Two days ago, Congressman Rooney met with Major General Scott A. Spellmon, Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations for the Army Corps of Engineers, about funding for Lake Okeechobee and Everglades Restoration projects.
Congressman Rooney stated, “ After meeting with Major General Spellmon, I am confident that we will continue to have a strong relationship with the Corps, and that work on the EAA reservoir, completion of Herbert Hoover Dike repairs, and addressing the Lake Okeechobee Release Schedule (LORS) will be issues of high importance .”
He also added that he will continue working with the White House and Appropriators in Congress to ensure that the maximum funding possible for these projects is achieved.
“ Joined with $206 million previously appropriated by the House, a total of $610 million will be set aside to complete the Herbert Hoover Dike repairs by 2022 instead of the end of the decade ,” Congressman Rooney said. “ Every year saved completing these repairs is a year that harmful releases into our ecosystem will stop sooner .”
Congressman Rooney has successfully fought for funding to complete Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) projects, united the Florida delegation and personally brought House leadership to Southwest Florida to see the watershed first hand.
These efforts have led to a record $115 million set aside for CERP in the FY2019 budget. In total, nearly $1.1 billion has been appropriated for dike repairs and CERP projects in FY 2018 and FY 2019.