Federal Issues

NCBIWA serves on the board and works closely with their national organization, the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA) as well as the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association (AIWW) to secure funding for our beaches and coastline and to support the maintenance of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. By staying active and engaged in Washington D.C., NCBIWA is able to urge Congress to enact legislation to support the coast.

NCBIWA 2023-2024 Federal Legislative Goals

Pass the  Reinvesting in Shoreline Economies and Ecosystems (RISEE) Act.which creates a revenue sharing model for offshore wind revenues from offshore wind and renewable lease fees. The Act would create a revenue sharing model for offshore wind revenues which will allow 37.5% of offshore wind revenue to be shared with states where offshore wind farms are developed.  To read a one-pager, click here.

Support investments in coastal resilience by asking Congress to pass comprehensive infrastructure legislation that invests in coastal resilience and restoration. More specifically:

  • $55 million for USACE Shore Protection
  • $30 million for USACE Regional Sediment Management (RSM) and Beneficial Use of Dredge Material (BUDM)
  • $46 million for USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Program (CMGP)
  • $30 million for NOAA Title IX/Coastal Resilience Grants
  • $87 million for NOAA Coastal Management Grants
  • $6 million for BOEM’s Marine Minerals Program (MMP)
  • $10 million for EPA BEACH Act

Support Congress passing and funding a Water Resources Development Act (WRDA).

In January 2022, the Corps of Engineers released the USACE Work Plan for YEAR ONE of the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act of 2022 that became law on November 21, 2021. The bill included three years (FY22 through FY24) of funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Operations & Maintenance Account in the amounts of $2 billion in FY22 and $1 billion each in FY23 and FY24.  To read the Operations and Maintenance Workplan go to Jobs Act 2022 Operation and Maintenance Work Plan   See page 12 for funding for North Carolina.