[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 133 (Tuesday, September 6, 2016)] [Senate] [Pages S5290-S5291] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] WRDA Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I just want to say to the majority leader that I am pleased he put forward the WRDA bill. I think it is so important to Democrats and Republicans. I thank the Senator from Florida for yielding for just a few seconds because I am going to read the title of the bill. It will take me less than a minute, and you can see how important it is. We are talking about making navigation better. We are talking about flood control. We are talking about coastal storm damage reduction; environmental restoration; relief for Flint, MI; improved notification when high levels of lead are found in drinking water anywhere in the country; restoring critical ecosystems; investing in innovative water technologies such as desalination and water recycling. We are talking about drought assistance. We are talking about improving ports, repairing dams, and allowing States to issue permits for coal ash. This is a critical bill. It is super-bipartisan. I wish to say that working with Senator Inhofe continues to be a joy for me when it comes to infrastructure. On the environment, we are sort of from different planets, but when it comes to infrastructure, we are as one. I thank the majority leader for putting this bill out there. I ask Members on both sides to help us get to this bill. I again thank the Senator from Florida. I yield the floor. Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, might I take just 1 minute as well? The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, it is so ordered. Ms. STABENOW. I thank the leader as well and thank colleagues, Senator Inhofe and Senator Boxer, for working in good faith, as they usually do, in coming up with a bill that addresses multiple issues that are very important to Members--certainly us in Michigan but others as well. I thank the leader for bringing it forward. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Florida. Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, before I begin my remarks on the vote on Zika, I do want to join the chorus of those voices thanking the majority leader for bringing the water bill, which also has important priorities for the State of Florida, in particular the Central Everglades planning process, which will allow us to begin the process of moving forward on a series of programs that are important not just for restoring the natural flow of the Everglades but for helping coastal areas of Florida that were impacted over the last few months with algae blooms as a result of water runoff from Lake Okeechobee. There is a lot more to be done. This project alone will not solve this problem, but it is the single biggest project out there that we are closest to achieving and that can move us toward that goal. If the Senate can move forward, I, too, will ask my colleagues over the next few days to allow this issue to move forward. Let's get this passed. There are many good priorities here for many States in this country, but for Florida in particular. The Central Everglades Planning Project has taken so long to get to this point, and I thank Senator Inhofe for working with me on it to ensure that it is part of this package. I am hopeful we can continue to move forward and get this done. It is important for Florida, particularly for our coastal areas, and for those who care deeply about the great natural treasures of this country--the Florida Everglades. [[Page S5291]] ____________________