News-Press
August 06,2007
Tell Bush not to Veto Water Act
Wemust persuade President Bush not to carry out his threat to veto one of themost important and long-delayed pieces of federal legislation in a decade, criticalto water improvements in Southwest Florida and the Everglades.
Last week, the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 breezed through theHouse with wide, bipartisan support, authorizing $20 billion in water-relatedpublic works. But even though it enjoys wide Senate support (this is thecompromise version of a bill that already passed there) a filibuster ispossible.
Perhaps more important, President Bush has threatened a veto if it reaches hisdesk.
That would be a disaster. Yes, it would be expensive, but that’s primarilybecause demand has accumulated over seven years, the last time Congress passeda water resources act.
And remember, this bill redeems part of the federal government’s promise toshare the cost of Everglades’s restoration, a commitment Washington hasshamefully shirked.
Congressman Connie Mack, R-Fort Myers, said it well: “For far too long,Congress has stalled on moving this important legislation, creating a backlogof infrastructure and water projects across the country. That’s why thepresident would be wrong to veto this bill, which will help restore theEverglades, protect our beaches and waterways from floods and storms, andimprove water quality in Southwest Florida and beyond.”
These are among water infrastructure projects in Southwest Florida that wouldbe authorized under the Water Resources Development Act:
• An additional $2.2 million for the aquifer storage recovery program for theCaloosahatchee River.
• Stabilizing a 600-foot long segment of public beachfront along San Carlos Bayon Sanibel Island.
• Studying ways to restore water quality and supply at Vanderbilt Beach Lagoonin Collier County.
• Improving tidal flow and water quality in Clam Bayou and Dinkins Bayou onSanibel Island.
• Providing a credit for the cost of permitting, engineering and design workalready performed by Lee County for shore protection on Gasparilla and Esteroislands.
• Studying the feasibility of providing shoreline erosion protection andhurricane and storm damage reduction on Vanderbilt, Park Shore, and NaplesBeaches in Collier County.
The authorizations for Everglades restoration include $375 million forrestoration of the Picayune Strand in Collier County. In addition, $1.5 millionis authorized for a study to determine flooding risks at the Herbert HooverDike at Lake Okeechobee, which relates to that lake’s ability to store waterinstead of releasing it to damage Southwest Florida estuaries.
We must urge our senators and their leaders to discourage or overcome any filibuster,and urge the president to sign this bill.