{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://rooney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/critical-everglades-funding-passes-house", "Critical Everglades Funding Passes House", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Tom Rooney", "R000583", "rooney.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Thomas Rooney voted in support of legislation to authorize the Central Everglades Planning Project, which will greatly improve the water flows through the northern estuaries, Everglades National Park and Florida Bay. The Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act of 2016 is a comprehensive water bill that addresses the needs of America\u2019s harbors, locks, dams, flood protection and other water resources infrastructure critical to the Nation\u2019s economic growth and competitiveness. \nNotably for Florida, the WIIN act contains much of the language originally passed in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2016 which was critical to restoring the Everglades and is supported by more than 60 member organizations of the Everglades Coalition.\u00a0\u00a0WRDA passed through both the House and Senate by overwhelming margins and the WIIN Act is the product of the resulting bicameral negotiations. \n\u201cWith Congressman Tom Rooney\u2019s continued stewardship, we have seen significant progress toward restoring the Everglades,\u201d said South Florida Water Management District Chairman Daniel O\u2019Keefe. \u201cApproval of the federal water bill by the full Congress, followed by appropriating funding, is vital to complete the Central Everglades Planning Project.\u201d\nTitle one of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act authorizes important flood protection projects, hurricane damage reduction programs, shoreline protection projects and environmental restoration projects. The bill also specifically authorizes the Central Everglades Planning Project which will improve the quantity, quality, timing and distribution of water flows to the northern estuaries, central Everglades National Park and Florida Bay, while increasing water supply for municipalities, industry and agricultural users.\nThis legislation will return Congress to the regular order of authorizing water projects and then appropriating necessary funds, allowing lawmakers to identify and prioritize which projects need completing instead of ceding that control to the administration. This will improve congressional oversight while also increasing local participation in project selection. Also, this bill authorizes much needed investments in ports, channels, locks and dams that support our maritime transportation system, strengthening our competitiveness and ensuring our transportation system remains attractive to private sector job creation. Most importantly, this bill accomplishes these goals and many others in a fiscally responsible manner, off-setting new authorizations by allowing the authorizations of inactive projects to sunset.\nAdditionally, this legislation authorizes programs to improve drinking water infrastructure across the nation, address control of coal combustion residuals, improve water storage and delivery for drought-stricken communities and improve environmental conservation and management. \nThe bill passed the House of Representatives today.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://rooney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/critical-everglades-funding-passes-house"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.699383370578289, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}