On the recordDecember 10, 2019
We, once again, are in the same situation. This is not a bad idea, and it is not a bad concept. In fact, it is such a good concept, we are already doing it. So, if I quote NOAA in their testimony in our committee, the agency currently provides financial and technical assistance to coastal communities for the use of living shorelines through existing programs. The program already has $300 million that is going in there, and it is going through those areas, including the Interior, NOAA, Fish and Wildlife, EPA, Science Foundation, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Department of Agriculture. All of those are providing funds for this very thing, which means it is happening. You don't need to add this language to have it happen, Mr. Chairman, because it already is happening. By adding the language, I guess, well, you get to add another line in the code, and you can say you passed something. But the bottom line is it still is an unnecessary amendment to an unnecessary bill because the authority and the authorization is already there. The only thing that might not be there is, once again, you don't think it is spending enough money, in which case that is an appropriations issue, not an authorization issue. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
