When Committee leaders in Congress wanted to see the kind of impact the Water Resources and Development Act would have across the country, I told them they needed to come to Florida. This is the bill that authorizes all of our Everglades and Lake O projects. The bill is central to allowing us to fix the water quality issues plaguing our community.

After countless hours of pushing the committee, they didn't go to California or New York - last weekend, they came right here to Lake Okeechobee. I showed them the lake, our rivers and our ports. I showed them why these projects must be a top priority!

As Vice Chairman of the Water Resources and Environment subcommittee, I'll keep this pressure on until Congress authorizes the resources we need to stop the discharges, send the water south and clean up the water quality. Our environment, our economy and the health of people across our community depends on it!