Dutch Ruppersberger: “There is a reason that the Digital Coast Act is bipartisan and bicameral: We all have a stake in protecting our…”

“There is a reason that the Digital Coast Act is bipartisan and bicameral: We all have a stake in protecting our shorelines. Our country's 95,000 miles of shoreline--not just our oceans, but our rivers, streams, and lakes--are home to more than 42 percent of our country's population and millions of businesses that supply most of our gross domestic product. Unfortunately, current coastal maps and geospatial data are woefully inadequate, outdated, or even nonexistent. My bill, the Digital Coast Act, which is part of this package, will allow professionals at NOAA to begin a comprehensive mapping process of our Nation's fragile shorelines. Coastal communities will be able to use the data to better prepare for storms, manage floods, restore ecosystems, and plan smarter developments near America's coasts, harbors, ports, and shorelines. NOAA will train decisionmakers at the local and State level on how to use the datasets to answer questions about storm surge, erosion, and water level trends. The data will also be available on NOAA's website for free and easy public access, so every citizen can leverage the expertise of the Federal Government. Every day, planners in our hometowns are asking questions, such as, what is the storm surge in this community, how much is the bluff going to erode, or what are the water level trends at the marina where we want to build a new dock?…”