Whereas, December 11, 2025, marks the 25th anniversary of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP);

Whereas CERP is the landmark bipartisan blueprint for restoration of America’s Everglades and a multigenerational State-Federal partnership to restore and better regulate the natural southerly flow of water from Lake Okeechobee to Florida Bay;

Whereas CERP, one of the most ambitious ecosystem restoration efforts in history, was authorized by Congress in the Water Resources Development Act of 2000 as a framework to restore, preserve, and protect the South Florida ecosystem while also providing for other essential water-related needs, including water supply and flood protection;

Whereas WRDA remains the central legislative vehicle through which CERP and related Everglades restoration efforts receive Federal authorization for construction, reinforcing the importance of sustained congressional engagement to advance individual projects;

Whereas CERP’s implementation has been advanced through multiple administrations, including those of Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden, reflecting an enduring national commitment to restoring and protecting America’s Everglades;

Whereas Florida’s partnership in CERP has likewise been sustained across successive gubernatorial administrations, including those of Governors Jeb Bush, Charlie Crist, Rick Scott, and Ron DeSantis, underscoring the longstanding State commitment to Everglades restoration and water quality;

Whereas restoring the Everglades protects drinking water for millions of Floridians, supports a vast regional clean water economy, and helps address the harmful impacts of altered freshwater flows affecting connected waters and estuaries;

Whereas restoring and protecting the Everglades also strengthens Florida’s resilience to saltwater intrusion, extreme storms, and flooding, thereby safeguarding homes, schools, businesses, and critical infrastructure;

Whereas the Everglades environmental and economic importance is nationally significant, and The Everglades Foundation has estimated that the Everglades provides approximately $1,000,000,000,000 in value to the State of Florida and the Nation;

Whereas measurable progress during the first quarter century of restoration includes major advances such as the Kissimmee River restoration, Herbert Hoover Dike improvements, and Tamiami Trail bridging, and continued work, including the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir, is central to achieving CERP’s long-term goals; and

Whereas continued, timely Federal and State investments in planning, construction, science, and monitoring are necessary to keep CERP projects on schedule, meet milestones and deadlines, and fully realize the promise of the plan: Now, therefore, be it