Congressman Francis Rooney Applauds Governor Scott Meeting with President Trump about Everglades and Herbert Hoover Dike

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Francis Rooney spoke with Governor Rick Scott, offering his thanks and support following the governor’s meeting with President Trump to discuss the Herbert Hoover Dike, Lake Okeechobee clean-up, and Everglades restoration. The governor’s office released a statement reiterating President Trump’s commitment to partnering with the State of Florida on needed repairs to the federally-operated Dike.

Congressman Rooney stated, “I am grateful to Governor Scott for keeping this issue at the forefront of his discussions with the President. Likewise, I will continue to focus on the funding of projects already approved and included within the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). I have had the opportunity to speak with the President on this topic on more than one occasion, and he understands that this is our number one priority in Southwest Florida.”

The Lake Okeechobee watershed and Everglades have far-ranging impact on the entire State of Florida and the country, but especially in Southeast and Southwest Florida, where 55% of all real estate in the state is affected – 2 trillion dollars of economic impact across 164 cities and 16 counties. CERP was enacted in 2000 and includes 68 projects.

Congressman Rooney has testified four times on water quality issues. In addition to this testimony, Congressman Rooney sent a letter to President Trump, co-signed by every member of the Florida Congressional delegation, that called on the President to support Everglades Restoration projects in his fiscal year 2018 Budget. He has also taken part in a hunt to eliminate invasive Burmese Pythons that threatened native Everglades wildlife, and is a member of both the Everglades Caucus and the Estuary Caucus.