The U.S. House Appropriations Committee demonstrated support for Everglades restoration by supporting President Obama's Everglades budget request for the Department of Interior.

This bill approved included language that “[f]unding is provided at the request level for the multi-year effort to preserve one of the great ecological treasures of the United States.”  This includes construction funding for the Tamiami Trail one mile bridge and control of invasive exotic species. The Interior Appropriations Committee noted the substantial progress that has been made over the past two years for Everglades restoration.  Six projects have started construction during this time, from Picayune Strand, restoring 55,000 acres of wetlands and Florida Panther habitat in Collier County, to the C-111 Spreader Canal project, which will restore critically needed freshwater flows to Florida Bay to support populations of Roseate Spoonbills.

This level of support is even more important in light of the cuts targeted toward Everglades funding by the Committee that funds the Army Corps of Engineers.  Audubon applauds those Interior appropriators who “continue to fully support this important national program.”