Rubio: Biden Administration Shortchanges Florida Infrastructure

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) released a statement regarding the Biden Administration's decision to shortchange Florida infrastructure funding in newly released allocations. Although the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced $1.098 billion in construction funding for South Florida Ecosystem Restoration, which falls far short of the $1.5 billion Rubio and Senator Rick Scott (R-FL), along with bipartisan members of the Florida congressional delegation, requested in December 2021.

"No one should be surprised that President Joe Biden is shortchanging Florida," Rubio said. "His administration turned its back on Florida from the very beginning. It started with rationing critical life-saving medical treatments and sending illegal immigrants to our cities, and now it comes in the form of inadequate funding for a bipartisan priority."

"Of particular concern, the Army Corps did not allocate a single dollar for the construction of the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir," Rubio continued. "The EAA Reservoir is the single most important Everglades restoration project for reducing harmful discharges and sending more water south, and delays are mounting under President Biden's control of the Army Corps."

"I will continue to work with my colleagues -- Republicans and Democrats alike -- to expedite the completion of Everglades restoration and make sure Florida taxpayers are not sending their dollars to vanity projects in other states," Rubio concluded.

Additional Background:

Rubio "has become the national park's most vigorous champion in the Senate," the New York Times editorial board wrote in March 2021.

"Senator Rubio has spearheaded a number of actions that have helped to limit the impacts of the state's algal bloom epidemic," the American Conservation Coalition wrote in 2018.

"Throughout his entire tenure in the U.S. Senate, Rubio has been a fierce advocate for Everglades restoration and investment in water infrastructure projects … [He] is leading the fight to reduce the impacts of algal blooms on Florida's citizens, wildlife, and economy."

Thanks to Senator Marco Rubio's efforts, Everglades restoration is finally making real progress after decades of delay.

In 2016, Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe, then chairman of a critical Senate committee, wrote in the Miami Herald that his opposition to federal funding for Everglades restoration "has since changed, largely in part to my friend and colleague Sen. Marco Rubio."

Rubio has used every tool at his disposal to secure approval for the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP). Rubio was also able to pass congressional authorization to modify CEPP and construct the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Storage Reservoir to reduce Lake Okeechobee discharges to coastal communities, as well as improve water supply to Everglades National Park and Florida Bay.

As a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Rubio has secured funding for critical Everglades restoration projects. In 2019, Rubio secured $200 million in fiscal year (FY) 2020 federal appropriations for Everglades restoration. Working with President Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and the Florida Congressional Delegation, Rubio ensured the President's FY 2021 budget contained a record $250 million request for Everglades restoration, and Rubio delivered on the appropriations. Working with key stakeholders, Rubio then urged President Biden to include $725 million for Everglades restoration efforts in his forthcoming Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 budget.

Audubon Florida gave a "special thank you" to Rubio for his "strong commitment to Everglades restoration" and honored him with Audubon's 2019 Champion of the Everglades Award.

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