Bill Nelson, U.S. Senator from Florida: Published Column: Federal commitment to Everglades remains strong

As we bid farewell to 2004 and enter the New Year, I'm pleased to report that the federal government's commitment to restoring the Everglades remains strong.

While much work remains in the coming years to complete the revival of this critical ecosystem, I remain confident Congress will continue its steady march toward meeting restoration goals.

But, one can't begin to discuss Everglades accomplishments made during the recently completed 108th Congress without first acknowledging the long-time restoration efforts of state's retiring senior U.S. Senator, Bob Graham.

It has been a great pleasure of mine to work along side Bob the past four years in the Senate on issues vital to the Everglades. His two-decades of leadership and commitment, in Washington and Tallahassee, to our beloved "river of grass" will long be remembered.

With Graham's departure comes the January swearing-in of his successor, former U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary and Orange County Commission Chairman, Mel Martinez. I'm pleased to welcome Senator-elect Martinez to the Senate and our Everglades team.

There's not a piece of daylight between us on this key Florida issue and I'm confident we'll work together along with other members of the state's congressional delegation to continue to achieve the goals crucial for Everglades restoration.

Meanwhile, I'm pleased to report the Congress, during its recently completed session, passed the C-111 land exchange bill sponsored by Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart in the House of Representatives and Bob Graham and I in the Senate. The C-111 canal separates the Everglades from surrounding agricultural lands.

This bill authorizes the South Florida Water Management District and Everglades National Park to exchange lands in the southeastern Everglades to allow for the construction of a project that will restore fresh water flows to Taylor Slough and eastern Everglades National Park while maintaining flood control.

Another key development in the 108th Congress was the completion of Army Corps of Engineers final project implementation reports for the Indian River Lagoon and the Picayune Strand restoration efforts, paving the way for Congress to begin funding approvals for the projects.

While the Senate included funding authorizations for these restoration efforts in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2004, the Congress failed to pass the measure before adjoining for the year.

A key priority in the up coming 109th Congress will be to focus our efforts on passing resolutions in the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to allow us to seek appropriations for the Indian River Lagoon and Picayune Strand restoration projects.

Additional Everglades restoration priorities in the 109th Congress include funding for pilot projects and construction efforts. Although we received just $75 million in construction dollars for the Central and South Florida Project for FY 2005, $10 million less than our request, work will continue on this project. Implementation of Acceler8 will be another important key component to further the progress of restoration efforts in the upcoming year.

Despite the challenges recent federal budget constraints, urban sprawl, rising land prices, agricultural and urban runoff continue to pose to our restoration efforts, we've continued to successfully uphold the federal government's commitment to restoring the Everglades. And by working together in the coming year, as we have in the past, I see no reason why we shouldn't expect to achieve our restoration goals for 2005 and beyond.

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is a member of the Senate's Aging, Armed Services, Budget, Commerce and Foreign Relations committees.

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