Tom Carper: “on September 27, the Environment and Public Works Committee favorably reported the Strengthening Coastal Communities Act…”

“on September 27, the Environment and Public Works Committee favorably reported the Strengthening Coastal Communities Act of 2023 as an original bill by voice vote. This bill, S. 2958, expands and improves the Coastal Barrier Resources Act, also known as CBRA. I would like to formally recognize the colleagues who have worked with me on this bill and share some thoughts on its significance. According to Senate procedure, original bills are considered a product of the committee and do not have sponsors or cosponsors. With this in mind, I wish to acknowledge for the record that Senators Graham, Whitehouse, and Tillis assisted in authorship of the Strengthening Coastal Communities Act of 2023. While these colleagues cannot be formally added as cosponsors, I want to thank them for their participation in developing this bipartisan legislation and note that I consider them to be cosponsors. I would also like to ask our colleagues across the Senate for their support to pass this bill. CBRA was originally enacted in 1982, and it protects sensitive habitats along the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coasts by restricting Federal investment within designated areas. In doing so, CBRA has saved billions of Federal tax dollars since enactment, while simultaneously protecting hundreds of thousands of acres of coastal wetlands from development.…”