Today the U.S. Senate voted to pass the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014, which the House passed on Tuesday and now heads to President Obama鈥檚 desk for signature. The 探花精选 released the following statement:
鈥淚t鈥檚 great to see funding for big ecosystem restoration projects included in the final bill, but the 鈥榩roject acceleration鈥 language undermines some of our nation鈥檚 most important environmental laws and is deeply troubling,鈥 探花精选 Vice President of Government Relations and Director of National Programs .
鈥淚n particular,鈥 Daulton continued, 鈥渇unding for four projects in the Everglades marks the first opportunity in seven years to make significant progress in restoring that ecosystem, benefitting Wood Storks, Roseate Spoonbills, Everglades Snail Kites, and other birds and wildlife. Funding for Mississippi River Delta restoration and the reauthorization of the Rio Grande Environmental Management Program will help restore watersheds threatened by climate change and overconsumption of natural resources, which have harmed people and wildlife alike.鈥
鈥淏ut the controversial so-called 鈥榩roject acceleration鈥 language undermines the effectiveness of the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, and the Clean Water Act, among other bedrock environmental laws,鈥 Daulton said. 鈥淲e strongly object to language that limits the quality of information available to the Army Corps of Engineers in project planning and that limits public participation in decisions that deeply affect public safety, the environment, and the economy.鈥