Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart | Official U.S. House headshot
Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart | Official U.S. House headshot
Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart, a senior member of the House Committee on Appropriations, has announced the passage of H.R. 4821, the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2024. In a statement, Díaz-Balart emphasized the importance of the continued restoration of the Everglades for the ecosystem and local economy in Florida.
Díaz-Balart commended Chairwoman Granger and Subcommittee Chairman Simpson for their work in reining in the spending and "woke" policies of the Biden Administration. He also highlighted the bill's success in securing American taxpayer dollars for the restoration of U.S. energy security, public safety, and Everglades preservation.
The bill includes several provisions that promote conservative wins and address critical issues. It prohibits funds to promote or advance Critical Race Theory and prohibits funds for the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Additionally, it prevents the EPA from imposing burdensome regulations on farmers using rodenticides and expands access to critical minerals. The bill also requires the Secretary of the Interior to conduct quarterly onshore oil and gas lease sales and mandates oil and gas lease sales in the Central and Western Gulf of Mexico Planning Areas and the Alaska region.
Díaz-Balart, as the founder and co-chair of the Congressional Everglades Caucus, successfully included various items in the legislation to support the Everglades restoration efforts. These include $11.6 million for the Everglades Restoration Project, $10 million for the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge Conservation Area, $1.465 million for Big Cypress National Preserve, $41 million for the National Estuary Program, $72.6 million for the State and Tribal Wildlife Grant Program, $8.5 million for the South Florida Geographic Program, $16 million for addressing water quality and harmful algal blooms, and $1 million for expanding water quality and ecosystem health monitoring and prediction network in South Florida.
Díaz-Balart emphasized the importance of these investments in preserving and restoring the Everglades, safeguarding coastal areas, protecting the state's ecosystem, and ensuring clean drinking water supply in Florida. He also highlighted the economic benefits that restoration and operations funding bring to the state.
In addition to the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, Díaz-Balart secured funding for the Everglades in the FY24 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. This included $425 million for Everglades restoration and $6.3 million for the Corp of Engineers Operation and Maintenance Regional Sediment Management, which will enhance coastal resilience in Florida and nationally.
Díaz-Balart's efforts in securing additional funding for the Everglades demonstrate his commitment to preserving and restoring this vital ecosystem. The passage of these bills marks significant progress in protecting Florida's environment and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the Everglades for future generations.
For additional details, please follow this link: https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/diaz-balart-secures-additional-everglades-funding-interior-environment
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