House bill would fund Everglades restoration

 

The Everglades would get $183.4 million for restoration work this year under a spending bill unveiled today by House Democrats.

Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a member of the Appropriations Committee, said the funds would “go a long way toward fulfilling the federal government’s commitment to help restore the Everglades. These funds will also help provide construction-related jobs for Floridians at a time of real economic need.”

The Everglades money is tucked into a sweeping $410-billion “omnibus’’ spending bill released today by the committee. Wasserman Schultz’ staff said the House will consider the bill as early as Wednesday, with the Senate likely to take up its version next week.

The federal government has poured millions into preliminary work in the Everglades but has yet to meet its commitment to pay half the costs for construction under a comprehensive restoration plan. The state, already paying for construction, plans to cover the other half.

The House bill would provide funding for the current fiscal year ending in September. Funding for this fiscal year had been long delayed because of disagreements in Congress along party lines.

Everglades proponents also hope to get restoration funding through the economic-recovery bill that Obama signed into law.

The $183.4 million for the Everglades includes $123.4 million for projects carried out by the Army Corps of Engineers, including work on Picayune Strand in Collier County and the Indian River Lagoon in Martin County.

It also includes $60 million through the Department of Interior for a Modified Waters Deliveries Project, which is designed to allow a more natural waterflow across the Tamiami Trail in Miami-Dade County into Everglades National Park.