Florida lawmakers continue to tackle environmental issues as it has just been announced that Florida Rep. Michael Waltz (R) and Florida Senators Rick Scott (R) and Marco Rubio (R) have just introduced a bill to modernize state water quality allocation.
Working alongside Maryland Rep. Anthony Brown (D), Rep. Waltz introduced legislation that would modernize the national water quality allocation formula to states.
With the Clean Water Allotment Modernization Act, the Clean Water State Revolving Fund formula would be updated, which is responsible for determining the amount of money states receive for water quality projects.
The formula that is currently in use has not been updated since 1987.
Commenting on the bill, Rep. Waltz expressed that “as a lifelong Floridian, one of my first goals when I came to office was to improve our state’s water quality.” Moreover, “I quickly discovered Florida has been shortchanged by the outdated Clean Water State Revolving Fund. In order to keep our water clean, every dollar matters.”
In the Senate, Florida Senators Rubio and Scott introduced the companion to the bill, and Senator Rubio echoed in Waltz’s remarks when speaking on the importance of getting this done.
He added that “this legislation would nearly triple Florida’s current Clean Water State Revolving Fund allotment each year, enabling more than $730 million in new funds per decade for clean water infrastructure.” As well, he stressed that “protecting and restoring water quality in Florida’s aquifers, wetlands and coastal waters is an economic imperative, and this needed reform will help deliver critical environmental benefits for current and future generations of Floridians to enjoy.”
