Every day, buried power, water, gas, internet and other utility lines are damaged 71 times across Florida. But all of those accidents could be avoided with just a simple phone call or click.

That was one major takeaway from Common Ground Alliance’s 2025 Conference & Expo, held this week at the Orlando World Center Marriott.

The Common Ground Alliance is the only national nonprofit, nonpartisan association working to prevent damage to underground utilities. It brings together leaders from 16 industries, including oil and gas pipeline operators, construction and equipment manufacturing companies, 8-1-1 call centers and underground locating technology companies. The Alliance turns 25 this year.

Some 1,600 damage prevention leaders attended the 2025 conference, making it the largest event of its kind in the U.S., as well as a return to Orlando following the group’s successful 2023 annual conference.

In all, buried utilities are damaged more than 190,000 times each year nationwide, about once every three minutes. The damage costs the U.S. $30 billion annually.

And Florida leads the nation among U.S. states for these accidents, with nearly 26,000 incidents of damage to buried infrastructure each year. In Florida, digging snafus have contributed to road collapses in West Palm Beach, water main breaks and boil water notices in Daytona Beach, and even fatal accidents in Southwest Florida.

The problem could get even worse, with utilities increasingly moving underground in Florida. Tampa Electric Company has invested $100 million per year to bury overhead electric lines in recent years, while Florida Power & Light has cited underground electric lines as important for hurricane recovery.

“As we mark this milestone of 25 years of damage prevention insights, this year we reflected on the past by looking towards the future of solutions, innovations, and partnerships helping reduce the damage that risks lives, property, and disruption to Florida’s businesses and communities,” said Sarah K. Magruder Lyle, President and CEO of the Common Ground Alliance and Executive Director of the Damage Prevention Action Center.

“We thank Orlando for the warm welcome back, and we’re grateful to the attendees and sponsors helping us raise awareness of what’s at risk and how to protect the critical buried infrastructure on which all Americans rely.”

That awareness has been key to the Alliance’s work, which has gained some bipartisan attention. That includes welcome messages at the concert from Senate President Pro Tempore Jason Brodeur and Reps. Dan Daley, Chip LaMarca and Allison Tant, as well as Central Florida-area Reps. Rita Harris, Johanna López and Leonard Spencer. Brodeur and LaMarca are Republicans, while Daley, Harris, López, Spencer and Tant are Democrats.

Joshua Bowes, Military and Veteran Affairs Director for Democratic U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, was also on hand to learn about veteran hiring efforts from company leaders at Badger, UtiliQuest and other conference sponsors.

The Damage Prevention Action Center — the industry’s advocacy arm — also met at the conference to discuss key state and federal issues impacting damage prevention. That includes the Promoting Innovation in Pipeline Efficiency and Safety (PIPES) Act, legislation in Congress that would allocate funding for protecting buried infrastructure.

It has some bipartisan support, including from U.S. Rep. Dan Webster, who chairs the House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.

Acting Administrator Benjamin Kochman of the U.S. Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration also spoke on behalf of the Donald Trump administration’s push to increase American energy production. Despite ease of access, Common Ground Alliance data shows that more than 27 million Americans won’t contact 811 before they dig. That represents nearly half of all those planning digging projects in the coming year.

Even those planning do-it-yourself projects, including gardening, putting up a fence or installing a mailbox, could interfere with underground utilities.

“Whether you’re a homeowner planting a garden or a contractor breaking ground on a major project, we encourage you to contact 811 prior to any excavation activity to ensure a safe dig every time,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy in a Common Ground Alliance press release highlighting April as National Safe Digging Month.

Numerous state 811 organizations participated in the conference, including Sunshine 811, Florida’s state call center.

“As a Central Floridian, I think it’s important for Sunshine 811 to spread awareness for damage prevention,” noted Elliot Patterson, Central Florida Education Liaison for Sunshine 811, speaking from the organization’s booth at the conference’s expo hall.

That expo hall featured nearly 100,000 square feet of exhibit space, the conference’s largest-ever and the equivalent of nearly two football fields. Exhibits included the latest technology for safe digging. One exhibit showcased a GPS-enabled ground-penetrating radar device, vacuum excavation equipment that allows digging using compressed air or high-pressure water, and cloud-enabled handheld subsurface mapping equipment.

The conference came as Florida increases its investment in new infrastructure. Gov. Ron DeSantis has included in his proposed 2025-26 budget $13.8 billion for transportation-related construction and maintenance, and $25 million for infrastructure improvements at Florida ports, logistics centers and fuel pipelines.

Nationally, Trump announced in January a $500 billion commitment to data center construction that prominently features utilities. And Florida is among states under consideration by OpenAI for additional data centers.

“Dozens of times a day, we’re just one digging incident away from losing power, internet, electricity, or natural gas in our neighborhoods — and in Florida more than anywhere else in America,” Magruder Lyle noted last week to Florida Politics.

“The risk that a single hit to critical utility lines can pose to communities, businesses, residents, and visitors is underrated. But so much of this risk is avoidable by requiring commonsense measures like contacting 811 before every dig, and modernizing Florida’s digging laws.”

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Kyandra Darling has raised more than $32,000 in her bid for House District 62 covering parts of St. Petersburg and Tampa.

Darling, a Democrat, is running to replace Democratic Rep. Michele Rayner, who is not seeking re-election to instead run for the Senate.

“I’m truly humbled by the incredible support this campaign has received,” Darling said. “Not only have we raised significant funds, what excites me most is that over 165 new donors have joined our movement, with 80% of them being residents of Pinellas or Hillsborough County. This is what a community-powered campaign looks like.”

Darling so far faces former Rep. Wengay Newton in the race. Newton represented the district before Rayner. After leaving office, he tried to win the seat back against Rayner after two failed bids for local office, first for Pinellas County Commission and then St. Pete Mayor. He later ran for St. Pete City Council for the seat he held before being elected to the House, a race he also lost.

Now he’s running for the House again.

Darling brought in seven maxed-out $1,000 donations during her first month of campaigning, including from Mark Oliver, himself a former House candidate. Other top donors include Cliff Williams; Christopher Hackney; the Blue Bench Project political committee; former St. Pete City Council candidate Dan Soronen, who was one of Newton’s most recent opponents; Darling’s business; and Friends of Gina Driscoll, the political committee supporting St. Pete City Council member Gina Driscoll.

Other notable contributions came from former St. Pete City Council members Lisa Wheeler-Bowman and John Muhammad; former St. Pete Deputy Mayor Stephanie Owens; former Tampa City Council candidate Hoyt Prindle; progressive pastor Andy Oliver; Shannon Ligon, a lawyer who previously worked with Rayner; and more.

In all, Darling took in 180 contributions throughout March, averaging about $178 each.

She spent more than $5,600 in March, including her top expenditure, $1,920, to Tampa-based L&H Strategies for consulting services. She also cut a check for $891 to Virginia-based consulting firm Deliver Strategies, as well as $600 to Adeb Strategies in West Palm Beach; $690 to Stripe for payment processing; $514 to Eyeconic Creations Photography; $444 to ActBlue; and $75 to Constant Contact for email marketing.

Newton, through March, has raised just $1,000, from the Wilson Project for Florida political committee, which has donated heavily to Newton over the years.

Darling is a former staffer for former U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist and worked as a legislative aide to former St. Pete City Council member Steve Kornell and Wheeler-Bowman. She has also worked in the nonprofit sector, collaborating with more than 40 nonprofit organizations serving health equity, education and economic opportunity issues in the Tampa Bay region.

House District 62 leans heavily Democratic, with more than 49% of the electorate registered as Democrats, compared to just 19% Republicans, according to the most recent L2 voter data.

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Framework in place

A budget framework cleared the House on a near party-line vote, ending fiscal tension that loomed since the start of a new Congress. The budget narrowly passed the House on a 216-214 vote, with only two Republicans joining all Democrats to vote against the plan.

However, Florida’s House delegation held every Representative to party lines.

The lower chamber voted to advance a budget that funds Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security and provides $175 billion for President Donald Trump’s mass deportation operation, while Republican leaders promised to make tax cuts passed in Trump’s first term permanent.

The close margin of passage in the House notably means the arrival of GOP Reps. Randy Fine and Jimmy Patronis, sworn in just a week before the budget vote, made the difference between passage and a deadlocked House.

Republicans in the delegation said the framework would empower the Trump agenda.

“This marks a significant step forward in fulfilling President Trump’s agenda to restore fiscal responsibility, strengthen our military, secure our borders and put America First,” said Rep. Daniel Webster, a Clermont Republican.

“By passing this budget resolution, my House Republican colleagues and I are one step closer to delivering President Trump one, big, beautiful bill that will unleash American energy, make the historic tax cuts permanent and reinvigorate the American economy to usher in the next great American century.”

But Democrats held a contrary view, seeing the worst excesses of the Elon Musk-headed Department of Government Efficiency locked into place.

“The Republican budget is a dangerous road map — laying the groundwork for the largest cuts to Medicaid and food assistance in U.S. history, all to fund massive tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations,” said Rep. Lois Frankel, a West Palm Beach Democrat.

“That means millions of Americans will lose their health care and struggle to put food on the table. A responsible budget should lower costs for hardworking families. That’s what I’m fighting for.”

However, in the Senate, where only Republicans represent Florida, the new framework was celebrated as a victory for fiscal conservatism and an opportunity to rein in federal spending.

“Private sector jobs are growing, inflation is slowing and American manufacturing is back,” posted Sen. Rick Scott. “Now, it’s time to balance the budget, cut taxes and streamline government to Make America Great Again.”

VA access

Veterans sometimes lose limbs in service to their country. Scott wants to ensure they can easily access medical facilities that provide appropriate care.

The Naples Republican reintroduced the Veterans Accessibility Act, legislation that would establish an Advisory Committee on Equal Access responsible for evaluating Veterans Affairs (VA) compliance with disability laws. The panel would also recommend ways that facilities can improve accessibility. The 150-member board would include veterans with disabilities, disability experts and representatives of advocacy organizations.

“It is unthinkable that federal programs intended to support our veterans would be inaccessible to so many who live with disabilities and rely on these essential services,” Scott said.

“Our veterans are American heroes who showed up to serve our nation, and they deserve a federal government who shows up for them and a VA that stands ready to support them. I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this vital bipartisan legislation to ensure the VA is fully prepared to meet the needs of every veteran, who have made countless sacrifices to defend and protect the freedoms of our nation.”

Scott filed the bipartisan bill with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a New York Democrat. Gillibrand also serves as a ranking member of the Senate Aging Committee, which Scott chairs. “All veterans — regardless of ability — deserve access to VA services, facilities and benefits,” she said.

Republican Sen. Jerry Moran, Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Chair, and Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal, that committee’s ranking member, also cosponsored the bill. Several veterans groups endorsed the legislation, including Paralyzed Veterans of America, Blinded Veterans Association, Disabled American Veterans, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, National Association of the Deaf, National Disability Rights Network, United Spinal Association/VetsFirst, Vietnam Veterans of America, and the Wounded Warrior Project.

Student visa crackdown

Weeks after Sen. Ashley Moody filed legislation to deny student visas to Chinese nationals, China issued a travel warning advising students to assess personal risks before traveling to the United States.

“Good,” Moody posted on X. “They got the message.”

The Wall Street Journal characterized the Chinese change in policy as a sign that “Beijing wants to put pressure on America’s tourism and education sectors.” But the Plant City Republican, in remarks in the Senate, said the eastern government has given U.S. authorities little choice but to crack down on students from abroad.

“China has just passed a law that now requires every national to gather intelligence, including Chinese students here studying, gather intelligence and report back,” she said.

“How do we not pass a law that prevents student visas? In that respect, I mean, in the past few years, we’ve had an explosion of Chinese students that were caught gathering evidence or gathering information on military bases on college campuses. How do we as lawmakers, policymakers, not do that?”

Interest disaster

At a meeting of the Florida congressional delegation this week, Rep. Neal Dunn noted that many local governments in his district are still waiting to be made whole after Hurricane Michael in 2018. The Panama City Republican wants Congress to provide loan relief to communities impacted by natural disasters.

Dunn said the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) often proves so slow in paying out funds that communities take another economic blow from interest rates on loans.

He filed the FEMA Loan Interest Payment Relief Act, which would provide financial assistance to local governments and electric cooperatives by reimbursing interest payments on loans used for disaster recovery activities.

“Communities impacted by natural disasters are often left with staggering financial burdens while waiting for federal reimbursements on their disaster loans,” Dunn said.

“Municipal governments and electric coops should not have to face undue financial burdens for the sluggish response from FEMA. This bill ensures that our communities are reimbursed for the interest on loans they need to make a full recovery. By lifting this financial strain, we are empowering communities to focus on what truly matters after disaster strikes — rebuilding and recovery.”

Spike in homelessness

The latest point-in-time survey published by the Homeless Services Network found that more than 40% of the homeless population in Central Florida were children or seniors aged 55 and older. Rep. Maxwell Frost blamed the spike in transients in those groups on policy shifts that increasingly abandon low-income families and individuals relying on now-gutted welfare services.

“It’s unacceptable that in one of the richest countries in the world, thousands of children and seniors are sleeping on the street,” the Orlando Democrat said.

“This report comes at a time when Donald Trump and Elon Musk want to gut Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid, and food programs that our most vulnerable children and seniors count on to survive. For so many folks, these benefits are the difference between making rent and sleeping on the street. And while this administration paves the way to make the rich richer, countless folks in Orlando and across the country have nowhere to sleep at night — and are even criminalized for it.”

Frost, in February, was among those who helped to conduct this year’s survey. The survey aims to gather data on all local homeless people at a particular date each year. He notes that this was the first survey done since Florida enforced a ban on public camping.

“We have to address the homelessness crisis in our region with the urgency it demands — and the answer isn’t criminalizing homelessness or taking away federal funds from organizations like the Homeless Services Network,” Frost said. “It’s finding and investing in solutions that lift people out of poverty and ensuring everyone has the dignity of having a safe place to call home.”

Online, rain or shine

As Gulf Coast communities recover from back-to-back hurricanes, Rep. Gus Bilirakis wants Congress to step up broadband offerings for communities in floodplains. He filed the Coastal Broadband Deployment Act, which would provide resources to improve access to the internet infrastructure.

“Several parts of my district lie within flood zones,” the Palm Harbor Republican said. “I want to be sure that all of my constituents have access to 21st century technologies, enabling them to harness the potential power that these capabilities offer. Being left behind is not an option.”

Bilirakis’s office said 21 million Americans still have no access to broadband. Still, the legislation could help cut through the red tape and bureaucracy to ensure the service is available to more homes.

Meanwhile, Rep. Laurel Lee offered her legislation to protect existing broadband lines. The Thonotosassa Republican filed the bipartisan Stopping the Theft and Destruction of Broadband Act with Rep. Marc Veasey, a Texas Democrat. The bill would increase penalties for individuals whose larceny or destructive action causes a loss of service.

“American consumers use broadband for a wide range of uses and expect to have uninterrupted service. In collaboration with government agencies, broadband providers work tirelessly to defend against a constant barrage of external threats. However, when it comes to the intentional theft or damage of communications facilities, weak and ineffective laws often allow perpetrators to escape justice,” she said.

“To safeguard critical infrastructure and protect consumers, we need stronger, clearer laws and enhanced enforcement, ensuring that those who maliciously harm our networks face severe criminal penalties.”

AI forecasting?

Can artificial intelligence better predict the weather or help prepare communities before disasters?

Rep. Scott Franklin, a Lakeland Republican, just filed the Transformational Artificial Intelligence to Modernize the Economy against Extreme Weather and Wildfires (TAME Extreme Weather and Wildfires) Act. The legislation would direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to develop a domestic global weather dataset to help support AI-driven weather forecasting.

He wants to see that data used to improve forecasting models and other products for predicting paths of storms, wildfires and other events. Franklin is joining Sen. Brian Schatz, a Hawaii Democrat, on the bipartisan bill.

“As devastating weather events continue to threaten lives, homes, and communities across the country, the need for faster, more accurate forecasting is critical,” said Franklin, Chair of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee’s Environment Subcommittee.

“The TAME Extreme Weather and Wildfires Act leverages emerging AI technologies to enhance forecasting systems and bolster disaster preparedness. By encouraging American innovation and uniting the efforts of the federal government, academia and the private sector, our bill ensures we can respond swiftly to natural disasters here at home without relying on foreign data. I’m pleased to join Sen. Schatz in leading this bipartisan effort to protect Americans and modernize our national weather capabilities.”

Deterring arms dealers

Gang violence continues to destabilize the country of Haiti. Now, the only Haitian American currently serving in Congress wants the U.S. to stop gun runners from trafficking weapons to the island.

Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick filed the Caribbean Anti-Smuggling of Trafficked Arms (CAST) Act, which would require a Defense Department report on how best to combat illicit firearms trafficking in the region. This would expand on the mandate of the Joint Interagency Task Force South.

“Weapons trafficking by way of the United States is a major contributor to crime in the Caribbean and Haiti’s growing gang crisis, driving the ongoing instability that plagues the country,” the Miramar Democrat said. “All potential options must be on the table to effectively curtail the flow of arms. Our nation’s national security depends on it.”

Cherfilus-McCormick filed the bill with Rep. Wesley Bell, a Missouri Democrat.

About 49% of Haitians living in the U.S. reside in Florida.

Ecuadoran partnership

According to the Pew Research Center, about 10% of Ecuadorians in the U.S. also reside in Florida, and South Florida’s lawmakers have remained focused on relations with the South American nation.

Three Republican lawmakers in Miami-Dade County — Reps. Mario Díaz-Balart, Carlos Giménez and María Elvira Salazar — commended Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa for recent partnerships in enforcing the law in the Western Hemisphere.

“We commend President Daniel Noboa’s leadership and continued commitment to advancing regional security and stability. Under his administration, Ecuador has become a valued partner in combating transnational drug trafficking, countering Communist China’s malign influence, and addressing the illegal and damaging fishing activities near the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador,” the statement reads.

“As the people of Ecuador prepare to cast their votes in this crucial election on Sunday, April 13, it is imperative that Ecuador continue strengthening its democratic institutions and deepening its commitment to transparency and the rule of law. We look forward to our countries continuing to expand our defense and security cooperation, which will enhance joint efforts to address critical challenges in the region while upholding our shared democratic values.”

TPS hopes

Recent decisions to cancel or limit temporary protected status for several communities concentrated in South Florida significantly roiled immigrant communities there. Salazar hopes to convince the Trump administration to change course.

The Coral Gables Republican sent a letter directly to the President urging him to offer Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) status for immigrants in the U.S. from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela who were legally paroled here.

“We must protect the promises made to the people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela with both compassion and security in mind,” Salazar said. “These countries are plagued by communist, repressive dictatorships and gang violence. While we restore law and order here at home, DED will allow us to vet these individuals thoroughly, deport those who don’t qualify, and uphold America’s legacy as a beacon of hope.”

Of course, Trump campaigned on heavily restricting immigration, and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller has openly pushed for ending the parole programs since immediately after the election.

Game time

As the Miami area prepares for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, federal officials are focusing on keeping the state safe and secure.

In addition to Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel meeting with the soccer organization’s leadership about security, Giménez, as Chair of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security, held a hearing to keep travel in and around the U.S. safe.

“Beginning this Summer, the United States will step onto the global stage by hosting the FIFA Club World Cup,” Giménez said at a hearing this week. “This tournament will feature elite professional clubs from around the world, such as Real Madrid, Manchester City and Inter Miami FC, and will take place at select venues throughout the United States. This event will provide an early opportunity to stress-test our travel systems, infrastructure and security coordination ahead of ever more significant events on the horizon.

“In 2026, our country will host the FIFA World Cup with matches played by national teams in cities across the nation, and I am thrilled that this includes my home city of Miami. At the same time, we will celebrate America’s 250th anniversary in July 2026, followed by the Summer Olympics and Paralympics in Los Angeles in 2028. When I was Mayor of Miami-Dade County, I witnessed firsthand just how much planning and hard work goes into ensuring these major events run smoothly. As a member of Congress, I intend to do all I can to make sure these international events are safe for the millions of Americans and those traveling here who are planning on attending.”

While Giménez said national security must stay sharp at events like the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, he said the coming tournament was a pressing concern.

“I’m currently working on a bill that would take this a step further by creating a federal task force to focus on all major international events occurring in the U.S. over the next four years,” Giménez said. “That includes the World Cup, America’s 250th, and the 2028 Olympics. We need to make sure every agency involved is working together and that our policies and resources are aligned.”

On this day

April 11, 1865 — “War’s end: Abraham Lincoln gives final speech” via Smithsonian — A large crowd gathered again at the White House to celebrate Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox. President Lincoln had prepared an address. It was not triumphant but contained an earnest appeal for a “righteous and speedy peace whose joyous expression cannot be restrained.” He closed by broaching the issue of civil rights for the freedmen, declaring his support for at least a qualified suffrage for freedmen. John Wilkes Booth was in the crowd, and at these words, he seethed in anger that this meant citizenship for Blacks: “now, by God, I’ll put him through.”

April 11, 1970 — “Apollo 13 launches to the moon” via History.com — The third lunar landing mission was successfully launched from Cape Canaveral, carrying astronauts James Lovell, John Swigert and Fred Haise. The spacecraft’s destination was the Fra Mauro highlands of the moon, where the astronauts were to explore the Imbrium Basin and conduct geological experiments. After an oxygen tank exploded, however, the new mission objective became to get the Apollo 13 crew home alive. On April 13, Apollo 13 was just over 200,000 miles from Earth. Oxygen tank No. 2 had blown up, reducing the regular supply of oxygen, electricity, light, and water. Lovell reported to mission control: “Houston, we’ve had a problem here.”

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Happy birthday

Best wishes to Rep. Patronis, who turns 53 on Sunday, April 13.

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Peter Schorsch publishes Delegation, compiled by Jacob Ogles and edited and assembled by Phil Ammann and Ryan Nicol.

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