News

The Water Resources Development Act of 2022 (WRDA) contains important authorities secured by U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) to strengthen Florida’s water resources infrastructure. 
 
Earlier this year, Rubio placed a hold on the Senate’s WRDA legislation until several additional Florida water projects were included. 
 

• “This legislation will do much more for Florida’s water infrastructure because of the hard-fought provisions I was proud to secure. These are important projects that will restore the Everglades and mitigate flood risks. 

• “I look forward to these provisions becoming law and I will continue to fight for the health and economic viability of Florida’s waterways.” – Senator Rubio

 
Rubio secured the below provisions as a result of his hold: 

• Port Everglades Harbor Widening and Deepening Project. Initially authorized in WRDA 2016, additional environmental assessment and mitigation costs required a modification to the project authority for the harbor deepening and widening to progress. Senator Rubio secured the needed authority. 

• Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) Cost-Share Reform. Rubio’s policy closes a loophole in the CERP cost-share framework to help protect the program from being undermined by unelected bureaucrats who oppose Everglades restoration.

• Comprehensive Central and Southern Florida Study. Thanks to Rubio’s efforts, WRDA explicitly authorizes a comprehensive restudy of the Central and Southern Florida (C&SF) project for flood control.  This will be the first comprehensive federal reassessment of the flood control system since 1948.

                                               
Looking forward … WRDA passed the House as part of the annual defense bill. The Senate is expected to take up the package next week.
 
Want more?  WRDA contains more than a dozen Rubio-led and Rubio-supported projects, authorizations, and provisions. Click here for a full list.