Initiatives championed by U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) to restore the Everglades and provide safe drinking water reservoirs were included in the Senate-approved Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) on Thursday.
WRDA includes the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP), a subdivision of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP).
Curbelo, a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, said that the Senate-approved provisions would increase fresh water flows through the Everglades and into Florida Bay.
“This will support our drinking water reservoirs and will improve Florida Bay’s ecosystem, which is currently under great stress,” Curbelo said. “This is important for Florida’s environment and for the economy of South Florida, especially the Florida Keys. I commend the Senate’s passage of WRDA and look forward to the House considering our WRDA bill in the coming weeks, which also includes robust funding for CEPP.”
Curbelo met with U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA), the chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, in May to discuss the inclusion of Everglades restoration initiatives in WRDA.
“During our meeting we discussed the benefits of the Central Everglades Planning Project and my strong support in including the program in the upcoming Water Resources Development Act,” Curbelo said. “I am happy to report that we had a successful meeting and I am confident that protecting this national treasure will continue to be a priority in Congress.”