This week, a bipartisan group of Florida Members joined U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) to direct Governor Ron DeSantis to pull down funds to safeguard the 2020 elections that were provided by Congress in the CARES Act. The funds are to help Florida ensure safe and robust efforts in spite of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic for a safe and successful 2020 election cycle. The CARES Act is a $2 trillion coronavirus relief package passed by Congress and signed into law on March 27, 2020.

“Voting is a fundamental right and, yet, six weeks after funds became available, the state has not pulled down these federal emergency aid funds or outlined the ways in which it intends to use them to ensure a safe, secure, and successful election. We are urging the governor to secure these funds as soon as possible, so they can be used to prepare for the state’s August 18, 2020 primary election—which is only 100 days away,” said Castor.

Upon a simple request from each state, the Election Assistance Committee (EAC) will distribute $20.2 million to the State of Florida, contingent on the state providing only a 25 percent match for a total of $24.2 million to ensure this bedrock of democracy. 

The letter was signed by the following U.S. Reps. from Florida: Kathy Castor, Stephanie Murphy, Mario Diaz-Balart Charlie Crist, Val Demings, Ted Deutch, Lois Frankel, Alcee L. Hastings, Al Lawson, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, Donna E. Shalala, Darren Soto, and Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

Letter can be found here.