REP. FRANKEL RESPONDS TO CRITICS OF PRESIDENT BIDEN'S EVERGLADES FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT

Press Release

Today, Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21) released the following statement in response to Republican Members criticizing the White House's announcement of $1.1 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to Everglades restoration--the largest allocation the project has ever received.

"We should be celebrating this historic win for Florida instead of trying to score political points for criticizing the President," said Rep. Frankel. "Everglades restoration is a complex, comprehensive plan that includes over 60 projects over a 35-year time span. Each completed project is a step toward restoring this unique ecosystem that provides drinking water for more than one-third of all Floridians, is home to hundreds of endangered plant and animal species, and is a critical driver of tourism and economic activity for our state. It's the height of hypocrisy for Republican Members who voted against this bill to then criticize this historic investment."

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes $11.6 billion for Army Corps of Engineers construction projects, $1.1 billion of which will be going toward Everglades restoration. This funding is on top of the historic $350 million set aside for the project in the Fiscal Year 2022 Energy and Water Appropriations bill. The state of Florida also contributes regularly to these efforts.

As a member of the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water, along with Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23), Rep. Frankel has been a leading advocate for Everglades restoration funding.

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