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Commissioner Adam Putnam to Present Agricultural Environmental Leadership Awards

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MEDIA ADVISORY

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam will present the Commissioner’s Agricultural Environmental Leadership Award to three Florida agriculture operations tomorrow during the Florida Farm Bureau’s annual convention. Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture has presented this award annually since 1994 to recognize the environmentally innovative farming practices of the state’s growers and ranchers.
Event: 2017 Commissioner’s Agricultural Environmental Leadership Award ceremony
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017
Time: 7:30 a.m.
Location: Sawgrass Marriott – Champions Ballroom
1000 PGA Tour Blvd
Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. 32082

Nelson says FEMA wait times 'unacceptable'

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U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), in remarks on the Senate floor, said today that it is “unacceptable” that Floridians are having to wait up to four hours to speak to a FEMA representative about housing assistance.
“It’s been two months since hurricane Irma hit Florida,” Nelson said, “and our people are still hurting because they don’t have sufficient housing.”
“FEMA – through Individual Assistance – is supposed to provide temporary housing,” Nelson continued. “This is the law. That’s what the people of Florida are entitled to … but it’s not happening in Florida. Why? Because they get on the telephone and they have to wait up to four hours to get somebody on the phone from FEMA.”
“That is just unacceptable,” Nelson said. “It’s got to be changed. And, thus, you see the bipartisan effort on behalf of my colleague from Florida, Marco Rubio, and I writing to the head of FEMA today and saying: look, what happened even under the debacle years ago of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, there they experienced an average wait time of ten minutes before they could get FEMA on to the line to help them. Now, we have people waiting as much as four hours.”
Nelson and Rubio sent a letter today to FEMA Administrator Brock Long to raise concerns about the amount of time Floridians are being forced to wait for assistance.
Noting that Floridians are facing longer wait times than victims of previous disasters, the lawmakers cited a March 2006 report by the Dept. of Homeland Security’s Inspector General that found victims of Hurricane Katrina experienced an average wait time of 10 minutes before speaking with an agent by phone, and approximately 10 days for a home inspection. 
“We recognize and appreciate the 4,000 inspectors in the field working tirelessly to help people in need of housing assistance,” the senators wrote. “However, the current wait times must be improved.”
The text of the senators’ letter to FEMA is available here. 
Video of Nelson’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here: https://youtu.be/bgKIhJAhkYc
And here’s a rush transcript of his speech:
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson
Remarks on the Senate floor
October 31, 2017
Sen. Nelson: Thank you, Mr. President. You know, it’s been two months since Hurricane Irma hit Florida and basically covered up the state and our people are still hurting because they don’t have sufficient housing.
If you lived in a mobile home, if you lived in a low- lying area, your home was destroyed. It is uninhabitable, the ceiling is collapsing, the mold and mildew, because of being all the water in, has now accumulated. It is an uninhabitable home.
And FEMA, through Individual Assistance, is supposed to provide temporary housing. This is the law. That’s what the people of Florida are entitled to just like the people of Texas are entitled to in the presiding officer’s state.
But it’s not happening in Florida. Why? Because they get on the telephone and they have to wait up to, documented, four hours to get somebody on the phone from FEM. Or it takes home inspection 45 days before they can get an inspector to come out and see the home before they can be declared and be eligible for Individual Assistance.
And that is just unacceptable. Because if they don’t have the means, especially if they don’t have a job as a result of the jobs being destroyed in the hurricane, where are they going to be able to get temporary assistance for housing?
This is a fact that is happening in the state of Florida and it’s got to be changed. And, thus, you see the bipartisan effort on behalf of my colleague from Florida, Marco Rubio, and I writing to the head of FEMA today and saying, look, what happened even under the debacle years ago of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, there they experienced an average wait time of ten minutes before they could get FEMA on to the line to help them. Now we have people waiting as much as four hours.
And so, Mr. President, I wanted to bring this to the attention of the Senate. We cannot have the aftermath of a hurricane, two months after, where our people are hurting, they are suffering. They can’t live in a healthy condition in the existing homes that have been destroyed in the hurricane.
Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Senator Grimsley Receives Florida Farm Bureau Legislator Of The Year Award

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Florida State Senator Denise Grimsley (R-Lake Placid) today received the 2017 Florida Farm Bureau Legislator of the Year award at the association’s annual meeting.
“I am truly honored to receive the ‘2017 Legislator of the Year’ award from Florida Farm Bureau,” said Senator Grimsley. “The Florida Farm Bureau is an incredible advocate for the agricultural community and I was proud to work with them during the 2017 Legislative Session to advance legislation to support Florida farmers.”
“As chair of the Senate Agriculture Community, I look forward to working this coming session with the Florida Farm Bureau to help our farming community recover the terrible damage wrought by Hurricane Irma,” continued Senator Grimsley. “Agriculture is the backbone of our economy, and it is my hope the Legislature will come together to support Florida farmers.”
Senator Grimsley was named the 2017 Florida Farm Bureau ‘Legislator of the Year’ for championing a variety of agriculture-related bills and appropriations during the 2017 Legislative Session, including funding for the University of Florida’s Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences, support for the pollution notification law, support for overturning vetoes of funding for IFAS and 4-H, and her sponsorship of Senate Bill 600, which promotes economic opportunity in rural communities.
Senator Grimsley is the chair of the Senate Agriculture Community. Elected in 2012, she represents District 26 in the Florida Senate, which includes DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Highlands and Okeechobee Counties and portions of Charlotte, Lee and Polk Counties.

Plan Safe Trick or Treating Routes this Halloween

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Attorney General Pam Bondi is asking parents to plan a safe route for children to trick or treat this Halloween. Parents and guardians can visit the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Florida Sexual Offenders and Predators website at FLSexOffender.net to see a list of all registered sex offenders and predators living within a five-mile radius.
Attorney General Bondi also encourages Floridians to alert authorities of any known sex offenders or predators giving out candy to children today. Florida law prohibits sex offenders from distributing candy or other items to children on Halloween.
In addition to knowing where sex offenders are before sending children out to trick or treat, there are other steps parents can take to protect children tonight. Here are some simple ways to ensure a safer Halloween:

  • Make sure children are not trick or treating alone. They should go with a group or with a trusted adult;
  • Remind trick or treaters about road safety—look both ways before crossing the street and use the side walk and crosswalks when possible;
  • Equip children with a light source such as a flashlight or glow stick; and
  • Tell children to never go into the home of a stranger and do not approach a house without any lights on.  

Attorney General Bondi wishes everyone a happy and safe Halloween tonight.

Nelson, Rubio raise concerns over FEMA wait times

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U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) sent a letter today to FEMA Administrator Brock Long raising concerns over the amount of time Floridians are being forced to wait for housing assistance.
“Individuals calling FEMA’s help line have waited up to four hours before speaking with a representative,” the senators wrote. “Additionally, FEMA’s current estimates are approximately 45 days for a home inspection, a required step for Individual Assistance claims to be paid out.”
The lawmakers cited a March 2006 report by the Dept. of Homeland Security’s Inspector General that found victims of Hurricane Katrina experienced an average wait time of 10 minutes before speaking with an agent by phone, and approximately 10 days for a home inspection.
“We recognize and appreciate the 4,000 inspectors in the field working tirelessly to help people in need of housing assistance,” the senators said. “However, the current wait times must be improved.”
Following is text of the senators’ letter sent to FEMA Administrator Brock Long, a pdf copy is available here.

October 31, 2017

The Honorable Brock Long
Administrator
Federal Emergency Management Agency
500 C Street SW
Washington, DC 20472
Dear Administrator Long:
We write to express our concern about the lack of available housing options in Florida following Hurricane Irma. It is critical that displaced Floridians in affected counties are provided with the ability to access rental housing.
Tens of thousands of homes in Florida were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Irma. Reports have indicated thousands of Floridians are waiting for housing units to arrive and be filled, and many are living in uninhabitable circumstances with collapsed ceilings and mold. These are not sustainable living conditions, and could lead to negative health consequences or personal injury. While we recognize manufactured housing may not be appropriate for every situation, it seems there are serious delays in direct leasing options as well. Thus, we urge you to work expeditiously with Florida communities to ensure that Floridians have safe and sustainable housing options in the coming months.
It is also our understanding that Florida residents have had issues with the FEMA help line in obtaining assistance. Some reports state individuals calling FEMA’s help line have waited up to four hours before speaking with a representative. Additionally, FEMA’s current estimates are approximately 45 days for a home inspection, a required step for Individual Assistance claims to be paid out. This means families face a long wait before receiving funding for housing needs, such as housing repair, replacement or construction. The wait times for FEMA phone assistance and home inspections appear to be longer than those experienced by individuals during past major disasters. A March 2006 report conducted by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General found Hurricane Katrina applicants experienced an average wait time of ten minutes before speaking with an agent. The report also stated FEMA has historically completed home inspections within 10 days.
We recognize and appreciate the 4,000 inspectors in the field working tirelessly to help people in need of housing assistance. However, the current wait times must be improved. Therefore, we ask that you work with Florida communities to ensure that displaced storm victims have adequate housing options available to them while they rebuild and repair their homes, and address any outstanding issues with FEMA’s help line that have led to delays with assistance.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

Senator Campbell Filing Bill to Boost Florida's Physician Ranks

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Concerned that Florida ranks first in the country for the number of residents age 65 or older, and with an eye to a looming shortage of physicians available to treat them, state Senator Daphne Campbell (D-Miami) is filing legislation which would dramatically reduce the looming shortfall.
“By 2025, the shortage of physicians in Florida is expected to grow to 7,000, according to the Teaching Hospital Council of Florida and the Safety Net Hospital Alliance of Florida,” said Senator Campbell. “We can either bury our heads in the sand, or tap into the rich availability of internationally trained physicians to shore up medical care for Florida’s growing number of senior residents.”
Under Senator Campbell’s measure, internationally trained physicians would be able to acquire a restricted license to practice in Florida, provided they met certain built-in criteria and safeguards. Those standards would include an individual who trained in a medical school listed in World Director of Medical Schools published by the World Health Organization, has legally practiced medicine for at least 3 years in their countries of residency, and is not subject to any discipline or prosecution for any acts that threaten public health, safety or welfare.
“This legislation would broaden the pool of trained physicians available to dispense medical aid for the growing number of people who need their help,” said Senator Campbell. “By tapping internationally-trained doctors, we not only stop the shortage of medical doctors from occurring, but we provide a pathway for these individuals to join our communities and contribute to Florida’s prosperity.”
The bill has been filed for the upcoming 2018 legislative session, and will be carried in the House by state Representative Manny Diaz, Jr. (R-Hialeah).
Should it win passage, the legislation would take effect July 1st.

Nelson: ‘Defending America isn’t a partisan issue’

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“Defending America isn’t a partisan issue,” U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) said today while speaking on the Senate floor about the charges filed in connection with U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russia’s interference with the 2016 election.
“These are very serious charges,” Nelson said. “Yet, sadly, the response to these indictments has been seemingly split along partisan lines. That doesn’t make sense.”
“Russian President Vladimir Putin interfered in our election and, in so doing, he has attacked the very foundation of our constitutional democracy,” Nelson said. “It doesn’t matter if you are a Democrat or a Republican, it should be clear: if you help an enemy of the United States meddle in our Democracy, you will be held accountable!”
Nelson said too often lawmakers and the country as a whole find themselves divided on an issue because of party politics, but said that shouldn’t be the case here.
“There should be no disagreement when it comes to protecting America,” he said. “Finding out what happened is the only way we’re going to be able to prevent this from happening again.”
Below is a rush transcript of his remarks:
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson
Remarks on the Senate floor
October 30, 2017
Mr. President,
Everybody now in Washington knows that the special counsel announced charges against two of President Trump’s former campaign aides in connection with the ongoing investigation into whether or not Russia interfered with the 2016 election.
We know now after painstaking investigations in the intelligence community that, in fact, Russia did interfere in the election, and what many of us = are concerned about, since they have continued this pattern in other countries’ elections, we are concerned about the fact that they will interfere in the next elections coming up.
We’ve already seen attempts in this special election down in Alabama that they have bene trying to increase the number of hits going to a Facebook or Twitter account.
So they interfered.
Well, we learned also this morning that a third former Trump aide has pled guilty to lying to the FBI in January when he was asked about his interactions with Russians while he was with the Trump campaign.
Mr. President, these are very serious charges, and we should be united against any individual who helped further Russia’s interference in our elections.
Yet, sadly, the response to these indictments has been seemingly split along partisan lines. That doesn’t make sense. Defending America isn’t a partisan issue.
In fact, everyone in this Senate – all of our Democrats, Republicans, our two Independents — they have sworn an oath to do exactly that: to defend the constitution against all enemies both foreign and domestic.
Charging these individuals shouldn’t be seen as a victory for one party, or a defeat for the other.
These individuals are charged with crimes against the U.S. – crimes against all of us Americans.
And the fact is: Russian President Vladimir Putin interfered in our election and, in so doing, attacked the very foundation of our constitutional democracy.
We know that. We also know that we’re not the only country that he has attacked and, according to U.S. intelligence community, he will continue this type of behavior unless he is stopped.
And that’s why we have such a heavy responsibility to defend America from these types of attacks. And to defend our American constitutional foundations built on a process of free and fair and unfettered elections.
It doesn’t matter if you are a Democrat or a Republican, it should be clear: if you help an enemy of the United States meddle in our Democracy, you will be held accountable.
Too often, here in this Senate and throughout the country as a whole, we find ourselves suddenly divided on issues because of party politics, but that shouldn’t be the case. There should be no disagreement when it comes to protecting America. Because we should be Americans first, not Democrats or Republicans first. We should be Americans first.
We must continue to be patient with the Mueller investigation, and allow it to follow the facts wherever they may lead.
Because finding out what happened is the only way we’re going to be able to prevent this from happening again – and it’s the only way that we’re going to be able to keep our country safe.
Madam President, I yield the floor.

Governor Rick Scott Highlights $1.7 Billion Proposal for Florida’s Environment

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Governor Rick Scott today announced that he will propose a $50 million investment to expedite repairs for the federally operated Herbert Hoover Dike at Lake Okeechobee in his 2018-19 recommended budget. This $50 million is part of the Governor’s historic $1.7 billion investment in Florida’s environment announced last week. See more HERE.
Governor Scott said, “Last week, the State of Florida was proud to secure President Donald Trump’s commitment to accelerating critical repairs needed to the federal Herbert Hoover Dike at Lake Okeechobee. While this partnership is game-changing, we cannot stop there. These repairs are a priority and that’s why I’m proposing $50 million in state funding to help expedite the project. I look forward to working with the Florida Legislature on this important project so we can protect our pristine environment for our future generations.”
Florida Senate President Joe Negron said, “I appreciate Governor Scott’s leadership in ensuring that we make the best use of both state and federal tax dollars as we work to repair the Herbert Hoover Dike and build additional southern storage through the implementation of Senate Bill 10. I look forward to working with him again this session on these important issues to ensure we have an effective state and federal partnership that leads to the elimination of harmful discharges from Lake Okeechobee.”
Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran said, “None of what we announced today would’ve been possible without the heavy lifting and tireless effort of Governor Scott.  The fruits of this investment will mean safety and security for the community surrounding the Lake, as well as averting potential environmental dangers. And I’m proud to stand with the governor today and will do all I can to help him hold Washington’s feet to the fire.”
This funding will build on the $50 million in this year’s state budget to kick-start critical repairs to the Herbert Hoover Dike. Governor Scott is the first governor in Florida history to invest state money into this critical federal project. This April, Governor Scott met with President Donald Trump regarding the importance of fixing the federally operated Herbert Hoover Dike and received his commitment to fixing the dike. Last week, President Trump instructed White House Director of the Office of Management and Budget Mick Mulvaney to accelerate the completion of repairs to Florida’s Herbert Hoover Dike. See more HERE.
Full details on the Governor’s proposed budget will be announced in the coming weeks.

Senator Aaron Bean Receives Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center's 2017 Legislator of the Year Award

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Sen. Bean was recognized for supporting the Policy Center and Florida’s girls

Senator Aaron Bean (R-Fernandina Beach) has received the Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center’s 2017 See the Girl Legislator of the Year Award. The See the Girl Legislator of the Year Award recognizes a public official from each chamber whose leadership has brought about systemic changes to positively impact girls and young women affected by the justice system. The Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center presented the award to Senator Bean for championing the policy center’s programs and Florida’s girls during the 2017 legislative session.
“I am truly honored to receive the 2017 See the Girl Legislator of the Year Award from the Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center,” said Senator Bean. “Far too often in our society, the unique needs of girls are overlooked and a one-size-fits-all approach is applied in our justice system. Our young women want and deserve better, which is why I am honored to advocate for Florida’s girls and the Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center.”
Senator Bean represents Senate District 4, which includes parts of Nassau and Duval Counties. He can be contacted in Tallahassee at (850) 487-5004 or in his District Office at (904) 757-5039.