News

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) today applauded the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s announcement that it will allocate disaster supplemental funding to seven new studies and 16 construction projects in Florida through its Long Term Disaster Recovery Investment Plan. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Rubio was instrumental in securing the funding the Army Corps will use to implement this program.
 
“Today’s announcement is the product of many months of work following Hurricane Irma to deliver critical disaster relief for Floridians,” Rubio said. “I’m proud that these projects, including full funding for expedited completion of the Herbert Hoover Dike, beach renourishment, and my South Atlantic Coastal Study, will not only provide flood protection and economic benefits, but will focus on improving our state’s resilience to help better withstand the next big storm.”
 
The Plan identifies the following Florida projects that will receive funding:
·       Herbert Hoover Dike Rehabilitation – $514,208,000 to fulfill all remaining funding needs and expedite completion no later than 2022
·       South Atlantic Coastal Study (FL, PR, USVI) – $16,000,000 to identify coastal vulnerabilities to future storms and sea level rise to aid development of resilience projects
·       Comprehensive Beach Renourishment:
o   Brevard County Shore Protection Project (SPP) – $2,000,000
o   Broward County SPP – $2,000,000
o   Duval County BEC – $2,000,000
o   Flagler County SPP – $17,500,000
o   Lee County BEC – $2,000,000
o   Manatee County BEC – $14,300,000
o   Miami-Dade County Beach Erosion Control (BEC) – $158,300,000
o   Nassau County SPP – $2,000,000
o   Palm Beach County BEC – $27,000,000 (includes $25,000,000 for Mid-Town Beach Segment)
o   Sarasota County BEC – $2,000,000
o   St. Johns County BEC – $2,000,000
o   St. Lucie County SPP, South Segment – $20,276,000
o   St. Johns County SPP, Vilano Segment – $36,834,000
      
  Other Studies:
o   Collier County BEC – $3,000,000
o   Miami-Dade County – $2,000,000
o   Miami Back Bay – $3,000,000
o   Monroe County – $3,000,000
o   Okaloosa County – $3,000,000
o   Pinellas County – $2,000,000
 
The Program identifies the following Puerto Rico projects that will receive funding:
·           Rio de La Plata – $500,000,000
·           Rio Grande de Arecibo – $82,892,000
·           Rio Grande de Loiza – $250,000,000
·           Rio Guanajibo at Mayaguez – $60,000,000
·           Rio Nigua at Salinas – $60,000,000
·           Rio Puerto Nuevo – $1,552,453,000
 
Studies:
o   Puerto Rico Study – $3,000,000
o   Rio Culebrinas – $400,000
o   Rio Grande de Manati (Ciales) – $1,200,000
o   Rio Guayanilla – $3,000,000
o   San Juan Metro Area Study – $3,000,000
 
Background on Rubio’s Efforts
 
·       The Senate recently passed two Rubio measures to protect Lake Okeechobee communities and restore the Everglades
·       Rubio applauded the U.S. Army Corps for including key Florida infrastructure and water projects in FY18 Work Plan. Rubio helped craft the omnibus bill that made these funds available to the Army Corps
·       In May, Rubio successfully securedFY19 funding priorities in the Senate Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act. He also secured up to $50 million in additional construction funding for use at the Corps’ discretion in renourishing degraded beaches
·       In March, Rubio urged the Army Corps to support Florida water projects
·       In the 2018 spending bill, Rubio supported the budget request of $82 million for Herbert Hoover Dike construction and included an additional $180 million in the additional funding pot for Flood Control in the Construction account. The spending bill also included language encouraging the Corps to conduct, at full federal expense, the study of the coastal areas in the South Atlantic Division to identify the risks and vulnerabilities of those areas
 
·       In February, Rubio was able to secure funding for Lake Okeechobee discharge relief and Army Corps projects in the disaster supplemental, Rubio also urged the Army Corps to use supplemental disaster funding to complete work on the Herbert Hoover Dike
 
·       In October, Rubio led nearly all members of the Florida congressional delegation in urging the leaders of the Senate and House appropriations committees to provide robust funding to expedite the completion of the Herbert Hoover Dike and a modification to the South Atlantic Coastal Study