Randy Fine thanks DeSantis for committing $20 million in additional funding for Jewish schools

By Owen Girard

Published May. 8, 2024, 12:31 p.m. ET | Updated May. 8, 2024

Gov. Ron DeSantis signs legislation to crack down on threats and intimidation based on religious or ethnic heritage, Jerusalem, Israel, April 27, 2023. (Photo/Randy Fine, Twitter)

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Rep. Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay, expressed his thanks to Gov. Ron DeSantis after the governor announced Fine’s $20 million in additional funding for Jewish day school security would be approved.

“Today, @GovRonDeSantis announced he would be signing my $20M budget request to keep students safe at Jewish Day Schools!” Fine said on social media.

“Appreciate his support of this initiative that I have led since Florida became the first state to dedicate funding to protect Jewish students!” he added.

DeSantis made the announcement during a press conference at the University of Florida where he reflected on the state’s law and order approach to pro-Hamas campus protests that swept the United States in the last few weeks of the spring semester.

“So today I’m here to be able to say that we are also going to support an additional $20 million to continue our support of Jewish day schools in the upcoming [20]24-25 fiscal year budget,” he said.

He mentioned how, following Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, the legislature convened for a special session in order to express their commitment to the Jewish state, as well as Jewish people in Florida.

According to DeSantis, as of January, Florida’s continued support and funding has allocated a total of $43 million for Jewish day school security since he took office.