Sense of Congress related to Everglades Agricultural Area project

(a) In general It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary should, to the maximum extent practicable— (1) meet the expedited construction outlined in the July 18, 2025 Memorandum of Agreement between the State of Florida and Department of the Army for Expediting and Advancing the Restoration of America’s Everglades, for the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir, authorized by section 1308 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2018 (132 Stat. 3819; 134 Stat. 2709); (2) incorporate other components of the Central Everglades Planning Project to fully utilize investment and restore the flow of water through the central Everglades and Everglades National Park to Florida Bay; and (3) prepare for and take all necessary steps to review and implement opportunities for expedited construction timelines and operations for remaining everglades restoration projects to achieve objectives, goals, and regional benefits including but not limited to eliminating harmful transfers to the St. Lucie Estuary, and reducing harmful transfers to the Caloosahatchee River Estuary and the Lake Worth Lagoon without causing harm to Lake Okeechobee, Everglades or southern regions, while also protecting and meeting water supply goals south of the lake consistent with congressionally authorized project purposes. (b) Savings provision Nothing in this Sense of Congress is intended to, nor shall it be construed or interpreted as altering, amending, prioritizing or supplementing any authorized project purpose. Furthermore, nothing stated here shall be construed as expanding Federal authority or oversight over State waters or environmental programs.

(a) In general It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary should, to the maximum extent practicable— (1) meet the expedited construction outlined in the July 18, 2025 Memorandum of Agreement between the State of Florida and Department of the Army for Expediting and Advancing the Restoration of America’s Everglades, for the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir, authorized by section 1308 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2018 (132 Stat. 3819; 134 Stat. 2709); (2) incorporate other components of the Central Everglades Planning Project to fully utilize investment and restore the flow of water through the central Everglades and Everglades National Park to Florida Bay; and (3) prepare for and take all necessary steps to review and implement opportunities for expedited construction timelines and operations for remaining everglades restoration projects to achieve objectives, goals, and regional benefits including but not limited to eliminating harmful transfers to the St. Lucie Estuary, and reducing harmful transfers to the Caloosahatchee River Estuary and the Lake Worth Lagoon without causing harm to Lake Okeechobee, Everglades or southern regions, while also protecting and meeting water supply goals south of the lake consistent with congressionally authorized project purposes. (b) Savings provision Nothing in this Sense of Congress is intended to, nor shall it be construed or interpreted as altering, amending, prioritizing or supplementing any authorized project purpose. Furthermore, nothing stated here shall be construed as expanding Federal authority or oversight over State waters or environmental programs.