September 18, 2019

This week, I announced the most expansive state vaping investigation known publicly to date. As many of you know, I spent the summer traveling the state to find out what was behind the dramatic increase in vaping among our youth. According to the Florida Department of Health, nearly one in four Florida high school students now admits to using e-cigarettes—students have said that rate is much higher.

One study found two-thirds of young persons didn’t even know vaping products contained nicotine. Now we are hearing about vaping-related hospitalizations around the country. According to a recent report, in Florida there have been 68 cases of vaping-related pulmonary illnesses.

As a mother, I cannot sit on the sidelines while underage vaping skyrockets and our next generation becomes addicted to nicotine. It’s illegal under Florida law to sell these products to anyone under 18, yet vaping among our youth is out of control. Continue reading →

Florida’s Mitigation Plan Will Further Improve Florida’s Air Quality

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced another step in the state’s effort to modernize public transit, provide accessible electric vehicle infrastructure and reduce harmful air pollutants caused by diesel emissions.

Coordination amongst state agencies and private and public sector partners will be critical to the success of meeting the objectives of the state’s recently submitted Beneficiary Mitigation Plan. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has published three Requests for Information (RFIs) for the three project types outlined in the plan.

“My administration is committed to making smart investments to help improve our state’s air quality long-term,” said Governor DeSantis. “This funding will allow us to focus on projects that will reduce harmful emissions, help modernize school and transit bus fleets, and provide access to charging stations in our state as electric vehicle usage continues to increase.”  Continue reading →

Jupiter, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced proposed legislation for the 2020 Legislative Session that will expedite water quality improvements throughout Florida. The legislation incorporates recommendations of the Blue-Green Algae Task Force, which the Governor created shortly after taking office to aid the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in protecting, conserving and managing the state’s natural resources.

The Governor made today’s announcement following a tour of the Loxahatchee River District, where he was joined by DEP Secretary Noah Valenstein and Chief Science Officer Dr. Tom Frazier as well as other environmental stakeholders from across the state. Continue reading →

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has issued a permit to the Department of Interior’s National Park Service, Everglades National Park, for the removal of 5.45 miles of roadbed along the Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41).

This critical project is a component of the larger Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP), which also includes the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir Project. CEPP will provide the necessary components to deliver additional freshwater from Lake Okeechobee south to Water Conservation Area 3, Everglades National Park and Florida Bay. Bridging Tamiami Trail remains one of Governor DeSantis’ priority Everglades restoration projects. Continue reading →

Reported by the AP and published in The Washington Post 97 years ago ran story that states within a few years it is predicted that due to the ice melt the sea will rise and make most coastal cities uninhabitable.

Yes they have been saying this for 37 years, making money with these predictions. Actually the air in the United States has improved. It is other countries that are polluting a lot worse than the USA.

Someone needs to sue Henry Ford for causing the Global Warming in 1922!!!

What do you think???

Tallahassee, Fla., Oct. 24, 2019 – In a ceremony held in Tallahassee at Native Nurseries, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried proclaimed October to be Florida Native Plant Month. The proclamation was presented to the Florida Native Plant Society to highlight the role of native plants in conserving and protecting Florida’s natural environment.

“This is a significant step in our efforts to publicize the benefits of native Florida plants, trees and wildflowers,” said Florida Native Plant Society President Susan Carr. “We thank Commissioner Fried for this recognition, and we are delighted to work with the nursery and agricultural communities to grow and conserve native Florida plants that host pollinator species necessary for our farms and gardens to thrive.”

In Florida, sales of native plants accounted for $170 million of nursery sales in 2015 (15.5 percent of total nursery sales) and generated an expanded economic impact of $1.2 billion based on University of Florida survey data. Continue reading →

Earlier this month, the Trump administration announced that US forces would withdraw from parts of Syria currently held by the Kurds and allow Turkey to move forward with military operations in the area. The abrupt move was met with backlash from politicians on both sides of the aisle.

Edward “Ed” Mezvinsky, born January 17, 1937. He was a Democratic Congressman.

Ed was on the House Judiciary Committee that decided Richard Nixon fate. He was also one of Bill Clintons close friends. During this time he had an affair with a NBC reporter and later divorced his wife. Mezvinsky was arrested and was indicted, pleaded guilty to 31 counts of bank fraud, mail fraud, and wire fraud. He served 5 years in Federal prison, released early and has still not made complete restitution to his victims.

Check this… Mezvinsky’s son Marc and Chelsea Clinton were married at George Soros’ Mansion. They bought a $10.5 million dollar NYC apartment. Isn’t life grand? Follow the Money!!!

Friends,

As the month closes, we will be well into our final few weeks of committee meetings before the 2020 Legislative Session begins in January. This leadership in Tallahassee is very talented, energetic and committed to making Florida the best place to live, work and raise a family. We have you, the voter, to thank for sending us these leaders and it is quite humbling to be part of this great process that shapes policy for 20 million residents and millions more visitors. We do not have a perfect system, but it is so much better than anything they have anywhere else in the world. We have gotten to work on a lot great ideas and proposals so far, and it is exciting to be able to share a few of those things with you today.

Earlier this year, we filed SB 498 Consumer Protection. This legislation will crack down on unlicensed vendors who have been predominately preying on people living in our senior communities, but their reach is not just limited to them and it is becoming a state-wide issue. These are vendors that typically show up at your front door, promise a service, take your deposit and either never return, or only partially complete the job. This legislation would help put a stop to these dishonest practices.   Continue reading →

Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Vincent Chiu to the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court.

Vincent Chiu

Chiu, of Orlando, has served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida since 2008. He received his bachelor’s degree from Cedarville University and his law degree from Ohio University Moritz College of Law. Chiu fills the new judicial seat created by Governor DeSantis’ signing of House Bill 5011.