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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHandouts_Environmental Advisory Committee_10/13/2021Resolution No. City , State Resolution urging the United States Congress to enact the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2021 (H.R.2307) WHEREAS, an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued the first volume of a report on the impacts of global warming exceeding 1.5°C above pre -industrial levels in August 2021, warning that global warming is likely to reach 1.5°C by 2030 if emissions continue to increase at the current rate; and WHEREAS, the United Nations climate science body said in a monumental climate report that we must rapidly make massive and unprecedented changes to global energy infrastructure to limit global warming to moderate levels; and WHEREAS, the United States government released its Sixth Annual Climate Assessment in August 2021 reporting that the impacts of climate change are already being felt in communities across the country, and that more frequent and intense extreme weather and climate -related events, as well as changes in average climate conditions, are expected to continue to damage infrastructure, ecosystems, and social systems that provide essential benefits to communities; and WHEREAS, conservative estimates by the world's climate scientists state that, to achieve climate stabilization and avoid cataclysmic climate change, emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) must be brought to net zero by 2050; and WHEREAS, presently the environmental, health, and social costs of carbon emissions are not included in prices paid for fossil fuels, but rather these externalized costs are borne directly and indirectly by all Americans and global citizens; and WHEREAS, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued a special report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre -industrial levels in October 2018 stating that explicit carbon prices remain a necessary condition of ambitious climate policies; and WHEREAS, to begin to correct this market failure, Congress can enact the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2021 (H.R.2307) to assess a national carbon fee on fossil fuels based on the amount of CO2 the fuel will emit when burned and allocate the collected proceeds to all U.S. households in equal per capita shares in the form of a monthly dividend, and WHEREAS, for efficient administration, the fossil fuels fee can be applied once, as far upstream in the economy as practical, or at the port of entry into the United States; and WHEREAS, as stated in the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2021 (H.R. 2307), a national revenue neutral carbon fee starting at a relatively low rate of $15 per ton of CO2 equivalent emissions and resulting in equal charges per ton of CO2 equivalent emissions potential in each type of fuel or greenhouse gas should be assessed to begin to lower what are now dangerously high CO2 emissions. The yearly increase in carbon fees, including other greenhouse gases, shall be at least $10 per ton of CO2 equivalent each year, with the provision that the annual increase will be $15 per ton of CO2 equivalent if statutory goals are not met; and WHEREAS, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2021 (H.R.2307) specifies that, in order to protect low and middle income citizens from the economic impact of rising prices due to the carbon fee, equal monthly per person dividend payments shall be made to all American households (one-half payment per child under 19 years old) each month from the fossil fuel fees collected. The total value of all monthly dividend payments shall represent 100% of the net carbon fees collected per month; and WHEREAS, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2021 (H.R.2307) encourages market - driven innovation of clean energy technologies and market efficiencies which will reduce harmful pollution and leave a healthier, more stable, and more prosperous nation for future generations; and WHEREAS, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2021 (H.R.2307) will lead to a decrease in America's CO2 emissions of 37 percent in five years relative to a 2005 baseline, based on projections from Resources for the Future, and will preserve national employment; and WHEREAS, border adjustments - carbon content -based levies on emissions -intensive products imported from countries without comparable carbon pricing, and refunds to our exporters of carbon fees paid - can maintain the competitiveness of U.S. businesses in global markets; and WHEREAS, a national carbon fee can be implemented quickly and efficiently and will respond to the urgency of the climate crisis because the federal government already has in place mechanisms, such as the Internal Revenue Service, needed to implement and enforce the fee, and already collects various other fees from fossil fuel producers and importers; and WHEREAS, a national revenue neutral carbon fee would make the United States a leader in mitigating climate change and in the clean energy technologies of the 21st century and would provide incentive to other countries to enact similar carbon fees, reducing global CO2 emissions without the need for complex international agreements, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT: RESOLVED, that the City of , (state) urges the United States Congress to enact without delay the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2021 (H.R.2307), and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Manager or City Clerk, no later than 30 days after passage of this Resolution, shall transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, to each U.S. Senator and Representative from the State of in the Congress of the United States, and to nearby city and county governments urging that they pass similar resolutions. PASSED AND ADOPTED as a resolution of the City Council of the City of at its regularly scheduled meeting held on City of State of Mayor , City Clerk ARTICLE XIV: POLYSTYRENE FOAM WASTE REDUCTION ORDINANCE Sec.15-138. Purpose. The City of Boynton Beach has a duty to protect the natural environment, the economy, and the health of its residents. The purpose of this article is to regulate the use and distribution of polystyrene foam and other single -use plastic products on city property in order to lead by example, protect the health of Boynton Beach residents, and promote sustainable practices within the city. (Ord. No. 21-012, § 2, 4-20-21) Sec.15-139. Definitions. For the purpose of this article, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings: Balloon. A flexible, nonporous bag made from materials such as rubber, latex, foil, metal, polychloroprene, Mylar, or nylon fabric that can be inflated or filled with air, water, or gas such as helium, hydrogen, nitrous oxide, or oxygen. City contractor. A contractor, vendor, lessee, licensee, programming partner, or permittee of the city that uses, works at or on, provides services to or at, or undertakes construction in a city facility or on city property; or an operator or manager of a city facility or city property. City facility. Any building, structure, or vehicle owned or operated by the city. City property. Any land owned or managed by the city. Confetti. Small pieces or streamers of plastic, paper, Myiar, or metallic material that are thrown or scattered during festive occasions. Food ware. All containers, bowls, plates, trays, cups, lids, and other like items that are designed for one-time use for serving or distributing food or drink. Person. An individual, trust, firm, or company, including a government corporation, partnership, or association. Polystyrene foam. Blown polystyrene and expanded and extruded foams which are thermoplastic petrochemical materials utilizing a styrene monomer and processed by any number of techniques including, but not limited to, fusion of polymer spheres (expandable bead polystyrene), injection molding, foam molding, and extrusion -blown molding (extruded foam polystyrene). Polystyrene foam is generally used to make cups, bowls, plates, trays, clamshell containers, meat trays, and egg cartons, and is commonly but often incorrectly referred to as "styrofoam." Temporary vendor. Any person or entity issued a temporary permit by the city to provide or sell food on city property or in a city facility, including but not limited to special events permits issued by the city for a special event on city property or in a city facility. Unencapsulated polystyrene foam product. Any item that is made, in whole or part, from polystyrene foam and that is not wholly encapsulated or encased within a more durable material. These items include but are not limited to polystyrene foam coolers, ice chests, pool toys, and beach toys. (Ord. No. 21-012, § 2, 4-20-21) Sec. 15-140. Prohibition of the use and distribution of polystyrene foam products, balloons, and confetti by city contractors and temporary vendors. (a) City contractors and temporary vendors shall not sell, use, provide food in, or offer the use of polystyrene foam food ware or unencapsulated polystyrene foam products in city facilities or on city property. (b) City contractors and temporary vendors shall not use city funds to purchase polystyrene foam food ware or unencapsulated polystyrene foam products. (c) City contractors and temporary vendors shall not sell, use, or offer the use of balloons or confetti in any outdoor area of city property. (d) The provisions of this section shall be incorporated into all contracts, leases, special event permits, and concession agreements entered into or renewed after April 20, 2021, and may be incorporated by reference requiring compliance with all laws, rules, and ordinances of the city. A violation of this section shall be deemed a material default under the terms of the contract, lease, or concession agreement and is grounds for revocation of a special event permit. (e) Exceptions. This section shall not apply to: (1) Prepackaged foods that have been filled and sealed prior to receipt by the city contractor or temporary vendor, including products used for the storage of raw meat, pork, poultry, eggs, fish, and seafood. (2) Any city contract, lease or concession agreement entered into prior to April 20, 2021 or any temporary permit issued prior to April 20, 2021, which shall not be subject to the requirements of this section, unless the city contractor or temporary vendor voluntarily agrees to comply with this section. (Ord. No. 21-012, § 2, 4-20-21) Sec. 15-141. Prohibition of the use of polystyrene foam products, balloons, and confetti on city property. (a) No person shall use polystyrene foam food ware or unencapsulated polystyrene foam products on city property or in any city facility. (b) No person shall use balloons or confetti in any outdoor area of city property. (c) The provisions of this section shall be incorporated into the city's facility rental policies and any related rental agreements entered into or renewed after April 20, 2021, and may be incorporated by reference requiring compliance with all laws, rules, and ordinances of the city. (Ord. No. 21-012, § 2, 4-20-21) Sec. 15-142. Penalties and enforcement. (a) Following adoption of this article, the city shall engage in public education efforts to inform affected persons and entities of the provisions of this article and to provide assistance with identifying environmentally friendly alternatives to the prohibited items. (b) Beginning 12 months after April 20, 2021, the city shall enforce all provisions of this article and shall continue to engage in public education. (c) Violations of the provisions of this article by city contractors and temporary vendors shall be on a per occurrence basis and subject to the following penalties: (1) First violation: written warning; (2) Second violation: $25 fine; (3) Third and subsequent violations: $50 fine. (4) These penalties shall be in addition to enforcement of any contract remedy or termination proceeding of any city contract, concession or lease. (Ord. No. 21-012, § 2, 4-20-21) REVISED 6/3/2021 1 5580 2 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BOCA RATON 3 AMENDING CHAPTER 9, CODE OF ORDINANCES, 4 "MISCELLANEOUS OFFENSES," BY CREATING ARTICLE 5 VII, "WASTE REDUCTION," TO PROHIBIT POLYSTYRENE 6 FOAM PRODUCTS, BALLOONS, AND CONFETTI ON CITY 7 PROPERTY (AS MORE PARTICULARLY PROVIDED); 8 AMENDING SECTION 9-60, "SUPPLEMENTAL CODE 9 ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES," TO PROVIDE FOR 10 ENFORCEMENT; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; 11 PROVIDING FOR REPEALER; PROVIDING FOR 12 CODIFICATION; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE 13 14 WHEREAS, the City of Boca Raton has a duty to protect city facilities, city property, the 15 natural environment, the economy, and the health of its citizens; and 16 WHEREAS, the City's Sustainability Action Plan calls for the reduction of litter and 17 plastic pollution within the City; and 18 WHEREAS, polystyrene foam represents a significant source of litter on the City's 19 beaches and in City facilities, parks, and waterways; and 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 WHEREAS, polystyrene foam, a petroleum based plastic material, commonly though often incorrectly referred to as "Styrofoam," is an environmental pollutant that is commonly used for packaging foods and in food service ware, is difficult or impossible to recycle, is not compostable, and according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency can have serious impacts upon human health, wildlife, aquatic environment, and the economy; and WHEREAS, polystyrene foam may break down in the marine environment into smaller pieces called microplastics which do not biodegrade and which negatively impact water quality and harm marine life that often mistake microplastics for food; and site; and WHEREAS, balloons are common sources of litter, sometimes even far from their use WHEREAS, confetti is produced in a size that makes it difficult to collect for proper disposal and thus can easily become litter; and WHEREAS, due to health and environmental concerns, many cities in the United States have enacted bans on polystyrene foam products, balloons, and confetti, including municipalities in Florida; and WHEREAS, section 500.90, Florida Statutes, generally preempts to the State of Florida the regulation of polystyrene foam products, but expressly authorizes local governments to regulate the use of polystyrene foam products by individuals on public property, by temporary vendors on public property, or by entities engaged in a contractual relationship with the local government for the provision of goods or services; now therefore THE CITY OF BOCA RATON HEREBY ORDAINS: Section 1. Chapter 9, "Miscellaneous Offenses," is hereby amended by creating new Article VII, "Waste reduction." 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 ARTICLE VII. — WASTE REDUCTION. Section. 9-108. — Purpose. It is the intention of the city to protect the health and wellbeing of city residents, to support sustainable practices, and to reduce the negative impacts of polystyrene foam food ware, unencapsulated polystyrene foam products, balloons, and confetti on city property and the natural environment. Negative impacts include, but are not limited to, creation of litter and marine debris, wildlife impacts, blockage of stormwater drains, the breeding of mosquitos, and negative aesthetics in the city. Section. 9-109. — Definitions. "Balloon" means a flexible nonporous bag made from materials such as rubber, latex, foil, metal, polychloroprene, stretched polyester film (such as Mylar), or nylon fabric that can be inflated or filled with air, water, or gas. "City property" shall mean any real property owned or managed by the city, but shall not include public roads, sidewalks, swales, or rights of way. "Confetti" shall mean small pieces plastic, paper, Mylar, or metallic material that is generally used, thrown, or scattered during festive occasions. "Polystyrene foam" shall mean blown polystyrene and expanded and extruded foams that are thermoplastic petrochemical materials utilizing a styrene monomer and processed by any number of techniques, including but not limited to, fusion of polymer spheres (expandable bead polystyrene), injecting molding, foam molding, and extrusion -blown molding (extruded foam polystyrene. Polystyrene foam is commonly used to make disposable cups, bowls, plates, trays, clamshell containers, meat trays, and egg cartons and is commonly though often incorrectly referred to by the trademark name "Styrofoam." "Polystyrene foam products" shall mean products made from polystyrene foam that are designed for distributing food or drink, such as containers, bowls, plates, trays, cups, and lids and which are intended to be disposable and polystyrene foam coolers/ice chests that are not wholly 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 encapsulated or encased within a more durable material. "Temporary vendor" shall mean a person or entity who is contracted to sell or distribute food and/or drink on city property. Section. 9-110. — Prohibition of the sale or distribution of polystyrene foam products. (1) Use of polystyrene foam products is discouraged on city property. (2) Temporary vendors: (a) Temporary vendors are prohibited from selling or distributing food/drink packaged in polystyrene foam products on city property. (b) Every temporary vendor entering into a contract, lease, rental agreement, or other agreement with a third party for the provision of goods or services, or for an event, on city property, shall include in such agreement reference to the prohibitions in this section. (c) A violation of any prohibition or requirement of this section shall be grounds for revocation by the city of a temporary vendor contract. (3) The prohibitions in this section shall be suspended during a city -declared state of emergency. Section 9-111. — Prohibition of balloons and confetti. Balloons and confetti are prohibited in outdoor areas on city property. Section 2. Section 9-60, "Supplemental code enforcement procedures," is hereby amended to read as follows: (2) Supplemental procedures. Enforcement of the following provisions of the Code pursuant to the provisions of this article is hereby authorized: (a) Section 4-2, "Hours of operation;" (c) Section 7-26, "Codes —Adopted;" (d) Section 9-110 "Prohibition of the sale or distribution of polystyrene foam products;" EI 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 (e) Section 9-111 "Prohibition of balloons and confetti;" [Note to Codifier current subsections (d) through (bb) are hereby renumbered as subsections (f) through (dd).] Section 3. If any section, subsection, clause, or provision of this ordinance is held invalid, the remainder shall not be affected by such invalidity. Section 4. All ordinances and resolutions or parts of ordinances and resolutions and all section and parts of sections in conflict herewith shall be and hereby are repealed. Section 5. Codification of this ordinance in the Code of Ordinances is hereby authorized and directed. Section 6. Section 1 of this ordinance shall take effect immediately upon adoption; Section 2 of this ordinance shall take effect on January 1, 2023. PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Boca Raton this day of 12021. IATTEST: Mary Siddons, City Clerk CITY OF BOCA RATON, FLORIDA Scott Singer, Mayor Approved as to form: Diana Grub Frieser City Attorney 021409ciean 5 COUNCIL MEMBERS YES NO ABSTAINED MAYOR SCOTT SINGER DEPUTY MAYOR ANDREA LEVINE O'ROURKE COUNCIL MEMBER YVETTE DRUCKER COUNCIL MEMBER MONICA MAYOTTE COUNCIL MEMBER ANDY THOMSON `Press`kel ease`Poi nr , Free Press Release Distribution Website I Lsequent treatment, study finds Sea Shepherd Tracks Down and Exposes Notorious Chinese Squid Fishing Fleet off the Galapagos Islands Home Submit Press Release Free PR Sites PR Resources Press Release Our Services Web Research Media Directory PR Agencies Company PR About Us Contact Us Commissioner Nikki Fried, Florida Forest Service Launch $10 Million Carbon Sequestration Grant Program Posted August 31st, 2021 for Florida Department of Agrindture and Consumer Ser. (/user/fdacsl o Aug 31, 2021 Tallahassee, Fla. - Today, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried launched (/user/fdacs). the Sequestering Carbon and Protecting Florida Land Program . A significant state investment in climate change mitigation, the $10 million over five years tree planting carbon sequestration grant program will be administered by the Florida Forest Service , a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services . The initial application period will run from September 3 through October 8, 2021 . Commissioner Fried launched the grant at a press conference joined by The Nature Conservancy in Florida (https•//www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/florida/)_Board of Trustees member Lynetta Griner and Florida Forest Service (_http 1Lv ww.fdacs._goy�flforestservice)_leadership including Assistant Director of Forestry Johnny Sabo and Deputy Bureau Chief of Forest Management Bonnie Stine . The grant program will cover 75 percent of the statewide average cost of land preparation, seedling purchase, and planting. Eligible applicants include local governments, non-profit organizations, and non -industrial private landowners, and public outreach will encourage urban forestry, geographic diversity, and participation by communities of color and socially disadvantaged producers. The first $2 million in funding has been appropriated for 2021-22, with the remainder to be appropriated annually by the Florida Legislature. The grant program was designed with input from carbon sequestration, forestry, and climate experts at Yale University School of the Environment, Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences; the University of Florida School of Forests, Fisheries, and Geomatic Sciences; the Florida A&M University Branch of the Florida Climate Institute; and The Nature Conservancy . "Florida is one of the states most vulnerable to climate change, fueled in part by Florida producing the nation's third -most carbon dioxide emissions. We have a powerful tool to sequester this carbon right in our backyard with 17 million acres of forests across Florida. But planting trees can be an expensive endeavor not everyone can afford," said Commissioner Nikki Fried . "That's why we're proud to launch the Sequestering Carbon and Protecting Florida Land Program, a $10 million grant program to help remove up to 69,000 tons of carbon dioxide from our atmosphere - that's like taking 3,000 cars off our roads each year. We want everyone to have an opportunity to participate, from local governments and non -profits to family farmers and socially disadvantaged producers, with encouragement towards urban forestry. Carbon sequestration is a proven method to trap climate -accelerating greenhouse gases, incentives for which we've advocated to the Biden Administration. We're proud to make this real investment in climate mitigation here in the Sunshine State, and we hope that Florida's lawmakers will continue to fund this program for years to come - it's a win -win for our climate, our forests, and our communities." "This program is a tremendous effort supporting Florida's vital timber industry while embracing natural climate solutions, and taking on the challenge of climate change in Florida and preserving valuable working agricultural lands for future generations. As past president of the Florida Forestry Association, I know that wood products and forest industry offset more than 14 percent of the nation's carbon dioxide emissions," said Lynetta Griner, The Nature Conservancy in Florida Board of Trustees member and 2013 FDACS Woman of the Year in Agriculture . "Planting more trees in Florida, as this program will promote, will increase our carbon sequestration efforts - and whether on our forest lands, or in our urban environments, can help the capacity of our landscapes to provide a multitude of ecosystem solutions. The Nature Conservancy and Florida's forestry community look forward to spreading the word about this tremendous program, look forward to the next five years of this program, and look forward to thousands of acres of new trees." VIDEO, Video footage of the press conference is availab/e here via The Florida Channel (htt2s://thefloridachannel,org/videos/8-31-21-agriculture and consumer servi es ommi sinners-r�ress-conference on -land - conservation/) Background: Florida faces growing risks from climate change in the coming decades (https://www.naplesnews.com/sLo,-yLpinion/contributors 2015i1G/G4/nikki-fried-time-face pacts-energy-and- dimate 86q?0600?,/) , including $75 billion in sea level rise costs and a heat index over 100 degrees for half the year. This is partly attributed to Florida's 231 million metric tons of annual carbon dioxide emissions, third -most in the nation (httpsl/www.eia.gov/state/rankings/?sid=FL#/series/226)_. Forests are a widely -recognized t001_(https://www.wri.org insights young forests-capture-carbon_guicker_previously_though, for Carbon sequestration; Florida's forests currently sequester 45.3 million tons of carbon dioxide in aboveground and belowground forest biomass. Commissioner Fried advocated to the Biden Administration .(hops://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/environr lent/2021-03 10/carbon farming-could-soon-be-ne,v-cash-crop-for-florida-gt-owers for carbon sequestration incentives in the FDACS State -Federal Partnership Plan (hops_[Jfloridapolitics_comlarchives/400303-nikki-fried-proposes-extensive-partnership-wi h-joe-biden-white-house/)_released earlier this year; the President and the-1 SDA (http,, www_cnnc.cornJ 1021121bidens-climate-change-plan ply_ farmers-to-cut-carbon-footp- int.html)_have publicly supported carbon sequestration incentives to landowners. Application Details: Eligible applicants must submit a Request for Application (RFA) proposal response as specified in the RFA document available online beginning September 3, 2021 at FDACS.gov/FLForestService(https://www.fdacs.govZflforestservice The initial application period will open September 3, 2021 at 8:00 AM and close October 8, 2021 at 5:00 PM. Project deliverables must be completed by June 30, 2022. Qualified applicants are limited to a county or local government; a legally organized and registered non-profit organization, entity, or institution; or non -industrial private landowner. The number of applications for the program is limited to one (1) per applicant per funding cycle. Applicants may request funding for tree establishment practices on a minimum of 20 acres up to a maximum of 250 acres. Applicants who meet all eligibility and program requirements may apply to receive an incentive payment for successful completion of certain approved practices. Payment will be made at a standard, specified rate for each practice, or at cost if below the standard rate. If funding is not exhausted during this first application period, additional requests for application will be posted. Applicants must follow the RFA outline and complete all items in their entirety. Failure to follow the outline or to include all requested information or supporting documentation will result in the proposal considered incomplete and ineligible for funding consideration. Additional information will be available in the RFA document. Copy this html code to your website/blog to embed this press release. <a href="https://www.pressreleasepoint.com/commissioner-nikki-fried-florida-forest-service-launch-10-million-carbon-sequestration-grant-program" class="active">Commissioner Nikki Fried, F Post new comment Your name: * An Comment: JD8 E-mail(Not Displayed): Spam Test: * Save O _(gip://creativecommons.org/licenses/by./3.0/-)_ This press release is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License(!Iqp://creativecommons.oro/licenses/by/3 ) . Read full copyright information here. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Press Release ... (/user/73371/tracker) . Commissioner Nikki Fried Urges U.S. Fish and Wildlife to Restore Endangered Status for Manatees -(/commissioner-nikki-fried-urges-us-fish-and-wildlife-restore-endangered-status-manatees). . Commissioner Nikki Fried, Florida Forest Service Highlight State Forest Awareness Month (/commissioner-nikki- fried-florida-forest- service- highlight-state-forest-aware ness-month) . Commissioner Nikki Fried Announces 2022 Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame Inductee (/commissioner-nikki-fried- announces-2022-florida-agricultural-hall-fame-inductee). . Statement by Commissioner Nikki Fried on Application Submitted for More than $1 Billion in P-EBT Funding .(/statement-commissioner-nikki-fried-application-submitted- more- 1-billion-p-ebt-funding)