Good news for clean water: the American Water Stewardship Act passed the House earlier this week. 

This bill reauthorizes the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) geographic programs, which target just twelve water ecosystems across the nation for rehabilitation and restoration. One of these programs is the South Florida ecosystem we rely on, including our own communities’ coastlines and estuaries. 

Here’s a breakdown of what it means for us: 

• The National Estuary Program is reauthorized through 2031—vital for the health of our coastal waterways and the fishing, tourism, and recreation economies built around them.

• The South Florida Program and Gulf of America Program will have continued federal investment in the ecosystems our communities depend on.

• A GAO accountability report will evaluate how the money is being spent. From management to whether they're delivering measurable results, this is something I've long pushed for across all of our water restoration efforts. Taxpayers must be aware of exactly how their money’s used by their government. 

From the Indian River Lagoon to Lake Okeechobee, our communities feel the consequences of polluted waterways every day. We know our fight is 24-7, 365, and I look forward to seeing this legislation move to the Senate for a vote.