Press Releases

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) secured $1.29 billion in federal funding in H.R. 6938, the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act of 2026. This includes $461 million for Everglades restoration and preservation secured by Wasserman Schultz. The combined bills now move to the Senate. 

“I’m so proud to secure $461 million in Everglades funding to continue this critical project to restore and protect our River of Grass. Since coming to Congress, I’ve proudly worked with my colleagues from Florida to secure record funds for this South Florida treasure, which protects drinking water for millions of families and businesses. It’s work that my Everglades Caucus Co-Chair Mario Diaz-Balart and fellow Appropriator Lois Frankel take tremendous pride in,” said Wasserman Schultz. “This year I was also able to request and secure $1.29 billion in vital funds and community projects that will benefit all of South Florida, from cutting-edge medical research, local water projects and algal bloom eradication, to keeping children safe from internet predators and helping homes remain weather resilient.” 

During the Biden Administration, Wasserman Schultz secured record investment in the Everglades. Today’s House funding victory is another historic step to continue this long-standing bipartisan spending and policy priority. 

“Nearly a third of Floridians rely on the Everglades for clean drinking water, which is why I will never give up the fight to fund its restoration and protection, and will never let it become a site for oil drilling,” said Wasserman Schultz.

In the House Energy & Water Appropriations Bill, Wasserman Schultz helped secure:

• $461M for Everglades Restoration through the U.S. Army Corps Construction Account;
• $12.7M for South Florida Ecosystem Restoration under the Corps’ Operation & Maintenance Account;
• $18.5M Central & Southern Florida under the Corps’ Operation & Maintenance Account;
• $8.5M for Harmful Algal Blooms;
• $14M for Coastal Ocean Data Systems at the Army Corps of Engineers; and
• $369M for weatherization funds at the Department of Energy.

• $33.5M for National Ocean Service’s Coral Reef Program;
• $80M for National Sea Grant College Program at the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research;
• $56M for the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) support disaster response, weather forecasting and hurricane prediction, forecasting of freshwater and marine water quality, detection of harmful algal blooms (HABs), and safe maritime operations; and
• $105M for Missing and Exploited Children programs including Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force grants, missing and exploited children activities.

• $2M for coral reef monitoring;
• $2M for Holocaust education;
• $28M for USGS Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units; and
• $91M for the USGS National Geospatial Program, which provides vital data for disaster response, infrastructure planning, flood risk mapping, and water resource management across the country.

• $1.09 million for a City of Sunrise Southwest Wastewater Treatment Plant.
• $535,000 for Broward County Sheriff’s Office ICAC Technology Support Project to track down and prosecute internet child predators.
• $1.031 million for Florida Atlantic University’s NeuroInnovate Center, for research Alzheimer’s, brain cancers, addiction, and chronic disease research.
• $3.1 million to Florida International University to advance precision medicine and imaging studies for hard-to-treat cancers.
• $1.09 million to aid Hallandale Beach’s NE 7^th Street water main project.
• $1.09 million to aid a City of Hollywood Boulevard Heights sewer project, from Johnson Street to Fillmore Street from N. 70th Way to N. 72nd Avenue.
• $1 million to the City of Dania Beach for wastewater improvements.
• $1.09 million to Cooper City for a wastewater treatment headworks facility. 
• $1.03 million for Nova Southeastern University’s work on drug delivery for brain cancer treatment.