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Congressman Brian Mast

Mast Publishes Open Letter to Brightline

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U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18) published the below open letter to Brightline, which originally ran in TCPalm, reacting to Brightline President Patrick Goddard’s assertion that Treasure Coast residents are “narrow-minded”:

Dear Mr. Goddard,

In your testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Oversight Subcommittee on Government Operations, you called us on the Treasure Coast “narrow-minded.” While I found much of your testimony troubling, I particularly resented this condescending assertion.

In response, I say this:

It is not narrow-minded to care about our economy.

On the Treasure Coast, paradise is literally our business. Both the tourism industry and property values rely on our towns being a serene place to live or visit. High-speed trains flying through at-grade crossings in the middle of our towns will undoubtedly damage this character and charm.

I love our community businesses, like the Square Grouper in Jupiter, where we can pull up on a boat. But as a result of the 32 daily passenger trains you plan to run, the railroad draw bridge will be blocking our waterways for hours every day.

It is not narrow-minded to care about the safety of our children.

One of my favorite pastimes is getting tacos at the Taco Shack in Stuart and letting my boys play at Kiwanis Park. But your trains will add extra danger, traffic and noise directly next to this park.

I love the Hobe Sound Christmas Parade. My children have the most fun, but undoubtedly, like my fellow parents on the Treasure Coast, Brianna and I will be keeping a little closer watch with trains traveling up to 110 miles per hour along the route.

It is not narrow-minded to care about your misuse of taxpayer dollars.

Every citizen deserves to have their tax dollars spent wisely. But despite your company’s dishonest claim that it is “not publicly funded at all,” you admitted to the committee that “there has been public funding granted.”

How can we trust anything you say?

Every citizen deserves to have the option to not be charged to maintain the crossing equipment for a new train they do not want and will not benefit from.

But even you admit taxpayers will end up on the hook for these costs, despite your insistence the railway is private property, so you do not need our permission to expand.

It is not narrow-minded to protect the community we love.

Hands down my favorite place to ride my Harley is up Indian River Drive, often to a Friday Fest in Fort Pierce. Brightline will be there, as well. I know many in our community have similar experiences and memories they do not want ruined by Brightline.

You say anyone who opposes your intrusion on our community is “narrow-minded.” This entitled attitude is one of the reasons we don’t want your train and its 32 additional routes running through our slice of heaven on the Treasure Coast in the first place.

Regardless of our differences of opinion on the many other issues surrounding your train, please know nobody in our community is narrow-minded. We care deeply about the Treasure Coast, and we just wish you did, too.

Read the original version here.

Mast Secures Big Wins For Local Water In Infrastructure Bill

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U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18) today secured several big wins for local water as his committee of Transportation and Infrastructure considered and passed the Water Resources and Development Act.  Mast’s successes included the passage of an amendment to develop a massive water filtration system capable of removing harmful algal blooms from water discharged onto the Treasure Coast, passage of an amendment to re-evaluate the Lake Okeechobee discharge schedule with the aim of reducing the frequency of discharges and a commitment from the Committee Chairman to authorize the EAA southern storage reservoir (from Senator Joe Negron’s SB 10) as soon as the Army Corps completes its required review of the Post-Authorization Change Report.

“Last year, I brought Committee Chairman Bill Shuster, other members of this committee and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to our district to see our water issues firsthand, and over the last several months, I’ve been collecting stories from people all across our area to highlight to leaders in Washington how dire our situation really is.  Congress has heard our pleas, and water infrastructure leaders have now committed to authorizing the EAA southern storage reservoir this year once the Army Corps completes their review,” Rep. Mast said. “Building on the millions of dollars that we secured earlier this year to combat harmful algal blooms, we also secured big wins in this bill to direct the Army Corps to re-evaluate LORS, which will decrease the frequency of discharges, and develop large-scale water filtration technology to clean water that is discharged onto the Treasure Coast.  There is a lot more work to do, but today is a great day in the fight to secure the environmental, social and economic future of our community.”

Yesterday, Rep. Mast announced that he has secured a commitment from Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster and Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Garret Graves to include authorization of the EAA Reservoir as part of this year’s Water Resources and Development Act as soon as the Army Corps completes its required review of the Post-Authorization Change Report.  The bill passed by the committee today includes important placeholder language that will be replaced by a full authorization of the project upon a favorable report of the project from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“Authorization of this storage reservoir is a priority, and we are committed to including authorization of this project in this year’s Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA) pending [the Army Corps’] timely and favorable recommendation,” Chairmen Shuster and Graves wrote in a letter led by Rep. Mast to the Army Corps on May 22, 2018. 

Also included in the bill are two efforts championed by Rep. Mast:

The St. Lucie Coastal Storm Risk Management Project: This provision authorizes a project in St. Lucie County to restore beaches that have been eroded by storms and establishes a maintenance plan to re-nourish the beach every two to five years.

The Kissimmee River Project: Under this provision, the State of Florida will receive credit toward the state’s 50% share of the total project cost for work the state has already completed to restore the Kissimmee River to a more natural flow, reducing the negative impacts of Lake Okeechobee.

The Water Resources and Development Act passed the committee today unanimously.  The bill is expected to be considered by the full House of Representatives next month.

Additional Information on Mast Amendments Included in the Bill and Passed By Committee

Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule Review 

Problem: The Herbert Hoover Dike Rehabilitation project is on track to be completed in 2022.  Once that project is complete, it will have a significant positive impact on the flood control mission that the Army Corps administers.  The Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule determines when water must be discharged from the lake, based in large part on the integrity of the Herbert Hoover Dike.  The Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule was last updated in 2008; therefore, discharge decisions are still being based on data that is over a decade old.  

Solution: This amendment directs the Army Corps to update the Lake Okeechobee Review Regulation Schedule (LORS) starting in 2019 to ensure the most up-to-date flood control data is available upon completion of the dike in 2022, ensuring that discharges from Lake Okeechobee are only done when absolutely necessary.  

Engineering Research and Development Center Harmful Algal Blooms Program

Problem: When harmful algal blooms are present in Lake Okeechobee and the Army Corps discharges water into the estuaries, the rate of flow is almost 11 billion gallons of toxic water flooding into the rivers per day.  Currently, there is no filtration system capable of sufficiently cleaning water at that rate.

Solution:  This amendment authorizes a five-year program for the Army Corps’ Engineering Research and Development Center to identify and develop technology for the large-scale filtration of water, including early detection, prevention and management of harmful algal blooms.  The amendment funds the program at $3 million per year.

Technical Assistance for Non-Federal Sponsors

Problem: The lack of technical assistance made available to the South Florida Water Management District’s work establishing the post-authorization change report for the EAA southern storage reservoir was one of the biggest challenges in getting that report to the Army Corps for approval in a timely manner.

Solution: This amendment directs the Army Corps to provide technical assistance to feasibility studies paid for by non-federal sponsors, expediting completion of studies and increasing the likelihood that the final report will be determined to be feasible.

Mast Builds Support to Revoke Brightline’s Bonds

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Following a committee hearing on Brightline’s use of tax-exempt Private Activity Bonds held at Congressman Brian Mast’s (FL-18) request, support is now building in Congress urging the Department of Transportation to suspend the allocation of the financing to Brightline.

Rep. Mast today released a letter (attached) with Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Mark Meadows and Members of Congress from Florida urging the Department of Transportation to “use your authority to suspend the allocation of the AAF PABs.” The letter continues, “failing to do so compromises the integrity of the entire PAB program, and we cannot support what amounts to blank-check authority for this program.”

The letter is signed by Subcommittee Chairman Mark Meadows (NC-11), Congressman Ron DeSantis (FL-6), Congressman Matt Gaetz (FL-1), Rep. Mast and Congressman Bill Posey (FL-8).

Rep. Mast has fervently opposed Brightline’s expansion on the Treasure Coast, calling for increased transparency about their use of taxpayer dollars and improved safety measures.

“Taxpayers deserve the truth about who is paying for Brightline, and our community deserves answers about why they are refusing to address critical safety and economic concerns,” Rep. Mast said when the hearing was initially announced.

BACKGROUND

Because Brightline failed to qualify for public financing under the statutory definition of high-speed rail, Brightline instead sought and secured the public financing for this expansion (“Private Activity Bonds”) by claiming that their passenger rail train is actually a “highway.”  At Rep. Mast’s request, a hearing was held on April 19, 2018 to review this abuse of Private Activity Bonds, which circumvents the intent of Congress in creating the program.  

Despite their claim that Brightline is “not publicly funded at all,” in the hearing Brightline admitted that “there has been public funding granted.”  Moreover, there are at least four instances in which Brightline has sought public financial support:

  • All Aboard Florida applied for nearly $1.6 billion in publicly-subsidized federal loans in 2013.
  • Then, in 2014, All Aboard Florida applied for $1.75 billion in tax-exempt federal bonds. A U.S. District Court judge found that the cost to taxpayers would be up to $600 million.
  • In 2014, the State of Florida allocated $213.5 million in its budget for the construction of a facility at Orlando International Airport. All Aboard Florida would be the sole tenant of this facility.
  • Last year, Brightline was issued $600 million in tax-free bonds and then secured an additional $1.15 billion in tax-exempt bonds to pay for Phase 2 of the project.

In addition to these financial concerns, Brightline trains have been involved in six deaths since they began running, raising serious safety concerns ahead of the proposed expansion through the Treasure Coast to Orlando.

Mast Statement On Release of North Korean Prisoners

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U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18) today released the following statement after President Donald Trump announced the release of three prisoners held in North Korea:

“Today’s announcement that President Trump and Secretary Pompeo have secured the release of three North Korean prisoners is incredible news.  It is a time of celebration for our nation, and most importantly, for those men and their families.

“North Koreans have a long history of promises made and then broken.  In the past, they’ve used the guise of denuclearization talks to buy time as they continue to build up their nuclear weapons, so we must be determined to break this cycle and not to repeat history.  That’s why, during my short time in Congress, we’ve prioritized ratcheting up sanctions on North Korea.  It is clear that this pressure is driving North Korea back to the negotiating table, and now we must continue to exert pressure so we do not make the same mistakes that past Administrations have made with North Korea and the same mistakes that President Obama made with Iran.”

Mast Statement On Withdrawal From Iran Nuclear Deal

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U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18) today released the following statement after President Donald Trump announced that the United States will withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action:

“President Trump clearly understands the importance of many issues that the Obama Administration chose to ignore. The government of Iran, by their own admission, wants America and Israel destroyed. But this historically bad deal provided a clear pathway for Iran to expand its nuclear weapons program, and Iran has boldly declared that, despite the deal, they can kick-start and produce enriched uranium within two days.

“The sanctions lifted under the deal have emboldened Iran and given them access to more than $100 billion in previously frozen assets. With the help of that money, Iran is colonizing the Middle East through their terror arm Hezbollah. They have imprisoned U.S. citizens, taken our sailors hostage and fired rockets towards our Navy. And a parade of concessions by the Obama Administration empowered Iran to test-launch more than a dozen ballistic missiles and threaten to use those same missiles to strike U.S. military bases.

“President Trump’s decisive action today is a much needed first step in the long road to undoing the damage caused by President Obama, Secretary Kerry, Secretary Clinton and their foreign policy advisors. No deal with Iran is far wiser than a bad deal.”

Mast Statement on Budget Vote

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U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18) today released the following statement after House passage of the budget:
“Washington’s spending habits are completely out of control, with debt totaling more than $60,000 per person.  Every year, families and small businesses are forced to set and live by a budget.  Unfortunately, today’s vote continues the disastrous trend of passing budgets that don’t really balance by using unrealistic expectations to fake the numbers—something book keepers in any company, anywhere, would be fired for doing.
“After less than a year in Washington, there’s no doubt in my mind that the system is rigged against the vast majority of our country.  We need tax reform that lowers rates while closing loopholes used by rich lobbyists.  The government needs to spend less and empower the American people to do more.  Because this budget doesn’t do nearly enough to end the tax and spend status quo, fails to adequately protect Florida’s seniors and will drive us deeper into debt, I had no choice but to vote no.”

Mast’s Veterans Bill Passes Senate, Heads to President

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Bipartisan Must-Pass Legislation Avoids Expiration of Critical Veterans Programs

U.S. Congressman Brian Mast’s (FL-18) bipartisan legislation to avoid the expiration of critical veterans programs passed the United States Senate unanimously last night.  Today, Rep. Mast joined Speaker Paul Ryan (WI-1) as the Speaker formally sent the bill to the President for his signature.  The bill previously passed the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously on Monday, September 25, 2017.
Without this bill, the authority for the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out numerous programs that help veterans will expire at the end of the week.
“The heroic men and women that I fought alongside in our Armed Forces have earned the very best care our country has to offer, but without this immediate action from Congress, veterans could have lost access to benefits, health care, support for the homeless and more,” Rep. Mast said. “Thankfully, both the House and Senate acted urgently to get the job done!”
The Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2017 extends a number of expiring authorities impacting veterans’ benefits, health care, and homeless programs, including nursing home care, support services for caregivers, transportation, child care assistance, adaptive sports programs and housing and home loan services.
“The men and women who have served our nation, along with their caregivers, dependents and survivors, rely on key programs at VA for support,” Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Phil Roe (TN-1) said. “I thank Rep. Mast for his leadership on this essential legislation to extend the authorities of many VA programs and aid in the administration’s implementation of the Forever GI Bill.”
Read the bill here.

Mast Unveils Bill to Create First Federal Action Plan to Combat Harmful Algal Blooms in Greater Everglades Region

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South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act
Mandates Everglades-Specific Action Plan

U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18) today announced the introduction of the South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act.  The bill will amend existing federal law aimed at combatting harmful algal blooms to require the first-ever specific federal assessment and action plan to reduce harmful algal blooms in the Greater Everglades region.
“Considering the massive damage algal blooms have caused in our community, it’s ridiculous that a federal program specifically designed to combat algal blooms has never done an Everglades-specific analysis,” Rep. Mast said. “This bill is a critical first step to developing a comprehensive plan that forces the state and federal government to work together to keep our water clean.” 
The bill amends the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act to require an assessment and action plan for reducing harmful algal blooms and hypoxia in the Greater Everglades region.  Under the direction of this existing federal law, the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science have developed numerous reports over the last two decades researching harmful algal blooms in the Gulf of Mexico, the Great Lakes, the Mississippi River and nationally.  However, there has never been an Everglades-specific report.
The South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act directs the task force to complete an assessment that examines the causes, consequences and potential approaches to reduce harmful algal blooms and hypoxia in the Greater Everglades region, including how ongoing South Florida ecosystem restoration efforts are impacting the distribution of algal blooms.  Based on the assessment, the task force is then directed to submit a plan to Congress for reducing, mitigating and controlling harmful algal blooms in the Greater Everglades region.

Mast to Army Corps: No Discharges to Treasure Coast

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Letter Urges Army Corps to Exhaust All Possible Options Before Discharging Water

Mast Calls on Army Corps to Work with SFWMD on Southern Reservoir

U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18) yesterday sent a letter to Assistant Secretary of the Army Jo-Ellen Darcy urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to “exhaust every possible flood-prevention option prior to considering discharging water.” The letter comes on the heels of the discovery of a massive algal bloom in Lake Okeechobee. Last summer, discharges from Lake Okeechobee resulted in harmful algal blooms on the Treasure Coast that caused a massive public health crisis and incalculable economic damage.
In the letter, Mast also urges the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to “work with South Florida Water Management District on a long-term solution that includes implementing Florida State Senate Bill 10, which authorizes construction of a reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee.”
The full text of the letter is included below:
July 24, 2017
The Honorable Jo-Ellen Darcy
Assistant Secretary of the Army
108 Army Pentagon
Washington, DC 20310
Dear Secretary Darcy:
The Treasure Coast of Florida is facing an environmental disaster. Last summer, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ decision to discharge polluted, nutrient-rich freshwater from Lake Okeechobee had dire consequences on the Treasure Coast. As a result of these discharges, our community faced a public health crisis and incalculable economic damage.
My office has been monitoring the situation for warning signs of a repeat disaster throughout this summer, and late last week, I became aware of a massive algae bloom growing in Lake Okeechobee. If the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers were to transfer this algal bloom into the St. Lucie River through a discharge, it would again cause an unacceptable crisis on the Treasure Coast.
In a column published in the Tampa Bay Times on July 20, 2017, Colonel Jason Kirk noted that heavy rain has caused water levels in the conservation area to hit record highs, preventing water from being sent south out of Lake Okeechobee for several months. Based on information provided by the U.S. Army Corps, however, it is my understanding that the water levels in Lake Okeechobee are currently several feet below the level necessitating discharges, and I also understand that on June 27, 2017, the U.S Army Corps of Engineers took additional measures to mitigate the high water levels throughout the conservation areas.
Should these water levels rise, I am writing to urge you, in the strongest possible terms, to exhaust every possible flood-prevention option prior to considering discharging water. The transfer of algae-filled water from Lake Okeechobee onto the Treasure Coast is simply unacceptable, which is why I have introduced legislation in Congress to hold the federal government responsible for the cost of damages associated with the transfer of algal blooms from Lake Okeechobee into our community.
Understanding that this is a complex problem that will not be solved over night, I also urge you to work with South Florida Water Management District on a long-term solution that includes implementing Florida State Senate Bill 10, which authorizes construction of a reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee. I will do everything in my power to authorize federal support for this project as well.
Thank you in advance for your immediate attention to this potentially life-threatening situation.
Sincerely,
Brian J. Mast
Member of Congress
cc:
President Donald J. Trump
Acting Secretary of the Army Robert M. Speer
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers District Commander Colonel Jason A. Kirk
Governor Rick Scott
South Florida Water Management District Executive Director Peter Antonacci

Mast Introduces Amendments to Combat Harmful Algal Blooms

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Proposals Increase Funding by More Than $2 million

U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18) offered four amendments to the FY2018 Energy and Water Development and the Department of Defense Appropriations bills designed to increase research and funding into harmful algal blooms.  In total, the amendments would increase funding by more than $2 million.
“We must tackle the lack of clean, safe water in our area from as many different angles as possible,” Rep. Mast said. “In addition to supporting efforts to build a southern reservoir, increasing funding to research and combat harmful algal blooms will move us closer to preventing future public health crises like we lived through last summer.”
The funding increases would impact the following programs:
Department of the Navy Research Laboratory – $598,000
The Environmental Sustainability Development Project under the Naval Research Laboratory works on coastal contamination and contaminated sediments.  Funding for this program is cut in the proposed Department of Defense appropriations bill by $598,000 compared to FY2017 enacted levels.  The amendment offered by Rep. Mast restores the program to full funding and would fund the program at $2.04 million higher than the President’s requested level.
The Lakes Program – $750,000
The Lakes Program was authorized to “carry out a program for the removal of silt, aquatic growth, and other material,” but the proposed Energy and Water Development appropriations bill includes no funding for the program. Rep. Mast’s amendment allocates $750,000 to the Lakes Program to make grants available to states for projects to remove “toxic substances mobilized by high acidity,” such as algal blooms.
The Aquatic Nuisance Species Research Program – $500,000
Rep. Mast’s amendment increases funding by $500,000 for the Aquatic Nuisance Species Research Program, which provides the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers managers and operational personnel up-to-date information on aquatic nuisance species, including basic life history and ecological information, risk assessment tools, preventative strategies, and cost-effective and environmentally sound management options. The main objective of this program is to conduct interdisciplinary research on the prevention, control, and management of aquatic nuisance species that impact Corps of Engineers projects and public facilities.
The Aquatic Plant Control Research Program – $500,000
Rep. Mast’s amendment increases funding by $500,000 for the Aquatic Plant Control Research Program, which is the nation’s only federally authorized research program directed to develop technology for the management of non-indigenous aquatic plant species. The program provides effective, economical, and environmentally compatible methods for assessing and managing problem aquatic plants.
An appropriations bill containing both Energy and Water Development appropriations and Department of Defense Appropriations is scheduled to be considered later this week.