Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4358, bipartisan legislation I introduced last July with my fellow Floridian Rep. Darren Soto, regarding the Little Manatee River. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join with us in voting in support of this bill. The Little Manatee Wild and Scenic River Act authorizes the National Park Service (NPS) to study whether it's appropriate to add an approximately 51-mile-long segment of the Little Manatee River, from its source in southeastern Hillsborough County to the point at which the river enters Tampa Bay, to its Wild and Scenic River System. For my part, I strongly support both passage of this bill today and of subsequently adding the Little Manatee River to the NPS' Wild and Scenic River program in the future. Passage of the bill before us today begins that journey and I have been very pleased to work with my colleagues on the Natural Resources Committee toward realizing that goal. Adding this river to the Wild and Scenic River program in the future will help ensure the Little Manatee will remain available for a full range of recreational activities for Floridians, like canoeing, kayaking, boating and fishing. In Florida, protecting our precious natural resources has always been a top priority. Florida's Suncoast is blessed with an abundance of natural treasures like Sarasota Bay, Emerson Point Preserve and Myakka River State Park.…”