The U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly yesterday in favor of a $7.8 billion plan to restore the Florida Everglades over the next 30 to 40 years, the largest environmental restoration undertaking in history. The bill calls for a massive construction project by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to restore the water flow through the 300-mile-long ecosystem — which, ironically, has been devastated by decades of flood control efforts by none other than the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The measure has backing from the White House, enviros, agricultural interests, the sugar industry, and Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R). The bill now heads to the House, where supporters hope they can get it through before this year’s legislative session winds up on Oct. 6.
