Policy

Government Affairs

ASBPA advocates for healthy coastlines by supporting national and regional policies that will improve the United States ability to protect, restore and maintain coastal systems. 

We maintain a close partnership with Coastal States Organization, and share a joint Beach and Inlet Management Policy (pdf 995kb) that serves as a call for action to improve sediment management, permitting of coastal projects, funding for project planning, design, and implementation, responsible coastal development, and critical science and research:

2023 Priorities: 

While ASBPA works with Coastal States Organization on a variety of coastal issues, ASBPA’s prioritizes our federal policy advocacy in the following four areas:

1. Maintain the biennial schedule of the Water Resources Development Act
2. Support sustained funding for coastal programs in the annual appropriations bills
3. Support a whole-of-government approach for coastal resiliency
4. Strengthen support within Congress for coastal priorities

See our detailed 2023 Legislative and Federal Agency Agenda for Coastal Resilience

What can you do?

Review our “Advocacy Toolkit” for help in setting up a meeting with a decision-maker.

Participate in our monthly Government Affairs Committee meeting at 2pm on the third Thursday of the month.

Maintain the biennial schedule of the Water Resources Development Act

ASBPA president, Tony Pratt, testifying before the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee

WRDAs are the key legislative vehicle for ensuring that the policies and procedures of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) prioritize and promote coastal communities.
ASBPA applauds passage of WRDA 2022 which included the Shoreline Health Oversight, Restoration, Resilience, and Enhancement (SHORRE) Act. This signature legislation re-es–
tablishes protection and restoration of shoreline as a primary mission of USACE, enhances project implementation and advances equity by prioritizing underserved communities.

Support sustained funding for coastal programs in the annual appropriations bills

In order for investments in coastal resiliency to be realized, sustained funding from a variety of key coastal programs is needed.

Support a whole-of-government approach for coastal resiliency

Passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) have created historic levels of funding coastal projects. ASBPA is committed to working with federal agencies to implement opportunities created under BIL and IRA.

Strengthen support within Congress for coastal priorities

Forty percent of the nation’s total population lives along the coast and coastal communities contribute $9.5 trillion in goods and services to the national economy. ASBPA applauds the strong support that Members of Congress in coastal states have shown to support ASBPA’s priorities.