Sens. Nelson and Rubio Pass Bipartisan Amendment in Response to Florida Algae Blooms
Amendment would provide CDC with $1 million for algal bloom response and mitigation
Contact:
With large swathes of Florida suffering from toxic algal blooms, Senators Nelson (D-FL) and Rubio (R-FL) today included an amendment in the Human Health and Services appropriations bill that will provide $1 million to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for “surveillance, mitigation, and event response efforts” in response to algal bloom exposures.
The funding comes as Florida is burdened by both a blue-green algae bloom and a “red tide,” which has killed off tons of marine life and cost Floridians more than $8 million, opening eyes to the environmental and economic damages that many communities face at short notice.
“Senators Nelson and Rubio have helped illuminate the critical role that federal funding can play in the preparation for and mitigation of environmental emergencies. As Floridians deal with the fallout of these events—with businesses suffering and local economies shocked—it’s time that we consider the fragile nature of our environment and the need to sufficiently fund agencies and departments that work to avoid such crises.”
- Jeremy Symons, Vice President, Political Affairs
