[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 173 (Thursday, November 8, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S14109-S14110]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        OVERRIDING THE WRDA VETO

  Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. President, I want to touch on another subject that 
is terribly important to the State of Florida. It has to do with the 
Water Resources Development Act which for a long time has been pending 
before the Congress, and which is so long overdue. When this matter 
comes to a vote, I will vote to override the President's veto, 
primarily because in this bill there is nearly $2 billion for the long 
overdue and critically important work of restoring Florida's 
Everglades. This is a bipartisan project. This is a project of unique 
cooperation between the State and Federal Government.
  The history of Florida's Everglades is fascinating. About 100 years 
ago it was decided that man could conquer all and, in fact, the Army 
Corps of Engineers should endeavor, through many projects, to drain the 
Everglades so they could be utilized for farming and that the water 
would be moved out. So a series of canals was dug and all sorts of 
efforts were put in place to drain the swamp, to drain the Everglades.
  Now we find ourselves a century later understanding that these well-
intended Floridians of those days were terribly misguided. The 
Everglades is a jewel to the State of Florida; it is a jewel to the 
Nation. It is an environmental masterpiece, the wildlife, between the 
plants and animal life, but also it is an essential water resource for 
the people of Florida.
  Some years ago, under the leadership of my predecessor in office, 
Senator Graham, who had been Governor of Florida, and many other 
Floridians, working in partnership with Governor Bush and later when 
Senator Nelson came to the Senate, along with Florida's Governor, they 
crafted this Everglades Restoration Program. For 5 years this bill has 
been delayed. It has meant delaying substantial Federal involvement in 
a multitude of necessary projects, including the Comprehensive 
Everglades Restoration Plan. It is the funding that has been missing. 
The State has done its part. The Federal Government has, so far, been 
absent.
  I agree with the President and the distinguished Senator from New 
Hampshire that this bill lacks fiscal discipline. It seeks to spend too 
much on programs that have little need or reason for Federal support. 
But I also have to recognize that the longer we wait for the Federal 
Government to meet its Everglades commitment, the more expensive the 
cost and the more damage that will be irreversible to this fantastic 
ecosystem. In the past 5 years the cost of the Indian River Lagoon 
project alone has increased by more than $100 million. Seven years ago, 
the State of Florida and the Federal Government entered into an 
agreement:

     to restore, preserve and protect the South Florida ecosystem 
     while providing for other water-related needs of the region. 
     . . .

  Since that time, the State of Florida has invested more than $3 
billion in this effort; but the Federal Government, originally intended 
to be an equal partner in the restoration, has yet to meet its 
obligations--spending only a fraction of Florida's investments on 
preplanning efforts.
  The Everglades belong to Florida, but they are a national treasure. 
The Federal Government has committed to restore the Everglades and it 
is high time they follow through on this commitment. What exists today 
is more than 2 million protected acres of what was once deemed 
worthless swampland slated for development. Indeed, development did 
occur and road construction has almost irreversibly impeded the natural 
cleansing flows of the Everglades. But because of the work of the State 
of Florida and numerous environmental organizations, we are reversing 
the damage of development. Once on a path to destruction, the 
Everglades now teems with wildlife, endangered and rare species, and 
contributes greatly to south Florida's environmental health. But the 
work is far from complete. A substantial portion of the work lies 
ahead.
  No single bill Congress approves will have as much positive impact on 
Florida's environment as this one. It is, in fact, more than an 
environmental project. It is also a water project. Over the last 
several weeks, we have been hearing reports about the scarcity of water 
around Atlanta, where several million Americans reside. It has come to 
the point that Florida, Georgia, and Alabama had to have a serious 
conversation with the Department of Interior about water flows from the 
river that flows from Georgia all the way into Alabama and Florida. In 
Florida it is the Chattahoochee River.
  The serious nature of that problem can also be reconciled with the 
serious problem we would see in south Florida if our water supply were 
impeded. This is not only an environmental project, it is also a water 
resources project. It is about the water that is necessary to sustain 
life and to sustain the people, the several million people who live in 
south Florida.
  I believe it would be a very important moment for us to override the 
veto, to move forward with the Everglades Restoration, the Indian River 
Lagoon, the Picayune Strand--these are very important projects--and a 
score of other projects around the State of Florida, all related to our 
environment that is such an important part of the Comprehensive 
Everglades Restoration. But more than that, it is part of Florida's 
future and part of the legacy we leave our children.

[[Page S14110]]

  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Hampshire is recognized.
  Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, are we in morning business?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. We are.

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