8/18/2019 Press Release - More than 80 Members of Congress
Support Coastal Habitat Restoration Programs
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For Immediate Release Contact: Allison Colden March 29, 2016
703-524-0248
More than 80 Bipartisan Members of Congress Support Funding for
Federal CoastalHabitat Restoration Programs
WASHINGTON – Last week, Congressman Keating (D-MA),
Congresswoman Capps (D-CA)and Senator Menendez (D-NJ) led more than
80 of their colleagues in sending a letter to the Houseand Senate
Appropriations Committees expressing strong support for federal
habitat restoration
programs. The letter stresses the critical importance of habitat
restoration programs within the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for
protecting coastal communities,their economies, and sustainable
fisheries. In the letter, Members ask the Subcommittee onCommerce,
Justice, Science, and Related Agencies to provide no less than
$68.4 million in fundingfor NOAA’s Community -based Restoration
Program and Coastal Ecosystem Resiliency Grants,
programs that directly support community-driven coastal
restoration projects to benefit fish,wildlife, and people.
“Preserving the lands and waters along our coasts is critical,
not just for the individuals who liveand work in these communities,
but for all of us, ” said Congresswoman Lois Capps . “With sucha
large percentage of our nation’s residents living near the coasts
and countless others who visitthese beautiful places for
recreation, these areas are also important economic drivers that
must be
protected. That is why I am a strong supporter of our nation’s
coastal protection programs, like theCoastal Habitat Conservation
and Protection program within NOAA. Supporting these activitiesis
common sense, and I want to thank all of my colleagues who have
joined us in this effort.”
"The smartest, most effective investment we can make in the
fight against the impacts of climatechange is in our local
communities,” said Congressman Bill Keating . “They serve on the
frontlines of both protecting and restoring our coastal resources
and habitats and play a leadership rolein driving these efforts
forward. I was proud to join Congresswoman Capps in garnering
thesupport of many of our like-minded colleagues in the House who
understand this urgency."
"As we continue to confront the realities of a changing climate,
we must ensure that we not onlyreduce our emissions to head off the
worst impacts, but also insulate our most vulnerablecommunities
from the changes that are already taking place. Superstorm Sandy
served as a starkreminder of the dangers facing our coast from
stronger storms and rising seas,” said SenatorMenendez . “I'm proud
to lead the Senate effort to provide funding for critical programs
that notonly make our vibrant coastal communities more resilient to
future storms and flooding, but alsostrengthen the ecosystems that
these communities depend upon. I commend the work being done
by Restore America's Estuaries in this area, and look forward to
continuing to work with mycolleagues in Congress to provide robust
funding for coastal habitat restoration."
