Díaz-Balart Delivers Critical Funding for School Safety, Law Enforcement, Everglades, and Tribal Partners in FL-26, While Cutting Waste, Fraud, and Abuse

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement after House passage of three Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bills: Commerce, Justice, and Science, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies, and the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies.

“As House Republicans begin the second session of the 119^th Congress, we are prioritizing the interests of America and the American people with the passage of these three additional Fiscal Year 2026 full-year funding bills. These bills unleash U.S. energy dominance and nuclear deterrence, strengthen law enforcement and combat illicit drugs, and expand access to critical minerals – all while maintaining fiscal responsibility, public safety, national security, and advancing President Trump’s America First agenda.

I’m thrilled to once again deliver for Florida’s 26^th Congressional District, including communities across Miami-Dade and Collier Counties. These bills include enhanced safety for our schools and first responders, critical investments for our police departments, infrastructure improvements, environmental protection, and continued vital Everglades restoration.

I commend Chairman Tom Cole’s leadership and thank Subcommittee Chairmen Mike Simpson and Chuck Fleischmann for working directly with me to address key priorities in Florida.”

Funding Highlights for FL-26:

Ensures the safety of our schools 

• $135M for STOP School Violence Act
• Of this, $53M for school hardening measures administered by the Community Oriented Policing Services.
• $11.5M for the POLICE Act administrated by the Community Orientated Policing Services to provide active shooter training programs for law enforcement.
• Language directing the Bureau of Justice Assistance and Office of Community Orientated Policing Services to notify States, localities, Tribes and school districts of the availability of funding under the STOP School Violence Act upon releases, and to provide microgrants for school districts, including rural, Tribal, and low-resourced schools.

Fights against fentanyl and other illicit drugs:

• Increases funding for the DEA to end the scourge of fentanyl & other illicit drugs
• Continues supporting takedowns, including Nicolas Maduro’s “El Cartel de los Soles

Supports our local community

• $2,504,543 for Collier County Sheriff’s Office Marked Vehicle Expansion Project
• $2,004,000 for City of Hialeah Gardens High Priority Marked Police Patrol Vehicles
• $4,200,000 for Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Global Public Safety and Equipment Expansion Project
• $1,050,000 for Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Mobile Operation Command Center Project
• $500,000 for Miami Springs Police Department Marked Fleet Modernization Project
• $350,000 for Miccosukee Tribe Police Department’s Marked Police Patrol Vehicle Project
• $1,200,000 for Town of Medley Wastewater Pump Station Project
• $3,100,000 for University of Miami, Miami Project to Cure Paralysis Research and Innovation Hub Equipment Expansion Project
• $450,000 for Village of Virginia Gardens Law Enforcement Technology Upgrades Project

Ensures the protection of our environment

• $425M for continued Everglades Restoration.
• $40M for the National Estuary Program, which the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve will directly benefit from
• $9M for the South Florida Geographic Program, which monitors coral health and enhances water quality
• $1M carveout for South Florida expansion of water quality and ecosystem health monitoring and prediction network which uses cutting-edge technologies for long-term monitoring of Florida waters, including molecular, algal, ocean floor and seagrasses.
• Under the EPA, South Florida will receive:
• $2M to monitor coral health in South Florida.
• $1.15M to enhance water quality and seagrass monitoring in Florida Bay and Biscayne Bay.
• $1M for the expansion of the water quality and ecosystem health monitoring and prediction network which will use vetted, modern procedures for long-term monitoring of Florida waters, including molecular, algal, ocean floor and seagrasses.
• $72.274M for the EPA’s Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program, which our local jurisdictions can utilize to upgrade their water and wastewater infrastructure.

Supports our first responders

• $253M administrated by the Community Oriented Policing Services Program for the COPS Hiring Grant.
• $10M for the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act grant program to establish mental health and wellness programs for law enforcement officers.
• $44M for Regional Information Sharing Activities.

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