Kendrick Meek: “I am from Florida, and I rise in support of the Everglades Restoration Plan and funding to make it a reality. The State…”

“I am from Florida, and I rise in support of the Everglades Restoration Plan and funding to make it a reality. The State of Florida has lost 46 percent of its wetlands and 50 percent of its historic Everglades ecosystem. Fifty years ago, the Federal Government established the Everglades National Park, but simultaneously a series of canals, levees and other flood-control structures constructed by the Southern and Central Florida Project disrupted the life blood flow of water to the Everglades. Clean fresh water was cut off from the Everglades. In addition, 68 plant and animal species have become threatened or endangered with extinction. The Everglades Restudy we are looking at now, Mr. Speaker, presents us with a very bold road map to undo the damage that has occurred during the last 50 years. It sets forth an extremely challenging agenda to restore the hydrology of the Everglades. It is a beautiful river of grass, and I am sure everyone in this country wants to see it restored. We want to meet the needs of both urban and the farming industry, as well as the needs of the natural ecosystem. Restoration of the Everglades ecosystem will yield long-lasting human and environmental benefits to us all. By funding this plan, Mr. Speaker, we can restore this Everglades ecosystem.”