The House approved the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), H.R. 5303, on Wednesday, which includes Everglades projects championed by U.S. Reps. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) and Tom Rooney (R-FL).
The WRDA, a comprehensive water infrastructure bill, would authorize the Central Everglades Planning Project to improve water flows through the northern estuaries of the Everglades, Everglades National Park and Florida Bay.
“(Wednesday’s) passage of WRDA and the Central Everglades Planning Project is crucial to the ecological and economic health of South Florida — especially in the Florida Keys and Miami,” Curbelo said. “I was proud to lead the bipartisan effort in securing $1.9 billion to be used towards Everglades Restoration programs. This high-impact program will increase freshwater flows from Lake Okeechobee through the Everglades and down into Florida Bay, and greatly benefit our community.”
Curbelo, a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, advocated for Everglades initiatives directly to U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA), the chairman of the committee.
Rooney has also advocated for support of the Central Everglades Planning Project.
“With Congressman Tom Rooney’s continued stewardship, we have seen significant progress toward restoring the Everglades,” Daniel O’Keefe, the chairman of the South Florida Water Management District, said. “Approval of the federal water bill by the full Congress, followed by appropriating funding, is vital to complete the Central Everglades Planning Project.”
The measure also includes flood protection projects, hurricane damage reduction programs, shoreline protection projects and environmental projects in Florida.