Four years after the Florida Coral Rescue Center opened in Orlando, researchers said they are seeing great progress in their efforts to save the state’s coral reefs from possible extinction.

After four years of trying, lawmakers hope new federal money will be used to fuel efforts to save Florida’s coral reef, which some fear is on the brink of extinction.

Florida’s coral reefs are under attack right now with species being affected by stony coral tissue loss disease, which has put 22 coral species at risk of extinction.