Clawson Supports WIIN Act to Fund Water Projects Vital to South Florida

WASHINGTON – (RealEstateRama) — Last week, the House of Representatives passed S. 612, the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act, with a vote of 360-61. This bill is the compromise legislation to reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), both of which authorized over $1.9 billion for the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP).

As he did when the House considered WRDA, Congressman Curt Clawson (FL-19) voted in favor of the compromise legislation. WIIN was passed by the Senate two days following the bill’s passage in the House.

Following the passage of S. 612, Clawson made the following statement:

“The authorization of CEPP is an important step in continuing the much-needed restoration of the Florida Everglades. While much more needs to be done in order to prevent the harmful discharges into the Caloosahatchee Estuary, CEPP will bring faster relief to our community. I am hopeful that this legislation will lay the groundwork for future authorizations to store and send the water from Lake Okeechobee south into the Florida Bay.”

Earlier this year, Clawson introduced H.R. 4667, a bipartisan bill to provide $800 million of emergency funding to expedite repairs to the Herbert Hoover Dike that surrounds Lake Okeechobee, and requiring its completion by December 31, 2020 – five years ahead of the current schedule. Clawson also introduced the Everglades Land Acquisition Act of 2016 (H.R. 4793) which would set aside $500 million for the Department of the Interior to purchase land south of Lake Okeechobee.