U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) announced the inclusion of several water quality provisions she fought for in the bipartisan 2018 Farm Bill that passed the Congress today in response to the devastating red tide and toxic green algae that is plaguing Florida:

“I promised to fight for solutions to red tide and harmful algal blooms and am pleased to report that a number of helpful water quality provisions are contained in the 2018 Farm Bill to clean up nutrients and wastes that pollute our waterways,” U.S. Rep. Castor said.

“The bill encourages conservation and cleaner agricultural practices in the right places, prioritizing clean water investments and addressing obstacles that get in the way of continued improvements in water quality and algal bloom prevention,” U.S. Rep. Castor continued.  “I am proud to say that my calls were heeded and these priorities were included in the Farm Bill that passed in the U.S. House today.  Florida is a diverse agricultural state and the Farm Bill’s inclusion of conservation initiatives can play an important role in addressing the water quality challenges in Florida.  The State of Florida, farmers, ranchers and local communities should use every tool to clean up our rivers, bays and coastal communities to protect our quality of life.

“As we face an increasingly warming climate, the final Farm Bill also takes steps towards ensuring that farmers and ranchers reduce carbon pollution by providing incentives to producers who implement farming practices that capture carbon in soil,” said U.S. Rep. Castor.  “Florida’s farmers and ranchers are good stewards of the land and these provisions will be beneficial.”

U.S. Rep. Castor serves Florida’s 14th Congressional District, which includes the greater Tampa area.  She is Vice Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has oversight responsibilities for environmental policies.  Earlier this year, U.S. Rep. Castor was joined by several of colleagues in the Florida Congressional Delegation to call for water quality priorities to be included in the 2018 Farm Bill.  Read the letter here.

###