Rubio, Bilirakis, and Other Florida Lawmakers Fight Incorrect Army Corps' Legal Interpretation Impeding Hurricane Risk Reduction Projects

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has misinterpreted a section of law in a way that undermines critical hurricane risk reduction projects in Florida by imposing burdensome requirements on local project sponsors in violation of existing project construction agreements. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL),  Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) led members of the Florida delegation in a letter to the Chairmen and Ranking Membersof the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, urging them to include a legislative solution in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024. 

“Our provision will protect public infrastructure and the lives and livelihoods of Americans residing in and visiting Florida, which the USACE has arbitrarily and callously placed under unacceptable risk in contravention of their mission.”

Joining Rubio was Senator Rick Scott (R-FL), and Representatives Daniel Webster (R-FL), Bill Posey (R-FL), Scott Franklin (R-FL), Mike Waltz (R-FL), Sheila McCormick (D-FL), Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), John Rutherford (R-FL), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), Neal Dunn (R-FL), Cory Mills (R-FL), Laurel Lee (R-FL), Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL), María Elvira Salazar (R-FL), Carlos Giménez (R-FL), Brian Mast (R-FL), Aaron Bean (R-FL), Darren Soto (D-FL), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Greg Steube (R-FL), Kat Cammack (R-FL), Byron Donalds (R-FL), and Matt Gaetz (R-FL).

The full text of the letter is below.