[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 16103]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 WATER RESOURCES REFORM AND DEVELOPMENT

  (Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, today's much-anticipated and greatly 
needed water resources bill will allow our Nation to develop and 
maintain our economically vital ports and waterways and will support 
flood protection and environmental restoration efforts.
  As a water-centered State, Florida is uniquely impacted by the Water 
Resources Reform and Development Act. We have 16 seaports which 
contributed $96.6 billion to the economy last year, and our maritime 
cargo industry supports more than 680,000 jobs.
  Florida has invested millions in our ports in preparation for the 
expansion of the Panama Canal, and this bill before us today is a 
complement to Florida's investment in world-class maritime 
infrastructure. Without this bill, Florida and, indeed, our Nation, as 
a whole, are at risk of losing jobs to nearby foreign ports and their 
ready or soon-to-be ready deep draft harbors.
  Simply put, this bipartisan water resources bill will create good 
American jobs and will grow local economies. Let's pass it, Mr. 
Speaker.

                          ____________________