Everglades Restoration Act Will Protect National Treasure

Environmental Defense today praised passage by the US House of the Everglades Restoration Act as part of the Water Resources Development Act of 2000. The Senate passed the measure yesterday.

“Today Congress showed that people across the country share a great commitment to restoring the Everglades,” said Environmental Defense attorney Tim Searchinger. “It’s a huge step. But no one should underestimate the challenge ahead, and the potential of powerful special interests to turn the plan into one that favors them and not the environment. At every stage of the project, the public must demand to know how each new dollar will contribute to saving the Everglades.”

Environmental Defense at the same time criticized the Water Resources Development Act for failing to include measures to reform the Army Corps of Engineers. “We regret that Congress enacted no meaningful reforms of the Army Corps of Engineers after a year of disclosures of rampant abuses,” said Searchinger. “But we are pleased that Senator Bob Smith refused to accept some of the provisions pushed by the House that would have further subsidized wasteful port expansions and flood control projects at great environmental cost. We are pleased that Senator Smith has promised to focus on reforms next year, and we look forward to working with him.”