Lawmakers on Everglades: Get It Done

Press Release

Florida lawmakers in both the U.S. House and Senate today signaled they want to accelerate action on a major Everglades restoration project that has been stalled by red tape.

Legislation was filed today in both the House and Senate authorizing money for what's called the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP), immediately upon final approval by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The legislation means when the Corps makes its decision, Florida won't have to then wait for Congress to tackle the funding in a broader water resources bill down the road.

The project itself is intended to reduce harmful discharges from Lake Okeechobee overflows into the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers by allowing more water to move south.

"The urgent need for this project is clear," said Rep. Patrick Murphy (FL-18), a chief advocate of the project and the lead House sponsor of the bill along with fellow Florida House member Rep. David Jolly (FL-13). "This bill would cut through bureaucratic red tape and authorize the project as soon as it is finalized by the Corps."

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), who filed the companion measure to Murphy's in the Senate said, "we're going to get this done.

"We're not only going to restore one of the world's great environmental assets, we're going to clean up the rivers and streams that so many in South Florida rely on for clean water," Nelson said.

The measure has garnered bipartisan support in both the House and Senate with Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) joining Nelson's version and Jolly joining Murphy's.

"The Everglades is one of the most beautiful and ecologically diverse places on earth, and Florida is lucky to have this national treasure in our own backyard," said Rubio. "The Central Everglades Planning Project is not only an important component that will help ensure that future generations of Americans can enjoy all the Everglades has to offer, it is also a project that is essential to water management in our state. It was a shame the recently passed water bill did not include CEPP, but I'm hopeful that Congress, regardless of who controls it, will soon openly consider, debate and approve this important priority."

Said Jolly, "the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP) is critical to restoring the Everglades and will reduce the volume of polluted water devastating the coastal ecologies and economies. This innovative project is a major step towards restoring one of Florida's greatest treasures and protecting it from future destruction."

Among some of the other House cosponsors are Florida Reps. Corrine Brown (FL-05), Ted Deutch (FL-21), Lois Frankel (FL-22), Joe Garcia (FL-26), Alcee L. Hastings (FL-20), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23).

"Year after year, our Treasure Coast-Palm Beach community has suffered the devastating consequences of decisions made decades ago that disrupted the natural flow of the Everglades, resulting in toxic discharges and polluted runoff inundating our vital waterways," said Murphy. "This project is a step towards reversing those damaging decisions."