FLEMING ISLAND – Following the passing of the state budget, Sen. Rob Bradley(R-Fleming Island) made the trip to Middleburg early Thursday for the April meeting of the Clay Safety Net Alliance.

Bradley sat near the head of the table next to the podium and elected to speak at the end of the meeting. He was interested in hearing the testimony, needs and introductions of the growing membership of Andre Van Heerden’s mutual assistance initiative that brings together representatives from nonprofits, churches, businesses and other special interest groups throughout Clay County.

When he took the podium, Bradley first took a minute to address the group and explain why he felt it was so important to visit them before explaining some of the things that he brought to the desk of Gov. Rick Scott this year in his new role as the chairman of the Appropriations Committee.

“I think it’s important that we talk to our friends and neighbors and make sure they understand that, as they go about their daily lives, that there is this community of people that are handling those who are struggling,” Bradley said to the packed room. “I just want to tell you that I understand it, and I appreciate it, and thank you so much for all that you do.”

As he moved to the budget overview, he mentioned Florida’s rise to the No. three spot among U.S. states in terms of population, narrowly passing New York and sitting behind California and Texas, respectively. Despite the state’s rise in population, though, he said he and his fellow legislators balanced their budget at $88.7 billion while New York was allotted almost twice that much.

Bradley’s demeanor changed when he moved on to discuss the Feb. 14 shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida that turned the budget on its head.

He remembered sitting at dinner with his wife who had driven to Tallahassee to meet with him after a particularly long day at the capital. He was, admittedly, checking his phone during dinner, immediately hit a flood of information and the number of Florida residents killed, Bradley said he started sobbing in the middle of the restaurant.

“I knew that everything was going to be different from that point on in our state,” he said, still noticeably shaken by the tragedy.

He said the budget had to be completely rewritten toward the end of session, with $70 million being allocated for mental health assistance for those who do not currently have access as well as $100 million on physical school hardening to create safer buildings and structures throughout the state’s schools. All of this made up part of the total $300 million spent on trying to change the way schools are run throughout the state in an attempt to thwart another incident like what happened in Parkland where lives were lost to gunfire.

“We promise in our state constitution to provide an education for every single child, regardless of their background, that is a promise we’ve made to every single Floridian, every single child,” he said. “Not every child shows up at that school house with the same tools in the toolbox. I wish that wasn’t true.”

Through increased funding, specifically for mental health and recognizing those students who have more needs to be met, he said he hopes to meet that goal in educating every single Floridian.

Bradley then moved on to the more local things that were funded in the upcoming budget year, including the funding for the First Coast Expressway that will officially connect Interstate 10 to Interstate 95 through the heart of Clay County.

He also discussed $25 million worth of budget items that will benefit the lakes region surrounding Keystone Heights as well as conserving and improving the St. Johns River.

“The lakes are already starting to come back,” Bradley said. “This is going to have a significant impact, not only on the quality and health of our aquifer, which the lakes feed, but it’s going to help with bringing those lakes back.”