The Water Resources and Reform Development Act (WRRDA) passed out of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives, clearing the way for a vote by the full membership of the House.

This legislation is the vehicle for authorizing new Everglades projects for construction, which is necessary to make them available for future federal funding. The bill in its current form authorized four Everglades projects- the Broward Water Preserve Areas, C-111 Spreader Canal, Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands and Caloosahatchee C-43 Reservoir. The inclusion of these projects is a great advance for restoration.

The Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP) unfortunately is not included in the bill because it is navigating the final steps of environmental and agency review. Congresswoman Corrine Brown (D-FL5) proposed an amendment (that was withdrawn for the time being) that would have enabled those projects nearing completion to be authorized. Congresswoman Lois Frankel (D-FL22) and others supported this amendment. As the bill progresses, Audubon Florida supports efforts that would authorize CEPP and those that would remove provisions harmful to the environment.