Many Floridians have recently received their third stimulus check, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is looking to give some an extra $1,000, according to NBC 6.
The governor made this announcement Tuesday (March 16) in Tallahassee. The Sunshine is expected to see roughly $10 billion from the $1.9 trillion stimulus package President Joe Biden signed last week, reporters said. DeSantis said he wants to see $208 million of those funds go directly to first responders as one-time direct payments.
“We know the pandemic put a lot of strain on our first responders — EMTs, sworn law enforcement, firefighters — so we believe we should recognize their sacrifice,” the governor said.
It will be up to state lawmakers to decide how to divvy up the funds in the budget and implement DeSantis' recommendations. They must approve it before they adjourn in late April, NBC 6 added.
DeSantis also asked lawmakers to consider funding nearly $100 billion in programs, including the proposed Emergency Management Response Fund. This would go toward the state's emergency management system, which is accustomed to dealing with hurricanes and other emergencies. Reporters said these workers have been at the forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The governor's plan also includes funding for seaports, the state's system for unemployment benefits and Florida's resiliency campaign against rising sea levels.
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