My remarks during today's "Save Our Bay" press conference

For far too long, the lives of Franklin County families have hung in the balance while waiting patiently on an equitable resolution in the Tri-State water dispute.

For far too long, the fundamental principles upon which this nation was founded, equal protection, fairness and justice has escaped the residents of Franklin County.

For far too long, the people of Franklin County have paid an extraordinary price to satisfy Metro-Atlanta's unquenchable thirst for freshwater. A thirst so overwhelmingly powerful that it has placed in jeopardy every community downriver of Atlanta… a thirst escalated because of unbridled growth, irresponsible planning, and a lack of vision.

The price we have paid has been egregiously unjust, especially when factoring in the ambivalence, procrastination, and lack of action from our elected leadership in Washington, D.C., including the U.S. Supreme Court - which is far more offensive than the reduction of freshwater in and of itself.

For far too long, the people of Franklin County have had to stand by and watch helplessly and without hope as one of our greatest natural resources laid desolate because of the irresponsible acts and inaction's of others… a resource capacity of sustaining and generating meaningful employment.

For far too long, the great people of Franklin County have repeatedly argued and presented their case for the need to increase freshwater flow down the Apalachicola… ironically, a study just released, now validates Franklin County’s position.

To preserve the interest of the people of Franklin County, the City of Apalachicola joined Florida and its lawsuit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which positioned the city as the only governmental entity in Florida, other than the State of Florida to bring suit in the matter.

Now it's time for Washington to do its part, by first acknowledging the lasting harm that their inaction has already caused the people of Franklin County, and by resolving immediately to find an equitable resolution in the matter.

The U.S. Senate committee hearing to be held here this morning is a good first step and hopefully not the last step taken towards a final resolution, and maybe, just maybe, two-decades from now, our grandchildren, and our great grandchildren will be spared the daunting, but necessary task of having to resolve this unjust matter.