PALMETTO BAY, Fla. (May 14th, 2019) – Eric Eikenberg, CEO of The Everglades Foundation, has issued the following statement applauding announcements by President Donald Trump and the stalwart support of Florida’s Congressional Delegation to approve $200 million in funding to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for Everglades restoration:
“Yesterday afternoon, the president tweeted: ‘My administration will be fighting for $200 million for the Army Corps Everglades restoration work this year. Congress needs to help us complete the world’s largest intergovernmental watershed restoration project ASAP! Good for Florida and good for the environment.’ “The President’s statement of support is a significant development for Everglades restoration: the first time that any president has spoken out in support of a specific funding level sufficient to get the job done.
“We are optimistic that the planets may finally be aligning for a sustained, $200 million level of funding for Everglades restoration. This funding level, on a continuous basis, will be sufficient to finally move forward with the Everglades Agricultural Area reservoir and other long-delayed restoration projects.
“We owe a debt of gratitude to Governor Ron DeSantis who has been making the case to the president about the need for robust Everglades restoration funding even before he was sworn in to office. We greatly appreciate the work of U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-23d), Lois Frankel (D-21st), Charlie Crist (D-13th), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-25th) and John Rutherford (R-4th), who serve on the Senate and House Appropriations Committees. They have been unflinching in their support for this sustained level of funding.” The Everglades also enjoys the strong support of U.S. Senator Rick Scott and the entire Florida Congressional Delegation.
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