Congressmen Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) and Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Co-Chairmen of the Congressional Everglades Caucus, led Members of the Caucus in sending a bipartisan letter to President Donald Trump requesting that he allocate $250 million for Everglades Restoration projects in his FY2021 budget request to Congress. Joining Hastings and Diaz-Balart in signing the letter include: Reps. Lois Frankel (D-FL), Brian Mast (R-FL), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Francis Rooney (R-FL), Donna Shalala (D-FL), John H. Rutherford (R-FL), Charlie Crist (D-FL), Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-FL), Stephanie Murphy (D-FL). (Please find a copy of the letter below and attached):
 

January 31, 2020

The Honorable Donald J. Trump
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
 
Dear President Trump:
 
We write as members of the Everglades Caucus to express our appreciation for your continued commitment to Everglades restoration. Thankfully, funding in recent years has allowed for expedited completion of critical restoration projects. To keep the momentum going, we respectfully request that in your upcoming budget you allocate $250 million under the Army Corps of Engineers construction account for South Florida Ecosystem Restoration.
 
The Everglades is a natural treasure, one of the true ecological wonders of the world, and further efforts to preserve this unique ecosystem will prove imperative to its long-term viability. The Everglades is central to Florida’s economy; its biodiversity an environmental marvel, indeed the Everglades National Park is home to one of the world’s largest wetlands. In addition, we cannot forget that eight million Floridians rely on the Everglades for their drinking water. Whether it be support for the expedited completion of the Herbert Hoover Dike or amending your request level to reflect the needs of our State, you have shown your strong commitment to these important issues. With this in mind, we ask that you join us in building upon these successes for the people of Florida.
 
We look forward to continuing to work with you to advance vital Everglades restoration projects. By allocating $250 million, you would ensure that the Army Corps of Engineers has the resources it needs to do just that.
 
Sincerely,
 
Alcee L. Hastings
Member of Congress

Mario Diaz-Balart
Member of Congress

Lois Frankel
Member of Congress

Brian Mast
Member of Congress

Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Member of Congress

Francis Rooney
Member of Congress

Donna Shalala
Member of Congress

John H. Rutherford
Member of Congress

Charlie Crist
Member of Congress

Stephanie Murphy
Member of Congress
 

Congressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Vice-Chairman of the House Rules Committee, Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation.

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