Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to stand here in support of the Water Infrastructure Improvements Act for the Nation, also known as WIIN, because this legislation is a big win for my home State of Florida. There are two projects in there that I would like to talk about: the restoration of our Everglades and actually the expansion of Port Everglades, which is a different project. {time} 1000 Our Everglades is the crown jewel of Florida. We also call it the river of grass. It is the home to an extraordinary natural habitat which attracts thousands and thousands of visitors every year, but, more important, it is where we store and clean the water for 7 million Floridians each year. Within WIIN is CEPP, Central Everglades Planning Project, which will continue the promise of this Congress to restore the natural flow of our river of grass that was interrupted years ago by Federal agencies. Also in this winning legislation is the expansion of Port Everglades, one of Florida's premier ports. Last year I was able to travel with our Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to Panama. We witnessed the opening of the canal, and we have seen the massive ships that are now traveling the seas, ships that will not be allowed into many of our ports unless we have an expansion. This bill will allow the expansion of Port Everglades to go forward. Mr. Speaker, I just want to let you know that it has taken us 20 years to get this authorized.…”