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The federal FY21 budget is operating under a Continuing Resolution (CR) through December 11. Before then, Congress must agree to a budget or the government will shut down (which certainly feels on-brand for 2020, but at this point both House and Senate would like to avoid).
Adding to the challenge is the lingering question whether Congress will pass an additional economic stimulus/COVID response bill and/or a disaster supplemental bill responding the record-breaking wildfire season and the record-breaking hurricane season in the US.
The House of Representatives has already passed most of its appropriations bills, but the Senate only recently introduced its appropriations bills. Appropriators are in negotiations now to produce final bills that both the House and the Senate can agree to, but whether they will come to agreement before the deadline is unclear.
Here are the funding levels in the House and Senate appropriations (in comparison with FY20 final budget) that fund some key coastal programs:
(All numbers in thousands of dollars.)
Energy and Water Appropriations
(Includes US Army Corps of Engineers)
| Program | FY20 Final | FY21 House Bill | FY21 Senate | FY21 Final |
| Shore Protection (Construction) | $50,165 | $55,000 | $30,000 | |
| Shore Protection (Investigations) | $4,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 | |
| Shore Protection (CAP Sec. 103) | $4,000 | $4,000 | $1,500 | |
| Beneficial Use Of Dredged Material Pilot Program | $7,500 | $10,000 | $7,500 | |
| Beneficial Uses Of Dredged Material (CAP Sec. 204) | $15,000 | $15,000 | $4,500 | |
| Planning Assistance To States | $9,000 | $9,000 | $14,000 | |
| Coastal Inlet Research Program | $10,975 | $5,000 | $14,975 | |
| Coastal Field Data Collection | $2,500 | $1,000 | $2,000 | |
| Coastal Ocean Data System (CODS) | $7,500 | $7,500 | $7,500 | |
| National Coastal Mapping Program | $7,500 | $6,300 | $15,000 | |
| Regional Sediment Management Program | $8,500 | $7,500 | $8,500 | |
| National Shoreline Management Study | $5,000 | $5,000 | $400 |
See the Press Release from the House Appropriations Committee: https://appropriations.house.gov/news/press-releases/appropriations-committee-approves-fiscal-year-2021-energy-and-water-development
See the Press Release from the Senate Appropriations Committee: https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news/committee-releases-fy21-bills-in-effort-to-advance-process-produce-bipartisan-results
Commerce, Justice & Science Appropriations
(Includes NOAA)
| Program | FY20 Final | FY21 House Bill | FY21 Senate | FY21 Final |
| Coastal Management Grants | $77,000 | $78,000 | $78,500 | |
| National Oceans and Coastal Security Fund (Title IX Fund) | $33,000 | $36,000 | $33,000 | |
| IOOS Regional Observations | $39,000 | $40,500 | $40,000 | |
| Protected Resources Science and Mgmt. | $200,664 | $208,655 | $203,664 |
See the Press Release from the House Appropriations Committee: https://appropriations.house.gov/news/press-releases/appropriations-committee-approves-fiscal-year-2021-commerce-justice-science
See the Press Release from the Senate Appropriations Committee: https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news/committee-releases-fy21-bills-in-effort-to-advance-process-produce-bipartisan-results
Interior, Environment and Related Agencies
(Includes EPA, US Geologic Survey, and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.)
| Program | FY20 Final | FY21 House Bill | FY21 Senate | FY21 Final |
| USGS – Coastal Hazards | $40,460 | $41,000 | $40,510 | |
| BEACH Act grants | $9,380 | $10,000 | $9,238 | |
| BOEM – MMS | $5,700 | $8,700 | $11,781 |
See the Press Release from the House Appropriations Committee: https://appropriations.house.gov/news/press-releases/appropriations-committee-approves-fiscal-year-2021-interior-environment-funding
See the Press Release from the Senate Appropriations Committee: https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news/committee-releases-fy21-bills-in-effort-to-advance-process-produce-bipartisan-results