Governor Rick Scott today toured Lake Okeechobee and hosted a ceremonial bill signing for SB 10, which helps protect Florida’s environment by authorizing the building of a reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee.
WATCH: Remarks by Senator Joe Negron
“…to work with [Governor Scott] and work with our federal partners to make sure that the rehabilitation of the dike around Lake O is done expeditiously, that we expedite it. I had a good phone call this morning with Colonel Kirk about that issue and also about the commitment of the Army Corps of Engineers to work with the South Florida Water Management District and the Legislature as we implement SB 10.… I want to thank everyone who’s here, the Governor, I want to particularly thank Senator Bradley, who sponsored SB 10 in the Senate, also Senator Latvala, who is our appropriations chair, who made sure that we got through the appropriations process and worked to make the final product happen, and lastly Representative Altman, who was the sponsor in the House. I appreciate everything that everyone has done and look forward to this project being completed in a timely manner and thank you again Governor.”
WATCH: Remarks by Ryan Matthews, Interim Secretary, Florida Department of Environmental Protection
“I believe that Florida is the envy of the United States because of our vast resources and our unique ecosystems. I also think we are in a particularly enviable position currently because we have the Governor, who has shown that he will tirelessly fight for Florida’s families and our environment. We have a Governor that has shown he can utilize his relationships and partnerships with not only President Trump, but federal officials at the highest levels of the government. Because of that, I believe that Florida will see increased appropriations, such as money for the [Herbert Hoover] Dike, which is desperately needed. But also, we’ll see appropriations for federal dollars that are needed for that storage east and west of the lake with the C-43 and C-44 [reservoirs]. SB 10 will provide needed storage south of the lake and we will continue to look at comprehensive ways to restore this beautiful ecosystem… I’d like to thank the Governor for his continued fight and effort to protect Florida’s families and the environment.”
WATCH: Remarks by Dan O’Keefe, Chairman, South Florida Water Management District
Good morning everybody. I really am honored to be here today in the presence of a Governor, whose vision and dedication and tireless efforts, has done more for the Everglades restoration in his six years in office than the prior six administrations combined… By strongly advocating for the crucial dollars necessary to fix the rehab of the Herbert Hoover Dike, our Governor has shown a commitment to protecting the lives of the communities that live in fear of the potential breach and to protect the environment. Once this Dike is repaired, we are very optimistic that we will be able to store more water than any other current project that we have on the books. As Chairman of the largest water management district in the Sunshine State, representing the people of our district, the people of the State of Florida, I’d like to thank the Governor and the Legislature and all of you for your efforts and your leadership to make this happen today.”
WATCH: B-roll following tour of Lake Okeechobee & Remarks by Gov. Scott
“Today is an exciting day. We get to sign SB 10, which is part of continuing to fix the flow of water and the Everglades… This is good for all of us- it’s good for our wildlife, it’s good for our agricultural industry. This is good for our state and especially this part of our state. I’m proud to sign this with all of you here. I’d also like to recognize the individuals that do business down here… and thank them for being here and supporting this… Like everything you do in life, you can’t stop…To have the opportunity to sign SB 10 and focus on how we are going to get storage south of the lake – that’s a big deal and long term, it is going to be a big opportunity. But every day we have to think what we are going to do next- that’s why it’s very important to me that we get the [Herbert Hoover] Dike fixed.”
