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The Senate Aooronriations Bill is better, but is still damaging. Kissimee Restoration will be delayed a year. Funds for Critical Projects and for the Restudy are adequate to go forward, but not at full capacity. I'm told that a Congressional Conference Committee cannot come back with funding recommendations that are higher than the Senate or House Committee recommendations. That means we don't have the option to ask for what we really need and the best we can get is the Senate funding level. While I believe that our Florida Congressional Delegation has been supportive of full funding, I think it is important to write to each of them expressing our concern. ISSUES Recommendation a. A. AUTHORIZE A LETTER FROM THE BOARD TO EACH MEMBER OF THE FLORIDA CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION DESCRIBING OUR SICK FISH PROBLEMS AND OUR NEED FOR IMMEDIATE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RESTUDY TO STOP LAKE DISCHARGES. INCLUDED SHOULD BE A PACKET ON THE "ST. LUCIE RIVER DISASTER OF 1998" WHICH WE WOULD ASK THE RIVER COALITION MEMBERS TO HELP PREPARE. (DRAFT LETTER ATTACHED.) b. AUTHORIZE SIMILAR LETTER TO EACH MEMBER OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEES LETTING THEM KNOW WHAT HAPPENED HERE THIS SPRING AND HOW IT RELATES TO KU9SIMEE RESTORATION, CRITICAL PROJECTS, AND PROGRESS ON THE RESTUDY. c. AUTHORIZE A LETTER FROM THE BOARD TO EACH MEMBER OF THE U.S. HOUSE AND SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEES DESCRIBING THE RIVER PROBLEMS AND INCLUDING THE PACKET DISCUSSED ABOVE. (DRAFT LETTER ATTACHED.) d. IN ADDITION, WE WOULD ASK ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE CONGRESSIONAL CONTACTS IN OTHER STATES OR ARE PART TIME OR FORMER RESIDENTS OF OTHER STATES, TO WRITE TO CONGRESSMAN FROM THOSE STATES. MARTIN COUNTY RESIDENTS COME FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. WE SHOULD HAVE ENOUGH CONCERNED CITIZENS TO LET APPROPRIATIONS COMIVIITI'EEMEMBERS KNOW THAT IR PEOPLE FROM THESTATE CARE ABOUT THE FUNDING OF THE COMPLETE EVERGLADES RESTORATION PACKAGE. e. Make available to the public, to interested organizations and to the press a brief issue outline on federal funding issues that affect the River and the Restudy. Include a list of names, addresses, and fax numbers of U.S. House and Senate Appropriations Committee members. Send this information with a cover letter asking for help to our local legislative delegation, to all members of the Florida Cabinet, and to all members of the SFWMD Governing Board. E Have all five Board members sign the letters authorized in the above recommendations. I think all of this is too important to go out under only the Chairman's signature. I believe it would carry more weight and create less confusion if all Board members signed the letters involved.This will effectively remove the suggestion that any one Board member or faction is getting credit for this initiative. It will also help undo the damage done by individuals who have suggested that the Board is opposed to the Restudy or is not unanimous in support of River Restoration. Alternative #1 a. Do not authorize letter(a). Alternative #2 a. Alternative #3 a. FISCAL MWACT Recommendation NONE Alternative #I Alternative #2 Alternative 03 APPROVAL' COUNTY nn Toa ATPACffiI�NT3 a. Letter to the Florida Congressional Delegation b. Letter to U.S. House and Senate Previous Agenda Items none July 21, 1998 Approptiations Committee Members -27- Box 106 nisi.