The U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee earlier this week passed the 2020 Energy and Water Appropriations bill, which was amended to include $200 million in funding for Everglades restoration.
“The federal government, in the last century, manipulated Florida’s water to bring it to where it wasn’t wanted and now we don’t get the water to where it is needed in the Everglades. As a result, the Everglades is dying, our communities are getting killed by harmful discharges and Florida’s public health is being severely threatened,” U.S. Congressman Brian Mast said.
“Congress committed itself to a solution to this problem back in 2000 when it authorized the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, but since then the federal government has failed to live up to its commitment. I won’t allow that to continue. We are going to make this historic commitment to Everglades restoration because this funding is what we need to reverse this man-made, environmental and public health disaster.”
The appropriation had been recommended by environmental groups, members of the Florida congressional delegation and, most recently, President Donald Trump.
The money for USACE is part of this year’s Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, which is expected to go to the full House in June for consideration, either on its own or as part of a larger appropriation.