Congressman Brian Mast is in his third term representing the 18th Congressional District of Florida.
Prior to his election to Congress, Brian followed in his father’s footsteps by serving in the U.S. Army for more than 12 years, earning medals including The Bronze Star Medal, The Army Commendation Medal for Valor, The Purple Heart Medal, and The Defense Meritorious Service Medal. While deployed in Afghanistan, he worked as a bomb disposal expert under the elite Joint Special Operations Command. The last improvised explosive device that he found resulted in catastrophic injuries, which included the loss of both of his legs.
As I talk to people in our community, there is one issue that keeps them up at night more than any other: the lack of clean, safe water in our area. Cleaning the water in our community is a non-negotiable priority. These waterways are irreplaceable treasures, central to the economy and quality of life in our region.
Here’s the bottom line: the poor water quality in our area is the most important regional priority. Right now the water being discharged by Lake Okeechobee into the Treasure Coast is destroying our community, putting people out of business, killing sea life and even making people sick. This cannot continue. We cannot wait any longer. Our lagoon and beaches must be restored.
As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I am working to strengthen the partnership between local, state and federal agencies to upgrade the infrastructure in our community—not just talk about it but actually get it done. The committee also has jurisdiction over the Army Corps of Engineers, which is in charge of many of the local projects affecting our water quality.
This issue doesn't discriminate based on demographics or ideology. It affects our whole community. That's why I'm determined to find a solution that can get bipartisan support and actually pass. Anything else is simply not good enough.