It’s what connects all of us, and it’s what we have a duty to protect for our children. We know exactly how essential the ocean is for our communities. Not just for recreation and our economy, but for all the incredible wildlife that call our waterways home. 

On World Ocean Day—and during National Ocean Month—I'm proud to represent one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in North America. But our national treasure is still under attack; habitat loss, pollution, and harmful algal blooms have devastated our waterways for decades. 

Thanks in part to 2024’s updated Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM), we’ve made major progress toward decreasing the amount of nutrient-laden water discharged into the St. Lucie River. Coupled with the completion of the Herbert Hoover Dike, the raising of the Tamiami Trail, and the Blue Shanty Flow Way—our coastlines haven’t experienced the devastation we saw in 2018. 

Soon, we will have another opportunity to fight for more resources and funding for the Treasure Coast when the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee drafts the biennial Water Resources Development Act. In previous years, water quality improvements, stormwater treatment infrastructure, and preventing toxic algal blooms have all been my top priorities. 

As we begin laying the foundation for this year’s bill, I’m ready to update you every step of the way. 

Let's keep up the fight—for our water and our future.