Following Hurricane Milton’s catastrophic impact on communities throughout Florida, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) met with Charlotte County emergency management personnel, local officials, and small business owners to discuss the storm’s impact and current recovery...
Following Hurricane Milton’s catastrophic landfall, Governor Ron DeSantis has requested an Expedited Major Disaster Declaration to support Florida's response and recovery efforts. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), U.S. Representative Vern Buchanan (R-FL), and members...
Following Hurricane Milton’s catastrophic landfall in Florida, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) joined the U.S. Coast Guard to survey impacted areas across the State. Photos are courtesy of Senator Rubio’s office. Senator Rubio joins the U.S. Coast Guard for a flyover...
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio’s (R-FL) office will host in-person Mobile Office Hours next week to assist constituents with federal casework issues in their respective local communities. These office hours offer constituents who do not live close to one of Senator Rubio’s...
Major Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall in Florida, bringing with it devastating storm surge, winds, and inland flooding. The Seminole Tribe of Florida should have access to the federal resources required for emergency response and recovery preparations on...
Major Hurricane Milton is forecasted to potentially hinder or obstruct the Port of Tampa Bay, which receives more than 40 percent of Florida’s petroleum products. It’s crucial for the federal government to expedite all requested measures to protect Florida’s economy...
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) released the following statement today after the Senate passed the final version of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which includes the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP) and other provisions benefiting Florida:
“The passage of this water projects bill is great news, because we now have the opportunity to make real progress in restoring the Everglades and combatting the toxic algae threatening the livelihoods of thousands of Florida families and businesses. The Everglades is a national treasure that belongs to all Americans, and we must preserve it for future generations to learn from and enjoy. CEPP is a key piece of that puzzle, and other Florida provisions in the bill will help protect our coastlines, assess conditions of our oyster industry in the Gulf of Mexico, modernize a key port, study flood control in Daytona Beach, and reduce hurricane and storm damage to Flagler County and Ft. Pierce. I thank all of my colleagues who have worked tirelessly to get this bill done, but especially Chairman Inhofe, whose leadership and cooperation has been immeasurable. I look forward to the president signing this bill into law. This is a big achievement for Florida’s future and one of the things I’m most proud of accomplishing during my first term.
“While there are many provisions in this bill benefiting Florida, I am extremely disappointed a controversial provision was added in the House to strike language dealing with the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint and Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa river systems from the 2014 water bill. This was done despite the objections of members from two states being harmed by Georgia. These vital river systems have far-reaching environmental and economic impacts, and any changes should have waited until after Florida and Georgia’s litigation before the Supreme Court is decided.”
South Florida leaders have commended Rubio’s leadership and work to restore the Everglades and improve the quality of Florida’s waterways. Rubio’s efforts ultimately convinced Senate Environment & Public Works Chairman Jim Inhofe to support CEPP. Following the Senate’s passage of WRDA in September, Rubio urged key House and Senate committee leaders of both parties to retain important Florida projects in the final version of WRDA.
The bill is expected to be signed into law by President Obama in the coming days.
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