The U.S. House Thursday passed a bill authorizing the planned EAA reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee that aims to reduce polluted freshwater discharges from the lake.

The House passed the Water Resources Development Act, a wide-ranging bill that approves water infrastructure projects nationwide, and funds some of them.

More: Army Corps approves reservoir to cut Lake Okeechobee discharges

“Fixing our water issues is, without a doubt, the most important priority for our community, and this bill is significant progress in our fight,” Rep. Brian Mast, R-Palm City, said in a news statement. “People are getting sick, animals are dying and our environment is being demolished. We cannot wait any longer to get this bill signed into law.”

More: Mast wants Corps to prioritize public health during Lake Okeechobee discharges

Other ways the bill would help the Treasure Coast include:

An amendment to re-evaluate the Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule, which governs the Army Corps of Engineers' decisions on all aspects of discharges.

A five-year, $3 million annual program for the Corps' Engineering Research and Development Center to identify and develop filtration technology that includes early detection, prevention and management of algal blooms, which can be toxic.

About $16 million to repair and renourish eroded beaches in St. Lucie County.

What's next?

The Senate is scheduled to vote on the WRDA bill by the end of the month. Sen. Bill Nelson said he hopes the Senate will vote "as soon as possible."

More: Bill Nelson: Congress poised to pass compromise WRDA bill

If the Senate passes the bill, it would go to President Donald Trump for his signature.

Lake Okeechobee discharges pollute the St. Lucie River, Indian River Lagoon and sometimes Atlantic Ocean beaches, and sometimes with toxic algae blooms.