Issue Position: Conservatism Means Conservatism

Issue Position

Environmental stewardship is critical to Florida's economic prosperity: the beauty of our beaches, bays, and parks are important to our tourism industry, raise property values, and strengthen our boating and fishing industry. For this reason, the legislature should support initiatives to address coral bleaching, algae blooms and other threats to the sustainability of our coral reefs and bays, including Biscayne National Park, a special point of pride for District 114.
As part of a larger campaign to expand Florida's leadership in STEM fields, the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) should be supported in its efforts to complete research projects on food safety, emerging pathogens and invasive species. Current research is aimed at preventing mosquitos from carrying deadly pathogens, responding to citrus greening, and managing invasive plants. The returns on such an investment are promising, and necessary. Agriculture contributed about $123.2 billion to Florida's gross domestic product last year, and is responsible for about 2 million jobs.
Our forests and springs are unique and irreplaceable. Efforts by the Department of Agriculture to preserve them, including the Florida Forest Legacy Program, should continue to receive appropriate support. This is especially true for wetlands restoration efforts and the prevention of nonpoint source pollution in Florida's Silver Springs Watershed, home to the largest freshwater spring in the country. Such initiatives are necessary to protect endangered species and guarantee future access to key resources like water and timber.

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