate situation of 700,000 DREAMers, many who live right here in Palm Beach County. These innocent young people are living in extreme fear of being deported. I felt it was important that they know that there are lawmakers fighting for them. My vote was not against much of what was in the budget bill, but what was left out.”
–Rep. Lois Frankel