[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 5 (Thursday, January 10, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E29]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       INTRODUCTION OF THE EVERGLADES FOR THE NEXT GENERATION ACT

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                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 10, 2019

  Mr. HASTINGS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Everglades 
for the Next Generation Act.
  Protection and restoration of the Everglades is vital to the overall 
health of both South Florida's ecosystem and economy. As America's 
largest sub-tropical wilderness, it is the source of much of Florida's 
drinking water, an important flood barrier and a home for wildlife, 
including a number of endangered species.
  As we know all too well, this vital ecosystem is facing a number of 
threats, and while much progress has been made, including the recent 
authorization of the Central Everglades Planning Project, there is 
still much work left to be done. Congressional inaction has persevered 
for far too long despite bi-partisan support for restoration.
  Regardless of any progress, it is clear that restoration efforts will 
not succeed without the next generation of projects, which cannot begin 
without further Congressional authorizations. That is exactly what this 
bill does: authorizes the shovel-ready projects which have been 
awaiting another Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). Additionally, 
this legislation will make it easier for the Army Corps of Engineers to 
move on many of the remaining projects in order to prevent future 
Congressional bottlenecking.
  Restoration is not a theoretical exercise. The Central Everglades 
Restoration Project (CERP) has demonstrable successes and biennial 
reports from the National Academy of Sciences. We know that the federal 
and state governments can successfully work together with private 
businesses and landowners to reach mutually beneficial agreements that 
restore the health of this unique, beautiful, wild, and wonderful 
resource that is absolutely essential for Florida.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this critically 
important legislation.

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