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To modify the project for Central and Southern Florida to include public health considerations, and for other purposes.
Summary
This bill directs the Army Corps of Engineers to revise how it manages water systems in Central and Southern Florida to prioritize public health alongside existing purposes such as flood control, navigation, and water supply. Public health is defined to include minimizing toxic algal blooms and their discharge into local watersheds, maintaining the Herbert Hoover Dike, and ensuring adequate water reaches the Everglades and Tribal lands. The bill requires the Secretary of the Army to update a Master Operational Manual to manage all project elements as an integrated system with public health as a primary consideration. It also mandates a study by the Army and National Academies of Sciences to assess nutrient pollution impacts and propose solutions for downstream watersheds. The bill does not alter existing water rights agreements with the State of Florida or tribal water quality standards.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to Brian J. Mast’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
- NULL $236,075
- EDW C LEVY CO $13,200
- NOBLE PROPERTIES $7,600
- EXPEDITED TRAVEL $7,100
- BLUE OWL CAPITAL $6,600
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Brian J. Mast → · Outside spending →
Actions (3)
- Jun 7, 2025 Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment. · house
- Jun 6, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. · house
- Jun 6, 2025 Introduced in House
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Text versions (1)
Bills are re-published as they move (Introduced → Reported → Engrossed → Enrolled …). Each stage below is a separate text; pick two to see what changed. Data from Congress.gov.
Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 6, 2025
Mr. Mast introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
A BILL
To modify the project for Central and Southern Florida to include public health considerations, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Prioritizing Revised Operations To Eliminate Cyanobacteria Toxins in Florida Act” or the “PROTECT Florida Act”.
SEC. 2. MANAGEMENT OF THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN FLORIDA SYSTEM.
(a) In General.—The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works shall direct the Army Corps of Engineers to modify water infrastructure management in Central and Southern Florida to ensure public health shall overlay all authorized project purposes. Such authorized project purposes shall include—
(1) flood control;
(2) navigation;
(3) water supply for agricultural irrigation, municipalities, industry, and Everglades National Park;
(4) regional groundwater control, and salinity control;
(5) enhancement of fish and wildlife; and
(6) recreation.
(b) Public Health.—For the purposes of this Act, the term “public health” is defined as follows:
(1) Managing Lake Okeechobee and the Central and Southern Florida system—
(A) to minimize the potential of toxic cyanobacteria and other harmful algal blooms; and
(B) prevent discharges containing cyanobacteria or related toxins into the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee watersheds, downstream users, and other areas where such cyanobacteria or related toxins will cause or exacerbate public health risks.
(2) Ensuring the integrity and stability of the Herbert Hoover Dike.
(3) Maintaining all provisions of applicable State, Federal, and Tribal water quality laws, policies, and regulations.
(4) Ensuring necessary water volume and quality reaches the greater Everglades, Tribal lands, Everglades National Park, Florida Bay and Caloosahatchee Watershed to restore the natural habitat.
(c) Modification of Operations.—The Secretary of the Army shall modify operations of all current project elements to ensure that public health of all citizens, including downstream users, shall overlay the operating regimes of these various elements.
(d) Master Operational Manual.—The Secretary of the Army shall update or develop a Master Operational Manual, in cooperation with the State of Florida, to ensure that all of the various existing operational project elements of the Central and Southern Florida project shall be managed as a system to protect public health and Everglades Restoration. As new elements are completed and added to the project, the Master Operational Manual shall be updated to include the new features.
(e) Study.—The Secretary of the Army, in conjunction with the National Academies of Sciences, shall undertake a study of the legacy of pollution and nutrient loading as well as the impacts of soil amendments from current and past operational regimes. The study shall include—
(1) the components of the nutrient load and soil amendments, and how this nutrient loading is and will continue to impact Everglades restoration efforts; and
(2) proposed solutions to ameliorate the impacts of this pollution to downstream watersheds.
(f) Scope.—Nothing in this section shall be construed to alter or amend—
(1) the Water Rights Compact between the State of Florida and the Seminole Tribe of Florida;
(2) the water quality standards of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida;
(3) State water quality standards, applicable National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System discharge permits, and Everglades Forever Act watershed permits; or
(4) the schedule for completion of the Central Everglades Planning Project or Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan projects authorized on or before enactment of this Act.
(g) Prohibition on Use of Restoration Funds.—No restoration funds shall be used by the Secretary to undertake Deep Well Injection (DWI) of flood or any other excess waters.
(h) Authorization of Appropriations.—There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. <all>
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