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The climate is changing and our coasts are facing unprecedented threats – from sea level rise and increasing storm intensity to on-going erosion and sediment loss. The new Administration and 117th Congress must take major actions to restore and preserve America’s shores and beaches. As we wade into these new waters, ASBPA recommends the following actions to improve the nation’s coastal resilience:
Investment in Coastal Resilience
The federal government must invest in coastal resilience, restoration, sediment management and research at a scale commensurate with the challenge.
Congress should:
- Fund coastal communities impacted by COVID
- Invest in coastal resilience appropriations prior to disasters
- Fund coastal resilience via energy development
- Pass a Water Resources Development Act (WRDA)
The Administration should:
- Implement past WRDAs
- Implement coastal budgeting reform policies
- Expedite appropriated funding going to coastal projects
- Request coastal funding commensurate to the challenges faced
Project Implementation for Coastal Resilience
The federal government must advance resilience and restoration projects through collaborative, risk-informed decision-making that prioritizes action over inaction, with regulatory standards that protect environmental resources over the long-term.
Congress should:
- Fund regulatory agencies to expedites coastal project review
The Administration should:
- Expedite regulatory and permitting timeframes
- Beneficially use dredged material
- Review and update regulations to help advance coastal resilience
Regional Planning for Coastal Resilience
The federal government must support state and regional efforts to plan and implement systemic coastal resilience, beyond just project-based responses to local vulnerability.
Congress and the Administration should support coastal resilience planning for:
- Atlantic Coast
- Gulf Coast
- Pacific Coast
- Great Lakes
For Full Policy Recommendations:
See our detailed 2021 & 2022 Legislative and Federal Affairs Agenda (PDF 318kb)
Or read what we accomplished last year in our “2020 Government Affairs Year in Review“