Coastal Habitat Conservation Act Signed into Law

Coastal Habitat Conservation Act Signed into Law

Washington, D.C. - On Wednesday, December 11^th, the Coastal Habitat Conservation Act was signed into law, authorizing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife (FWS) Coastal Program U.S. The Coastal Program is a voluntary, partnership-based, habitat conservation program focused in 24 priority coastal areas along the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Gulf of Mexico, Great Lakes, and in the Caribbean, including the Chesapeake Bay. Within these areas, FWS conservation efforts are guided by a national strategic plan that integrates Service priorities with the shared goals of conservation partners and stakeholders.

Representatives Jared Huffman (D-CA-02) and Jennifer González-Colón (R-PR-00) and U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) introduced this bipartisan, bicameral legislation in May 2023. In September 2024, Rep. Huffman spoke on the House Floor to promote the legislation.

Click here to watch a recording of Huffman's Floor Speech.

"Coastal ecosystems are essential to our nation's economy and well-being, yet they are increasingly threatened by climate change, pollution, and unsustainable development," said Rep. Huffman. "Implementing this collaborative solution will help preserve the health and resilience of coastal habitats to benefit the wildlife, communities, and economies that depend on them for generations to come. I am thrilled our bill is now law and look forward to seeing all it will do to restore ecosystems and support local economies that rely on healthy coasts."

"Climate change, development and other pressures are challenging our coastal communities, increasing the need to strengthen successful efforts like the Coastal Program that serve to protect and engage them," said Senator Cardin. "Signing the Coastal Habitat Conservation Act into law demonstrates our bipartisan commitment to strategic habitat conservation in coastal watersheds, which provide a host of ecosystem services such as recreation, tourism, fisheries and education."

"Protecting South Carolina's wetlands is an economic driver and ensures our natural resources are preserved for future generations," said Senator Graham. "I am pleased the Coastal Habitat Conservation Act was signed into law, as it will help conserve our nation's important natural resources."

"The passage of H.R. 2950, the Coastal Habitat Conservation Act, is a significant step forward in safeguarding our nation's coastal ecosystems. This bipartisan bill will ensure the continued success of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Coastal Program, which has been instrumental in conserving vital habitats across Puerto Rico and the rest of the country. From restoring wetlands and dunes to supporting local farmers in protecting our watersheds, this program has proven time and again that when we invest in our environment, we also invest in our communities. I'm proud to have worked alongside Congressman Huffman on this important legislation and look forward to seeing it signed into law," said Representative González-Colón.

What Supporters Are Saying:

"Coastal habitats like mangroves, seagrasses, and wetlands play a critical role in buffering storm surge, minimizing sea level rise, and preventing flooding and coastal erosion. With storms, flooding, and other effects of climate change felt more and more every day, these habitats are only becoming more important," said Rachael DeWitt, Senior Manager of Government Relations at Ocean Conservancy. "For 40 years, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Coastal Program has been essential to restoring and protecting millions of acres of habitat and providing significant conservation benefits to coastal communities, ecosystems, and wildlife. Now more than ever, we need to ensure the continued success of this program. The bipartisan Coastal Habitat Conservation Act will authorize the Coastal Program in perpetuity and provide consistent funding. We were thrilled to see Congress come together to support this critical legislation and thank President Biden for signing it into law."

"Our coastlines, wetlands, and waterways are the backbone of our ecosystem and economy," said Romaric "Remy" Moncrieffe, marine conservation policy manager for the National Audubon Society. "By funding the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's coastal program for the next several years, the bipartisan Coastal Habitat Conservation Act ensures our communities have the resources necessary to restore and protect their coastal areas, and the birds and people that rely on them."

"This collaborative legislation shows that protecting our coasts is a bipartisan priority on which we all can agree," said RAE President and CEO Daniel Hayden. "We are grateful to Representatives Jared Huffman and Jennifer González-Colón as well as Senators Ben Cardin and Lindsey Graham for their dedication to protecting coastal habitats and communities."

"Coastlines are a critical line of defense against the worsening climate crisis, for both the species and communities that rely on them," said Emily Donahoe, policy specialist for resilient coasts and floodplains at National Wildlife Federation. "Through collaborative partnership-based projects, the Coastal Program will help improve the health and resilience of coastal ecosystems to benefit communities and wildlife, and strengthen our coastal economies. The passage of the Coastal Habitat Conservation Act is a critical step forward in safeguarding our nation's coastal ecosystems through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Coastal Program."

"The Coastal Habitat Conservation Act represents a major step forward safeguarding the future of the Chesapeake Bay and our region's economy. Investing in coastal ecosystems protects valuable wildlife habitat, bolsters our communities' resilience to climate change, and ensures the sustainability of our region's economy. We thank Rep. Huffman and Sen. Cardin for their commitment to working in a bipartisan way to get this important bill signed into law" said Keisha Sedlacek, Federal Director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

"The Nature Conservancy appreciates the strong bipartisan support in both the House and Senate to reauthorize the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's Coastal Program. The program is essential to habitat conservation in coastal areas that are often a patchwork of public and private ownership. By working in partnership with landowners to conserve and connect critical habitats, the Coastal Program provides the needed technical and financial assistance for seamless coastal conservation," said Stephanie Bailenson, The Nature Conservancy's U.S. Federal Water Policy Team Lead

Endorsed by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Choose Clean Water Coalition, Coastal States Organization, National Wildlife Federation, Ocean Conservancy, Restore America's Estuaries, The Nature Conservancy and National Audubon Society, the legislation directs the Secretary of the Interior "through the Coastal Program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to work with willing partners and provide support to efforts to assess, protect, restore and enhance important coastal landscapes that provide fish and wildlife habitat on which certain Federal trust species depend."

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