March 8, 2021
Dear friend,

Welcome back to another edition of Mario’s Message. As the 117th Congress kicks off, I want to continue to ensure that my constituents are kept up to date on all things happening in Washington and Florida’s 25th Congressional District. It is my absolute honor to serve you, and I encourage you to get in touch with my office if we can ever be of assistance.
Happy International Women's Day to all of the strong, dedicated, and hardworking women in our lives who are making our world a better place. Thank you for all that you do and have done.
COVID-19 Vaccine Information
Governor Ron DeSantis has expanded the COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to include:

  1. Long-term care facility residents and staff
  2. Healthcare workers in direct contact with COVID-19 patients, including paramedics and EMS
  3. People age 65 and older
  4. Persons under 65 deemed medically vulnerable* by a physician (form required)
  5. K-12 school employees 50 years of age and older
  6. Sworn law enforcement officers 50 years of age and older
  7. Firefighters 50 years of age and older

Additional COVID-19 vaccination sites have opened in FL-25! 

To view vaccination sites near you or schedule an appointment, please visit the links below: 

Miami-Dade County has also added COVID-19 vaccination sites that do not require an appointment:

  •  11380 NW 27th Ave. Miami, FL 33167  (7 a.m. – 7 p.m. | 7 days a week)
  • 250 SW 114th Ave Sweetwater, FL 33174 (7 a.m. – 7 p.m. | March 3-10)
  • 650 NW 5th Ave. Florida City, FL 33034 (7a.m. – 7p.m. | March 3-10)

Visit my website for additional details and a comprehensive list of COVID-19 vaccine distribution sites in our community.
Everglades Restoration Funding
The Everglades is a national treasure and utterly vital to Florida’s economy and ecosystem. This is why last week, I joined the Florida Congressional delegation in a letter to President Joe Biden requesting that he include $725 million for Everglades restoration in his inaugural budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2022. Creating awareness and securing federal funding for Everglades restoration and conservation efforts has always been a top priority for me as co-chair and co-founder of the House Everglades Caucus. We must continue doing all we can to ensure the preservation of this unique ecosystem, and this funding would go a long way towards that goal.
Legislator of the Year
Last week, I was honored by the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) with the Legislator of the Year award.
As former chairman and now ranking member of the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee, I have secured billions of federal dollars to support affordable housing initiatives and community development programs for vulnerable Americans. As our nation continues to tackle the damaging impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, I will continue to work diligently to ensure American families have a place to call home. I thank NAHRO for this prestigious award, and I applaud their tireless work in advocating for our nation’s housing programs.
DED for Venezuelans
As a member of the Congressional Venezuela Caucus and someone who has repeatedly called for Venezuelan nationals to be permitted to remain in the United States, I led a letter to the Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro N. Mayorkas, requesting the current status of the Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for Venezuelan nationals and stressing the need for guidance and rules as soon as possible.

Read the full letter here.
Stay Connected
To keep up with live updates, connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram, or visit my website for any constituent services I am able to provide you with.

As always, it’s a pleasure to serve you.

Warm Regards,
Mario Diaz-Balart
Member of Congress