White House backs push for $200M in Everglades funding
At the request of Congressman Mast and several other Florida legislators, the President has transmitted a revised budget request to Congress (in addition to his tweet yesterday), which includes $200 million for Everglades restoration (the level previously requested by the Congressman and a bipartisan delegation of Florida members).
That’s more than triple the $63 million Trump requested in a budget proposal in March. The new figure would be more in line with what Florida’s governor and lawmakers have said is necessary annually. Trump tweeted Monday that his administration “will be fighting for $200 million” and that “Congress needs to help us complete the world’s largest intergovernmental watershed restoration project ASAP!
“When I talked with the President at Lake Okeechobee, we discussed how critical this money is for the Everglades, as well as to stop discharges and harmful algal blooms. Delay is not an option because our communities and the Everglades are literally dying. With the White House on our team, working together, I’m confident we can get this done!” Congressman Brian Mast said.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers serves as the lead federal agency for restoring the Everglades. It does planning, design and construction in partnership with the South Florida Water Management District.
