CFO Calls on Fla. Congressional Delegation to Protect Florida’s Env. Permitting Capability
~ Says Obama Appointed Judge Has Halted Critical Projects ~ 

Tallahassee, Fla. - Today, Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis announced he was issuing the following letter to the Florida Congressional delegation, encouraging their support of legislation authored by Senator Rick Scott and Senator Marco Rubio, along with efforts by Representative Aaron Bean, codifying the state’s ability to permit certain projects.

Under a current judge’s action, the state’s authority to permit certain projects has been halted, stifling the state’s ability to protect its residents from storms, providing housing for new residents, hardening infrastructure from storms, and expediting environmental projects.

Read the CFO’s letter below and HERE.

Dear Florida Congressional Delegation:

I am writing to you today in support of Florida Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio’s bill, and Representative Aaron Bean’s efforts to codify and protect the State of Florida’s Clean Water Act, Section 404 Permit Program. Our economy is booming, and because of our state’s economic success, more than 1,200 newcomers move to Florida every day and call it home. Of course, with economic opportunity comes economic development. However, Florida’s economic development and our hopes to expand as a state are now at risk due to a radical, Obama appointed, D.C. District Court’s decision to revoke Florida’s Clean Water Act dredge and fill permit program.

Since its enactment over three years ago, the state 404 permitting program has allowed Florida to build enough roads, housing, and businesses to keep up with the influx of new Floridians. Now, construction projects across the state have come to a grinding halt and placed many of our business owners and their employees in financial straits. I’m appalled that one person in a robe judging from their bench all the way in Washington has been allowed to shut down many of our state’s economic development projects.

The irony of this court decision is that vital environmental projects necessary to protect Florida’s many individual ecosystems, public health, and national security have been jeopardized. Just a few of these projects include potentially lifesaving flood protection plans for upstream residential areas in the City of Palm Coast, restoration projects that directly benefit the ecology of the Everglades that could lead to reduced utility rates for consumers, stormwater and infrastructure repairs to the storm-battered U.S. Naval station in Pensacola, improvements to medical facilities in South Florida, and applications to build new schools in St. Johns County. Right now, over 1,600 applications have yet to be approved, leaving private and public projects in a state of limbo. Unfortunately, nobody knows how to shoot themselves in the foot quite like short-sighted environmental alarmists who set out to find activist judges who will twist the law to their own ends. This is why we need congressional action immediately.

Our natural environment is the envy of the world. The decision handed down from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia is unfair and destructive to Florida’s current economic state. Florida’s environment is too diverse and unique to accept a “one-size-fits-all” regulatory structure from big brother in Washington, D.C. It is imperative that you support this great bill by Senator Scott and Senator Rubio to restore Florida’s 404 Permit Program and ensure that our state can continue to grow and protect our natural resources in a meaningful way.

Sincerely,

Jimmy Patronis

Chief Financial Officer

State of Florida

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About CFO Jimmy Patronis

Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis is a statewide elected official and a member of Florida’s Cabinet who oversees the Department of Financial Services. CFO Patronis works each day to fight insurance fraud, support Florida’s firefighters, and ensure the state’s finances are stable to support economic growth in the state. Follow the activities of the Department on Facebook (FLDFS) and X (@FLDFS).