The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan has been many years in the making. In the 1970s, the State of Florida began looking at the adverse impacts the Central and South Florida project was having on the Everglades.
Under the leadership of my current colleague from Florida, Senator Graham, who was Governor Graham in the early 1980s, the Governor's Save Our Everglades Program recognized that the health of the entire ecosystem was in jeopardy and that efforts were needed to protect and restore it. Ever since, he has worked tirelessly to get to the point where we find ourselves today - that is, having a comprehensive plan that will restore this valuable ecosystem.
The Everglades is a national treasure, and I know, it holds a particularly special place in the hearts of Senator Graham.
Like most plans, the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan isn't perfect and everyone didn't get everything they wanted. But the Administration, under the leadership of the Corps of Engineers and with the cooperation of the Department of the Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency are to be commended for bringing all of the effected parties to the table to develop a plan that can work for all of them - the State of Florida and the ecosystem.
I thank our witnesses for the time and energy they have put into the Everglades restoration effort. I look forward to hearing from them today and to working with the Chairman to move this plan forward.