The U.S. Senate is poised to pass minibus H.R. 1865 containing $200 million in FY2020 for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Program to implement Everglades restoration. This minibus is a product of bipartisan, bicameral negotiations.

“This is outstanding, and we would like to thank our Florida Congressional Delegation for really pulling together for America’s Everglades, with special thanks to our Florida appropriators: Senator Marco Rubio, and Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Lois Frankel, Charlie Christ, Mario Diaz-Balart, and John Rutherford,” said Audubon Florida Director of Everglades Policy Celeste De Palma about today’s vote. “$200 million from Congress in FY20 will really go a long way with the more than $200 million that Florida is bringing to the table. We have projects ready to go. This is the level of commitment needed to bring the wind back into our sails and move restoration full speed ahead.”

The domestic priorities and international assistance appropriations minibus H.R. 1865 reflects conference agreements for eight appropriations bills: Labor-Health and Human Services-Education, Agriculture, Energy and Water Development, Interior-Environment, Legislative Branch, Military Construction-Veterans Affairs, State-Foreign Operations, and Transportation-Housing and Urban Development. Everglades restoration construction funding is part of the Energy and Water Development bill. Today’s Senate vote sends the measure directly to President Trump for his signature.

“We look forward to the President signing this budget into law and immediately focusing on the FY21 budget. This base level appropriation must be sustained into the future to deliver the results so desperately needed by the people of Florida and our cherished birds and wildlife,” concluded De Palma.

Audubon protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow.