Ron DeSantis

Governor Ron DeSantis visited Lee County to highlight the successes seen in Florida since the deployment of state-run monoclonal antibody treatment sites. Since opening these sites, the 7-day average of new adult hospital admissions has fallen 80%.

Governor Ron DeSantis announced more than $2.8 million is being awarded to Northwest Florida State College through the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund to fund a new diesel mechanic technician training program. Diesel mechanics are in-demand both nationally and in Florida. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for diesel service technicians and mechanics is expected to increase by 8% over the next 10 years, and in Walton and Okaloosa counties, current projections show an 18% increase in demand for transit technicians over the next five years. Governor DeSantis made the announcement at Northwest Florida State College as part of a weeklong series of events with announcements of awards that invest in infrastructure and elevate rural communities.

Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) is awarding $2 million in Florida Job Growth Grant Funds to the City of St. Pete Beach. This funding, along with a $2 million match from the City, will be used to finalize the overhaul of the City’s wastewater system to restore capacity for hotel and lodging expansion. The project is expected to create 1,316 new, permanent jobs and generate nearly $13 million annually for the local economy. Governor DeSantis made this announcement at Crabby Bill’s, a local staple and one of many businesses that will benefit from increased tourism to the area.

“Since I took office, my administration has remained committed to the recovery of communities impacted by Hurricane Michael by providing more than $1 billion to support the recovery efforts,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Today, we furthered this progress through $3.1 million in funding to help rebuild affected areas and bolster their recovery and resiliency. Three years later, we applaud the actions taken by our Panhandle communities to ensure they are prepared to withstand future storms through disaster mitigation funding.”

International Boater Builders Expo & Conference - Tampa

Governor DeSantis was joined by Attorney General Ashley Moody to announce three significant actions Florida is taking to address the Biden Border Crisis. First, Governor DeSantis has issued Executive Order 21-223 to prohibit all Florida agencies under the purview of the Governor from facilitating illegal immigration into Florida, unless otherwise required by federal or state law, and require the collection of information from state officials on the scope and costs of illegal immigration in Florida. Second, Governor DeSantis announced the appointment of Larry Keefe, former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, as Public Safety Czar to ensure the actions directed by the executive order are carried out. Finally, Governor DeSantis and Attorney General Moody announced that Florida has filed suit against the Biden Administration challenging its “catch and release” policy.

“I am excited to announce that Terran Orbital will be investing $300 million in the Space Coast to build the largest satellite manufacturing facility in the world,” said Governor Ron DeSantis.

Governor Ron DeSantis called on the Biden Administration to restore Florida’s monoclonal antibody supply. At the event, Governor DeSantis also announced that due to the lack of support from the federal government, Florida secured 3,000 doses of the monoclonal antibody treatment on its own from GlaxoSmithKline.

“Parents have the right to have their healthy kids in school. In-person education is important for a students’ wellbeing, their educational advancement, and their social development. The idea that schools are somehow a big problem when it comes to spread of the virus has been refuted yet again. Not only is the forced quarantining of healthy children disruptive to a student’s education, but many folks in Florida are not able to work from home. With this rule, we are following a symptom-based approach to quarantining students in Florida.” - Governor Ron DeSantis

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo, MD, PhD, as Florida Surgeon General and Secretary of the Florida Department of Health. Dr. Ladapo was recently granted a professorship at the University of Florida (UF) College of Medicine. Prior to joining UF, he served as an associate professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) caring for hospitalized patients. A graduate of Wake Forest University, Dr. Ladapo also holds an MD from Harvard Medical School and a PhD in Health Policy from Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. “I am pleased to announce that Dr. Joseph Ladapo will lead the Florida Department of Health as our state’s next Surgeon General,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Dr. Ladapo comes to us by way of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA with a superb background. He has had both a remarkable academic and medical career with a strong emphasis in health policy research. Dr. Ladapo will bring great leadership to the Department of Health. I would also like to thank both Dr. Scott Rivkees and Dr. Shamarial Roberson for their hard work on behalf of Floridians.”

Governor Ron DeSantis was joined by First Lady Casey DeSantis, Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran, Okaloosa County Superintendent of Schools Marcus Chambers, and teachers and parents of children in Okaloosa County Schools to discuss Florida’s transition from the FSA to progress monitoring.

Governor Ron DeSantis awarded Felix I. Rodríguez-Mendigutía with the Governor’s Medal of Freedom, the highest honor in the State of Florida, to recognize his meritorious contribution to the cause of freedom around the world and continued involvement in Florida’s rich Cuban-American culture. The Governor was joined by Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez at the Brigade 2506 Museum and Library.

Gov. DeSantis visits the Lillian S. Wells Women’s Center in Broward to hear from Floridians who recovered from COVID with the help of monoclonal antibody treatments.

Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and Enterprise Florida have awarded $3.4 million to communities throughout Florida through the Defense Infrastructure Grant Program, the Defense Reinvestment Grant Program, and the Florida Defense Support Task Force Grant Program. These grants will bolster military facilities, support economic diversification efforts for defense-dependent communities, and fund programs to improve military-community relations.

Governor Ron DeSantis announced a legislative proposal that will eliminate the common-core based, end-of-year, high-stakes Florida Statewide Assessment and create the new Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (F.A.S.T) plan, which will monitor student progress and foster individual growth. By creating the F.A.S.T. Plan, Florida will become the first state in the nation to fully implement progress monitoring instead of end-of-year standardized testing, and fully eliminate common core.

Governor Ron DeSantis holds a press conference to announce a bill to eliminate the Florida Standards Assessment – the final step to end Common Core in Florida.

Governor DeSantis holds a press conference to address the recent attacks on Floridians’ freedoms.

Governor Ron DeSantis was joined by Floridians in Pasco County who have recovered from COVID because they received monoclonal therapies, including Congressman Gus Bilirakis and Florida Senate President Wilton Simpson. Florida now has 25 state-run monoclonal antibody treatment sites.

First Lady Casey DeSantis launched Hope Florida – A Pathway to Prosperity. This major new initiative has been spearheaded by First Lady DeSantis and implemented by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), utilizing ‘Care Navigators’ to guide Floridians on an individualized path to prosperity by focusing on community collaboration between the private sector, faith-based community, nonprofits and government entities to break down traditional community silos, to maximize resources and uncover opportunities.

First Lady Casey DeSantis launched Hope Florida – A Pathway to Prosperity. This major new initiative has been spearheaded by First Lady DeSantis and implemented by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), utilizing ‘Care Navigators’ to guide Floridians on an individualized path to prosperity by focusing on community collaboration between the private sector, faith-based community, nonprofits and government entities to break down traditional community silos, to maximize resources and uncover opportunities

Today, Governor Ron DeSantis was joined by Attorney General Ashley Moody, members of the Legislature, and local law enforcement officials to announce three new policy proposals for the upcoming Legislative Session to help recruit new law enforcement officers and support Florida’s local and state law enforcement agencies.

Governor DeSantis talks with monoclonal antibody recipients in Flagler County.

ST. CLOUD, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis was in St. Cloud to announce that Florida will open a new monoclonal antibody treatment site in Osceola County at St. Cloud Community Center. Additionally, the Governor was joined by Floridians who have recovered thanks to monoclonal therapies. Florida now has 23 state-run monoclonal antibody treatment sites.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the State of Florida opened a new monoclonal antibody therapy treatment site in Palm Beach County. This location has the capacity to serve more than 300 patients per day and will be open every day of the week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. “Today, we opened a fifth antibody treatment site in less than one week, with the newest site located in West Palm Beach,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “While I am proud to report that 88% of seniors in Palm Beach County have chosen to get vaccinated, this treatment site will further our dual-pronged approach of prevention and treatment through vaccinations and therapeutics.” The site is located at: West Gate Park 3691 Oswego Avenue West Palm Beach, FL 33409 Hours: 7 days a week, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. To see the full video from the event, please click HERE. “The Division of Emergency Management and the Florida Department of Health are moving quickly to establish additional monoclonal antibody treatment sites,” said Florida Division of Emergency Management Director (FDEM) Kevin Guthrie. “We remain committed to expanding access to this treatment, while also alleviating demand on hospital resources. We’ll continue coordinating with local governments to open more sites and reduce the likelihood of individuals being hospitalized for COVID.” “We are giving more attention and providing increased access to this life-saving treatment,” said FDEM Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kenneth Scheppke. “Governor DeSantis deserves praise for using innovative solutions to protect Floridians. Through these stationary sites and the mobile strike teams, monoclonal antibodies can be increasingly and more efficiently deployed in the fight against COVID-19. For decades monoclonal antibodies have been utilized in medicine and have been proven to protect the human body from viruses.”