REPS. DEMINGS, MURPHY, SOTO ANNOUNCE NEW MCO FUNDING

Press Release

Today Reps. Val Demings, Stephanie Murphy, and Darren Soto announced that under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Orlando International Airport will receive almost $47 million per year for 5 years (over $233 million total) in new federal funding for Airport Improvement Projects (AIPs). This is new funding on top of other AIP funding already available to MCO from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Said Rep. Demings, "I am proud to announce that after a long, tough political fight we have secured a massive new bipartisan investment into Central Florida's tourism and business travel economy. Orlando International Airport brings tens of millions of travelers to Central Florida each year, where they invest in our economy, visit loved ones, bring new business opportunities, and provide the foundation for our growth. This new funding will be used for critical expansions like the South Terminal which are key to our community's continued economic growth. I'm excited for all of the new business that this bipartisan win will generate for Central Florida, and will continue working to ensure that Florida has everything we need to compete and win on the world stage. We look forward to additional funding throughout our community in the coming years through this bipartisan act."

Said Rep. Murphy, "A modern, clean, and safe airport can help an entire community, from making it easier to travel to see loved ones, to creating new job opportunities and stimulating the local economy. I fought hard to get the bipartisan infrastructure bill across the finish line and I'm proud that airports across the state, including Orlando International Airport, are now getting the investments they need to renovate, expand, and keep up with our growing region."

Said Rep. Soto, "I am proud to have been a part of the bipartisan effort to bring this funding home to Central Florida. Florida's Ninth District is the fastest growing district in the country, and this federal funding will help to make air travel more accessible to our fast growing population, while boosting our local tourism industry. As we welcome tourism back to Central Florida, we are making critical investments in airport safety, accessibility, and efficiency. This historic law will improve travel experiences for Central Floridians while creating new jobs and revitalizing our local economy."

Background

Rep. Demings voted for the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, citing the need to rebuild Florida's economy and get people back to work. Said Rep. Demings on the vote, "When we invest in middle class America, when we invest in people who have to go to work every day, America does better." The legislation included $25 billion over the next five years to improve airports.

Rep. Demings is also a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security where she oversees efforts to protect the safety and security of the traveling public.

Apopka Voice: "there's very few champions in the world who practice what they preach, and Congresswoman Demings is all about the working people…the infrastructure bill will literally put thousands of people to work…we're aiming to make careers for individuals, not only in Apopka but in surrounding counties as well. The amount of work is going to be phenomenal."

WFTV 9: "The hope is the new Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act can create more blue-collar jobs in Central Florida… At an event Tuesday, Demings said some of those funds could be used here to make commuting across the area easier."

Florida Politics: "Here in Florida, transportation means everything," said Demings. "It is the lifeline that moves people…this bill is in the best interest of Central Florida and all of the people who visit our great region…Look, when this bill passed, we won. Not win as in Democrats and Republicans who voted for it, but we as a community. We as a nation.'"

Orlando Sentinel: ""This is a huge win for our community,' she said..."This is a huge win for Florida, and I am excited about all that we are going to accomplish in the coming years because of this investment in our future.'… Rep. Demings touted the bipartisan support for the bill, which included 19 Senate Republicans and 13 House Republicans."

90.7 WMFE: "Central Florida stands to receive tens of billions of dollars in money to expand Lynx routes, put in electric charging stations for greener vehicles, and improve SunRail and Amtrak…"

Apopka Voice: "So a Democrat and a Republican went to a landfill...You're probably waiting with anticipation at the butt of this joke, but on Tuesday morning, Democrat Rep. Val Demings of the 10th District, which includes Apopka, and Republican Bryan Nelson, the Mayor of Apopka stood side-by-side at the Golden Gem Landfill to talk about the bipartisan infrastructure bill and how it will help Apopka."

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