From the St. Lucie River to the Indian River Lagoon and Lake Okeechobee, our communities’ waterways impact our health, economy, and quality of life. When they’re polluted or damaged, everyone feels the effects. It’s why cleaning our toxic water remains one of my top priorities in Congress—and why the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) coming in 2026 matters so much for all of us in the Treasure Coast and Palm Beaches.

So what is WRDA and why should you care?

WRDA is a critical, bipartisan bill Congress takes up every two years to authorize major water infrastructure projects across the country. As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I get a seat at the table when this legislation is written—and I use it to fight for Florida every single time. This bill is one of the strongest tools we have to stop toxic discharges, restore our estuaries, and keep harmful algal blooms from destroying our homes. 

Here are some of the key priorities I'll fight for in this legislation:

• The Stop Poisoning Florida Act would prohibit discharges from Lake Okeechobee at the Port Mayaca Lock and Dam and the St. Lucie Lock and Dam when the water exceeds the toxicity level that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined is too toxic for human contact.  

• The Toxic Health Threat Warning Act will require the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to notify the public and affected local governments if the water to be released from a flood risk management project is contaminated with cyanobacteria. 

• Prioritizing Revised Operations To Eliminate Cyanobacteria Toxins in (PROTECT) Florida Act will amend the Army Corps’ operational priorities to include public health, in addition to existing charges of flood control, navigation, water supply, enhancement of fish and wildlife, and recreation.

Looking ahead this year, my priorities remain clear and steadfast when it comes to our fight for clean water. This will be a big year as we reauthorize WRDA and I’ll make sure to keep you updated along the way.