WASHINGTON, D.C. –– Today, Everglades Caucus Co-Chairs, Representatives Mario Diaz-Balart (R-25) and Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL), along with Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) sent a bipartisan, bicameral letter from the Florida Congressional delegation to President Joe Biden requesting that he include $725 million for Everglades restoration in his inaugural budget proposal for the Fiscal Year 2022.
Read the full letter here. "I'm proud to once again lead this letter with my colleague, Rep. Alcee Hastings, asking the Administration to include $725 million for Everglades restoration projects in the FY22 budget proposal,"said Diaz-Balart."Creating awareness and securing federal funding for Everglades restoration and conservation efforts has always been a top priority for me as co-chair and co-founder of the House Everglades Caucus. The Everglades is a national treasure and utterly vital to Florida's economy and ecosystem. We must continue doing all we can to ensure the preservation of this unique ecosystem, and this funding would go a long way towards that goal."
"Public health and our economy has been ravaged by a global pandemic and economic downturn.Our State would greatly benefit from this infusion of funding to recover and become more resilient in the face of future crises. Everglades restoration provides the ideal model for the benefits of investing in these conservation and infrastructure projects as laid out in the Administration's plan to revitalize and maintain a more reliable American labor economy through long-term and comprehensive land restoration and green infrastructure,"said Hastings."In addition to the direct benefits to Florida's communities and economy, restoration and preservation of America's largest sub-tropical wilderness is vital to the health of the ecosystem, biodiversity, and climate resiliency. I am proud to be working with my Caucus Co-Chair, Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, to call on Congress to deliver these resources that will enable optimal benefits to our communities and natural systems."
Joining Diaz-Balart, Hastings, and Rubio on the letter include (25): Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Brian Mast (R-FL), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Michael Waltz (R-FL), John Rutherford (R-FL), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), Bill Posey (R-FL), Al Lawson (D-FL), W. Gregory Steube (R-FL), Carlos A. Gimenez (R-FL), Neal P. Dunn M.D. (R-FL), Charlie Crist (D-FL), Byron Donalds (R-FL), Darren Soto (D-FL), Kat Cammack (R-FL), Vern Buchanan (R-FL),Kathy Castor (D-FL), Frederica S. Wilson (D-FL), Val B. Demings (D-FL), Daniel Webster (R-FL), and Scott Franklin (R-FL).