NOTICIAS

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) filed three amendments to the $1 trillion infrastructure package that is currently being considered by the U.S. Senate:  
 
Full Funding for Everglades Restoration. This amendment would secure $5 billion for South Florida Ecosystem Restoration (SFER) to ensure full funding for the federal portions of authorized Everglades restoration projects. The appropriation of $5 billion would ensure the expedited completion of Everglades restoration projects, including the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir. 
 
Clean Watersheds Needs Survey Reform. This amendment would reform the Clean Watersheds Needs Survey (CWNS) to promote state participation.  The CWNS is an assessment conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency to determine financial needs to maintain and replace wastewater infrastructure in order to protect waterways from wastewater spills and to fulfill the objectives of the Clean Water Act. The amendment would allow states to use up to 0.5% of the funds they are allotted through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to facilitate their participation in future needs surveys. This reform would make state participation in needs surveys more accessible, and would promote more regular surveys of America’s wastewater and sewage infrastructure. Clean Watersheds Needs Surveys have historically occurred every four years, but a successful needs survey has not been conducted since 2012.
 
Permanent Daylight Saving Time. This amendment, modeled after Rubio’s Sunshine Protection Act, would make Daylight Saving Time (DST) permanent across the country.