Congress Passes Bill to Protect Nearly 300,000 Acres of Wetlands and Beaches

WASHINGTON (November 20, 2024) – Today Congress passed the Bolstering Ecosystems Against Coastal Harm (BEACH) Act, which adds roughly 280,000 acres to a system of protected coastal lands on the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts.  

“At Audubon, our mission is to protect birds and the places they need,” said Elizabeth Gray, CEO of the National Audubon Society. “The passage of this legislation exemplifies our comprehensive approach to conservation, which focuses on habitat protection and climate resilience. By securing vital habitats for shorebirds like American Oystercatchers and Piping Plovers, we protect these species, save taxpayer dollars, and strengthen coastal defenses against storms and flooding. With strong bipartisan support, this bill demonstrates the critical role of public policy in realizing our vision for a world where people and wildlife can flourish.” 

The bill updates and modernizes the Coastal Barrier Resources Act, a law that for more than 40 years has protected undeveloped beaches, wetlands, and other coastal areas while saving taxpayers billions of dollars. Established in 1982, the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA) disincentivizes development by removing eligibility for federal funding and financial assistance (like flood insurance) in sensitive coastal areas. The current CBRA system includes 3.5 million acres of undeveloped barrier islands, beaches, inlets, and wetlands along the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Great Lakes, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  

In 2022, the Department of the Interior recommended that Congress add over 270,000 acres to the CBRA system in nine states from New Hampshire to Virginia that were hit hardest by Hurricane Sandy in order to save federal tax dollars and better protect the Atlantic Coast against future storms. The BEACH Act will implement the Interior Department’s recommendations, and protect additional acres in South Carolina, Florida, and Louisiana, which are especially vulnerable to storms and sea-level rise. This will be the largest expansion of the CBRA system since 1990. 

Last year, Sens. Tom Carper (D-DE) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) introduced a Senate version of the bill (known as the Strengthening Coastal Communities Act), which passed the Senate unanimously in April. A House version, led by Reps. Jen Kiggans (R-VA) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), advanced in September. 

A 2023 study found that CBRA is highly effective at achieving its intended goals—reducing development by 85% in flood-prone areas, reducing flood damage in nearby communities by 25%, and adding ecologically important layers of protection. The healthy, protected habitats in the CBRA system act as nature’s speed bumps, buffering nearby communities from storms and floodwaters. By removing taxpayer-funded subsidies for development in hazardous coastal areas, CBRA promotes public safety and has saved federal taxpayers nearly $10 billion over 25 years. 

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About Audubon  

The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Audubon works throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. State programs, nature centers, chapters, and partners give Audubon an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire, and unite diverse communities in conservation action. A nonprofit conservation organization since 1905, Audubon believes in a world in which people and wildlife thrive.  

Contact: Rachel Guillory, rachel.guillory@audubon.org