We have made great progress toward bringing real operational change to the way Lake Okeechobee is managed. Thanks to our efforts to lower Lake Okeechobee this winter, our communities are being spared toxic discharges that contain harmful algal blooms this summer.

Unfortunately, the reality is that the algal blooms on Lake O are still toxic. That’s why it’s extra ridiculous that there is a specific federal program designed to combat harmful algal blooms and they’ve never done a Florida-specific analysis!

But here’s the good news from this week:

The House Science, Space and Technology Committee passed my South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act this week! This is so important because the bill will force the state and federal government to work together to create an action plan to reduce harmful algal blooms across Florida.

Now, there is more work to be done, but we are closer now than ever before to getting this critical piece of legislation to the House floor for a vote.

Check out this week’s video to learn more about the bill.

In case you missed it, here are a few other things that happened this week:

• My bill to impose serious sanctions on Hamas passed the House of Representatives.
• The Solicitor General asked the Supreme Court to review a case that can help us get justice for Harmony Allen - the inspiration for Harmony’s Law.
• I joined my colleagues in handwashing the Vietnam Memorial to honor the fallen heroes.