Everglades Restoration & the Environment
Restoring the Everglades and Protecting America's Open Spaces
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Floridians understand better than most how important preserving our environment is to both our economic health and to our quality of life. As your Senator, I will continue my unwavering commitment to protecting the environment that I have demonstrated in the U.S. House.
The Florida Everglades are a national treasure, but they have been allowed to degrade from years of abuse and neglect. I’m proud to be a leader in the bipartisan effort to ensure that the necessary resources and funds are available to restore the Everglades to their natural beauty. Colleagues and environmentalists have lauded our efforts to date, but there is still much more work to be done.
In Congress, I fought hard for the $8 billion Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) to continue without further delay, including the so-called “8.5 square mile area” (located on the eastern fringe of the Everglades) in the plan. Considered by scientists as crucial to the restoration and flood protection of the overall plan, this area's transfer to the U.S. Army Corps has been held up in court. It is time for Congress to break this impasse and get this project moving.
CERP is the largest ecosystem restoration plan in the world, and keeping the coalition together to make this plan work isn’t easy or without controversy. But I believe that, in Florida, the economy is the environment. If there is any place where we need to manage the two together, this is it./p>
The Everglades aren’t the only component of Florida’s environment that needs our help, however. In 2000, I sponsored the Florida Keys Water Quality Act. This legislation, now law, authorizes $100 million in projects for the Florida Keys to improve planning, design, and construction for water treatment.
In the Senate, I’ll continue to be a leader in advocating for Florida’s environment, opposing drilling off the Florida coast, promoting farmland conservation, and protecting America’s open spaces from development.
And my advocacy for the environment won’t end at our state line. As your Senator:
- I’ll oppose irresponsible attempts to strip our national forests under an ill-advised plan supported by the Bush Administration.
- I’ll fight attempts to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to drilling and support a responsible national energy strategy that emphasizes better conservation and alternative energy sources.
- And I’ll work to protect and further enhance our national park system and expand protection for open spaces to preserve the rich natural heritage of our country for generations to come.
My record on the environment speaks for itself. During the 107th Congress, I was proud to receive a 95% rating from the League of Conservation Voters. As your Senator, I’ll continue to fight passionately for a clean and safe environment for Floridians and for all Americans.