It looks like the funding for Everglades Restoration is closer to reality after a near unanimous vote in the United States Senate today.

The Senate, with a strong push from Senators Bill Nelson and Mel Martinez, voted for the re-authorization of the Water Resources Development Act. This is the first time since 2000 there has been a congressional action for water issues on a national scale. Director of Policy and legislation for the South Florida Water Management District, Ernie Barnett says even though the vote is from the senate, the house version is similar.

“The good news for the state of Florida is that there is very little difference between the Senate version and the House version…so there won’t be a lot of negotiation between the two. There are a lot of smaller provisions regarding Everglade’s restoration that we’re working out. But by and large the house and senate versions look very close.”

Barnett says this vote basically is permission for the state to work on future projects but it will be a few more years before lawmakers authorize the funding needed to complete everglades restoration.