America's Everglades Goes to Washington: A Recap of Our June 2026 D.C. Week

June 12, 2026 The Everglades Foundation brought dozens of partners, board members, and clean water advocates to Washington, D.C. for a powerful two days of celebration and conversation in support of America's Everglades. From a memorable evening at the National Archives Museum to a full day of meetings on Capitol Hill, the message remains clear: Everglades Restoration Is Working — and It's Worth It.

National Archives Celebration

On Tuesday evening, Everglades supporters gathered for the America's Everglades Dinner, held in one of the most iconic settings in our nation's capital, the National Archives Museum, home to the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

With America's 250th anniversary of independence on the horizon, the evening carried a special sense of significance. Guests dined in the presence of our founding documents and enjoyed a keynote conversation between CEO Eric Eikenberg and Deputy White House Chief of Staff James Blair. A native Floridian, Blair shared his perspective on the importance of America's Everglades and the continued federal commitment to restoration. The evening concluded with closing remarks by U.S. Representative Brian Mast, who reinforced the strong Congressional support behind Everglades restoration.

2026 America's Everglades Champion Awards

This year, The Everglades Foundation was also proud to present the 2026 America's Everglades Champion Award to two longtime Everglades supporters whose bipartisan leadership has been instrumental in moving restoration forward. U.S. Representative Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), the Dean of Florida's Congressional delegation and Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), a Senior Member of the House Appropriations Committee and its Energy and Water subcommittees, were recognized for their bipartisan leadership in helping secure billions of dollars in critical restoration funding.

Hill Day Advocacy

On Wednesday morning, the energy from the dinner carried right into Capitol Hill. Following a breakfast briefing, 75 advocates fanned out across the Senate and House office buildings for a full day of meetings with members of Congress and their staff from across the country and from both sides of the aisle.

The teams met with dozens of elected officials and their staff, celebrating the historic bipartisan support behind restoring and protecting the source of drinking water for millions and a trillion-dollar economic asset. The message on the Hill was simple and resounding: Restoration is working, and it's worth it.

Thank You

The Everglades Foundation is grateful for the dedication of our board members, partners, sponsors, and the entire coalition of Everglades advocates who traveled to Washington to make their voices heard. We thank our generous event sponsors, including Crawford Taylor Foundation, the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, NextEra, Amazon, TECO, Florida International University, Ducks Unlimited, Orvis, and the National Wildlife Federation.

From the halls of the National Archives to the halls of Congress, this week reminded us that the movement to restore America's Everglades is stronger than ever. Together, we can be the generation that restores the Everglades.

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