Murphy Shows Stop Congressional Leader Hoyer Polluted Waterways Firsthand

Press Release

This morning, U.S. Representative Patrick E. Murphy (FL-18) was joined by House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer for an aerial tour of the St. Lucie River and Indian River Lagoon, which have been damaged by discharges from Lake Okeechobee. This tour came on the heels of Whip Hoyer's attendance at the Congressional briefing on the state of the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee waterways that Rep. Murphy hosted in D.C. on October 3rd.

"I thank Whip Hoyer for not only taking the time to learn more about this issue at the briefing but for being moved to come witness this crisis firsthand," said Rep. Murphy. "Over 20 Members of Congress came to this important briefing to learn more about this issue and to hear directly from local residents on how these toxic discharges affect them. The overwhelming presence of the community was unprecedented and clearly helped demonstrate the gravity of this issue."

"Rep. Patrick Murphy had raised with me the critical issue of pollution from Lake Okeechobee entering the St. Lucie River and Indian River Lagoon, harming wildlife and disrupting the enjoyment of these waterways by local communities. Today, I took the opportunity to tour the affected areas with him and see the effects of this pollution firsthand," said Whip Hoyer. "Rep. Murphy has been a tireless advocate for addressing this problem, and I am committed to working with him to help find a solution that protects Florida's beautiful, natural habitats and ensures clean water for Florida's communities."

Following the aerial tour with South Florida Water Management District officials, Martin County Commission Chair Sarah Heard joined the Congressmen to further share the impact this pollution has had on the local economy and community, following up on her testimony at the October 3rd Congressional briefing.

"We thank Whip Hoyer for taking the time to tour our area and see our water crisis firsthand. We are grateful for the efforts of Whip Hoyer and Congressman Murphy to work with all levels of government to save our estuaries, the most diverse in North America," said Commissioner Heard. "We urge our elected officials to fund critical projects such as the C-44/Indian River Lagoon-South project that help improve our water quality. Together, we can show the world how to restore ecosystems."

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