Today, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that the Biden Administration would steer $1.1 billion in funding for Everglades restoration projects to South Florida, the largest-ever infusion of federal investment in restoring the famed River of Grass. The funding will be a massive investment in climate resiliency and the long-term viability of the state economy.

Washington D.C. – Today, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that the Biden Administration would steer $1.1 billion in funding for Everglades restoration projects to South Florida, the largest-ever infusion of federal investment in restoring the famed River of Grass. The funding will be a massive investment in climate resiliency and the long-term viability of the state economy.

“The Everglades is the lifeblood of South Florida, and this historic funding commitment by the Biden Administration will ensure we can much more aggressively move to restore and protect the natural sheet flow of water that is the largest environmental restoration project in American history. The Florida Everglades is a vital source of drinking water and essential to combat climate change and this massive infusion of funding will have the added benefit of creating more jobs,” said U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23), who spearheaded a bipartisan effort to secure major funding for the high priority restoration. “This is enormous news, and allows us to set a course for quicker completion of the world’s largest ecosystem restoration project. It will enable the construction of resilient and multi-benefit projects that will increase the carbon sequestration capacity of the ecosystem and protect our communities and local economies for generations to come.”

Wasserman Schultz, who co-chairs the Everglades Caucus with Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25), has been an avid advocate for the River of Grass throughout her career. Most recently, she co-led a letter signed by16 bipartisan Members of the Florida delegation to advocate for $1.5 billion of the total $1.9 billion allotted for the Corps’ Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration projects go toward South Florida Ecosystem Restoration.