West Palm Beach, FL – Today, Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21) released the following statement after the House voted on the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 (WRDA), which would further Everglades Restoration efforts, improve management of our nation’s waterways, and fund flood control and coastal resiliency projects.

“The Everglades is a unique and delicate ecosystem that is home to hundreds of endangered plant and animal species and provides clean drinking water for more than eight million Floridians and visitors,” said Rep. Frankel. “This bipartisan legislation will support projects to restore the Everglades for future generations, protect South Florida’s communities from devastating floods, reduce harmful algae in our waterways, and help us improve upon our water systems.”

This bipartisan legislation contains several critical priorities for South Florida, including:

• Expediting completion of a study for the Western Everglades Restoration Project.
• Reporting on the status of all Everglades restoration projects, including estimated implementation and updated costs.
• Increasing funding for Port Everglades deepening and widening, allowing the project to move forward.
• Authorizing a Comprehensive Central and South Florida Study of resiliency and flood risk management.
• Authorizing a Harmful Algal Bloom reduction program.
• Allocating $100 million for the St. Lucie River, Indian River Lagoon, and Lake Worth Lagoon for water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure improvements.

The bill now heads to the Senate for approval.

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