Gregory Meeks: “I am offering an amendment to expedite the Army Corps of Engineers' study of Superstorm Sandy recovery efforts, allowing…”

“I am offering an amendment to expedite the Army Corps of Engineers' study of Superstorm Sandy recovery efforts, allowing a faster response to dangerous and economically damaging beach erosion in my district and the Rockaway Peninsula. To this day, my constituents suffer from the after-effects of Hurricane Sandy. Though coastal recovery has contributed to positive economic development, the very same jobs created are now threatened by emergency beach closures. Two weeks ago, only days ahead of beach season, of the beaches opening, 11 of our beaches' central blocks were deemed unsafe due to erosion, by the city of New York and all of the lifeguards therein. As a result, it will be crippling to the vendors, whose entire livelihood depends on their seasonal income. Last year alone, there were four nor'easters that further devastated our beachfront. We have already allocated funding for the Army Corps of Engineers to begin constructing coastal protections and prevent further erosion. However, construction is not due to begin until 2019. In that time, beaches will be left vulnerable to coastal erosion, threatening more closures, and impacting more jobs and economic activity in my district. This should be of concern to all taxpayers. After Sandy, the Army Corps of Engineers dumped two Empire State Buildings' worth of sand on our beach for coastal recovery.…”