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…
On The Capitol Beach, Derek Brockbank talks WRDA with Ryan Seiger, the Staff Director for the Water Resources and Environment sub-committee of the House Transportation & Infrastructure committee. Ryan has been working on WRDAs on Capitol Hill for over 20 years and is one of the most influential people on coastal policy that no one…
Coastal States Organization (CSO) and American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA) have issued a call for policies, funding, and science to address the unprecedented challenges facing our nation’s coasts. In an era of rising sea, changing Great Lake levels, increasing storm intensity, coastal erosion and flooding, and lack of available coastal sediment, Congress and…
On The Capitol Beach, Derek Brockbank speaks with Jason Jordan of the American Planning Association, and John “JB” Byrd representing the Digital Coast Partnership Advocacy Coalition about the partnership and advocacy that led to the recent enactment of the Digital Coast Act (S. 1069, which has become Public Law [PL] 116-223). This pod is an…
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…
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…
As Congress grapples with how to respond to the Coronavirus pandemic and the economic challenges it has created, they have largely ignored the unique difficulties facing coastal communities who rely on beach- and coastal-based tourism. See our previous article on how coastal communities are hurting. See our Covid Advocacy Toolkit for how you and your…
On this joint episode of The Capitol Beach and Sea Change podcasts, Derek Brockbank & Jenna Valente interview two congressional staffers to discuss what it’s like to work on coastal policy-making from inside and outside the halls of congress. Yes, the so-called “revolving door” of staffing in Washington DC is not always about making money,…
As Congress debates how to help state, county and local governments whose budgets have been devastated by coronavirus, we in the coastal and beach community need to speak up! With many beach towns and departments funded through some type of tourism generated revenue – hotel and occupancy taxes, local sales taxes, beach badges, parking fees,…
ASBPA has long supported policies that ensure revenue from coastal and offshore energy development is used for coastal restoration and resilience in the states and regions that support that development. We are therefore advocating that current legislation, titled the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA, or S.3422), includes an increase in funding going to coastal states…