The Senate is still considering whether and how to provide stimulus funding to state and local governments struggling with budget shortfalls due to the coronavirus pandemic. Budget shortfalls are particularly challenging for coastal and other tourism-based communities. The House of Representatives has already passed the HEROES Act to address this and other challenges of coronavirus….
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….
What does your community need to weather the coronavirus economic storm? Every community’s first priority must be to keep its people safe. Through social or physical distancing, shutdowns, lockdowns or other methods to prevent the spread of coronavirus, people’s health must come first. But most beach towns rely on tourism to pay the bills and…
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…
Congress just passed a full FY20 budget following multiple Continuing Resolutions that extended FY19 funding levels through the fall. ASBPA was pleased to see some important increases to funding for coastal programs. Here how some of the programs in the Energy & Water (Army Corps) appropriations that ASBPA cares about will be funded in FY20…
Over the course of ten shows in 2019, The Capitol Beach spoke with members of congress, federal agency staff, and decision-makers who set policy and direct billions of dollars of funding for coastal restoration and research. The podcast is intended to bring everyone into the coastal “room where it happens” in our nation’s Capitol. One…
After a late July budget deal set total budget caps for FY2020 and FY2021, Congress came back to session in September with a goal of passing appropriations bills before the September 30th end of the fiscal year. That goal seems likely to come up short, with Congress expected to pass a short term continuing resolution…
On September 18th, ASBPA Executive Director, Derek Brockbank, testified before the U.S. Senate Environment & Public Works (EPW) committee in the hearing, “Improving American Economic Competitiveness through Water Resources Infrastructure.” ASBPA explained the value of healthy beaches, dunes and wetlands to our coast, and spoke about how the Senate EPW Committee can support healthy coastlines:…
On this episode of The Capitol Beach, Derek Brockbank interviews the three co-executive directors of the US Coastal Research Program (USCRP): Julie Rosati with US Army Corps of Engineers, Hilary Stockdon with US Geological Survey, and Nicole Elko with American Shore & Beach Preservation Association. On the podcast, you’ll hear why 11 federal agencies (from…