Everglades FY25 Appropriations Letter
May 14th, 2024The Honorable Patty Murray Chair
Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies
Senate Appropriations Committee
154 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510The Honorable John Kennedy
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies
Senate Appropriations Committee
188 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510Chair Murray and Ranking Member Kennedy:
The undersigned recreational fishing and boating community members, conservation organizations, and
maritime and angling businesses are committed to protecting and restoring America’s Everglades. We
appreciate the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies and the
Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies’ long-time support for Everglades
restoration and look forward to continuing to work with you to advance vital Everglades and other critical
watershed restoration and improvement projects in the FY25 appropriations bills. Together, through
robust funding for the programs outlined below, you can play a vital role in ensuring that the Everglades
is preserved as a unique ecosystem for all Americans to enjoy while also helping to create sustainable
jobs.
Congress has made historic investments to advance Everglades restoration projects, increasing federal
funding for the Army Corps of Engineers’ South Florida Ecosystem Restoration (SFER) Program to $425
million in FY24, with well over $2B in total Federal funding dedicated to Everglades restoration over the
past 4 years. America’s hunters, anglers, and recreational boaters are grateful for the bipartisan support
for the Everglades and these landmark investments.
We have a unique opportunity to see the biggest ecosystem benefits of Everglades restoration actualized,
with some of the largest and most important Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP)
projects underway. The Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir is the keystone project for CERP
and the Army Corps recently broke ground on the reservoir with construction scheduled to be completed
in 2030. To complete the EAA Reservoir and keep pace with state investments, Congress should
significantly increase funding for Army Corps Everglades restoration efforts over the coming years. Such
an investment would allow the Corps to accelerate construction of already-authorized Everglades
restoration projects to protect drinking water supplies, enhance wildlife habitat, create thousands of jobs,
and provide a much-needed boost to Florida’s tourism, real estate, and outdoor economy. Additionally,
according to the federal government’s own estimates, investing more federal dollars now will save
American taxpayers over $2 billion on the overall cost of Everglades restoration.
To keep pace with state investments, sustain this cost-saving approach, and create conservation-
oriented jobs, we request that the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related
Agencies appropriate no less than $725 million for SFER in FY25. Annually funding SFER at this
amount would allow the Army Corps of Engineers to execute contracts for authorized projects on the
CERP Integrated Delivery Schedule. These funding levels would not only lead to timely completion of
Everglades restoration projects, but to the creation of over 65,000 jobs, per USACE Jacksonville’s
estimates.
Recreational fishing and boating have a $23.3 billion economic footprint in Florida and support over
92,211 jobs, and the beating heart of that outdoor recreation economy is the Everglades system. Now
more than ever, it is critical that we invest in the restoration of this system and, in turn, provide a boost to
this unique and vibrant economy. Your continued support and commitment to the Everglades will ensure
a bright future for Florida’s outdoor recreation industry and the millions of anglers and boaters from
around the world who visit this iconic and productive location. We look forward to working with you to
restore and conserve one of America’s most unique and diverse ecosystems.
Sincerely,
Angler Action Foundation
The American Fly Fishing Trade Association
American Sportfishing Association
B.A.S.S.
Bonefish and Tarpon Trust
Captains for Clean Water
Coastal Conservation Association
Guy Harvey Foundation
International Game Fish Association
National Marine Manufacturers Association
Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership