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…
Late on Monday, December 21st, Congress passed a major package of legislation, including most prominently the FY21 federal budget and a $900 billion COVID economic stimulus. Importantly for coastal communities, this bill also included the 2020 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). We expect the president to sign the bill soon. Here is a summary of…
The American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA) and Coastal States Organization (CSO) commend the U.S. House of Representative and U.S. Senate for the introduction of the bipartisan S. 1811, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2020, and encourage Congress to pass this legislation before the end of the year. This bill contains numerous…
In a joint Capitol Beach and WaterLog podcast, the American Shoreline Podcast Network’s full Washington DC team, Derek Brockbank, Howard Marlowe, and Dan Ginolfi team up to provide perspective and analysis on how the election results will impact federal coastal policy and politics in 2021 and beyond, as well as in the remaining weeks of…
On the ASPN flagship show, co-hosts Peter Ravella and Tyler Buckingham discuss the upcoming online national coastal conference, “Navigating Stormy Times“, with ASBPA Executive Director, Derek Brockbank. They discuss how a virtual conference will work, what some of the conference highlights will be, including plenary panels on how beach communities handled the pandemic this summer…
House Passes WRDA In late July, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 7575, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), by voice vote – indicating unanimous support. While the corresponding legislation in the Senate (S. 3591) has only passed the Environment & Public Works Committee, House and Senate staffers and key members from both chambers of…
Almost exactly one year ago, in July 2019, ASBPA testified before the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee on the need to develop water resources legislation that would advance: Regional Sediment Management (RSM) and the Beneficial Use of Dredged Material (BUDM); A modification of the Corps’ Benefit-Cost-Ratio (BCR) process; Natural Infrastructure. This week, the Transportation & Infrastructure…
As part of the Senate’s “Information Gathering Process” on the draft Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), ASBPA President Tony Pratt, was asked to respond to 18 Questions for the Record from five Senators. Here are a few abbreviated questions and responses: Chairman John Barrasso (WY): Why is it important that Congress increase flexibility regarding beneficial use…
ASBPA was one of just five stakeholder groups invited to provide testimony for a formal “Information-Gathering Process on Draft Legislation entitled, America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2020” by the Senate Environment & Public Works (EPW) Committee. This “information-gathering process” was in lieu of a public hearing with Congress working remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic….
ASBPA advocates for healthy coasts on a variety of topics and educates decision-makers at all levels of government about the importance of healthy, restored beaches and shorelines. Our 2020 vision for ourcoast includes recommendations to Congress and numerous federal agencies. 2020 Vision for our Coast: infrastructure, restoration and research funding In an era of unprecedented…