After U.S. Representative Patrick E. Murphy (FL-18) successfully advocated for the inclusion of $38 million for the C-44 Indian River Lagoon project in the President's budget proposal earlier this year, he then took the fight to Congress, soliciting input from constituents as to the importance of securing this full funding request to improve the health of the St. Lucie River and Indian River Lagoon. Taking over 600 testimonials from Treasure Coast-Palm Beach residents and sharing them with House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Nita Lowey and Energy and Water Subcommittee Ranking Member Marcy Kaptur, Murphy educated these Committee leaders on both the plight of our waterways as well as the importance of this funding to the health of the local environment and economy. Following this continued advocacy on behalf of the Treasure Coast and Palm Beaches, Murphy is proud to announce the passage by the House Appropriations Committee of the Energy and Water Development appropriations bill for fiscal year 2015, including $65.5 million in funding for Everglades restoration projects.
Due to a Congressional ban on earmarks, if this full amount of funding for Everglades projects is passed by Congress, the President's budget is the guideline of how this overall funding will be dispersed among projects, with the C-44 project prioritized at an amount of $38 million. The passage of this bill with this full top-line Everglades funding amount out of Committee now allows it to move into the next stage of approval by the full House.
"It was a major win for our waterways when the President prioritized $38 million in funding for the C-44 Indian River Lagoon project in his budget request earlier this year. But we knew that our work was not done until Congress also passed a funding measure that including the $65.5 million requested for Everglades restoration efforts, including our local waterways project," said Murphy. "With the help of the community, I took hundreds of testimonials highlighting not only the crisis that has been taking place in our waterways but how the health of the river and lagoon are integral parts of our local economy and entire way of life. When the Committee included the full Everglades amount in this year's funding measure yesterday, it was clear that they heard our cries. As an active and united community, we will continue to make our voices heard, calling on Congress to swiftly pass this critical funding measure with $65.5 million for Everglades restoration efforts so that our local C-44 Indian River Lagoon project gets the funding it needs to continue moving forward."
Once completed, C-44 Indian River Lagoon South Project will reduce the harm to the St. Lucie River and Indian River Lagoon by providing water storage and treatment areas. Currently the first phase of C-44, the most vital component of the Indian River Lagoon South project, is under construction. Funding for this project to move forward into its next and most important phase is especially crucial and the commitment from the Administration marks the first funding for phase 2 of this critical project, allowing it to continue moving forward. (Click here to read more about this funding commitment).
Click here to learn more about the Congressman's advocacy for this funding.
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