Federal Issues

NCBIWA serves on the board and works closely with their national organization, the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA) as well as the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association (AIWW) to secure funding for our beaches and coastline and to support the maintenance of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. By staying active and engaged in Washington D.C., NCBIWA is able to urge Congress to enact legislation to support the coast.

NCBIWA 2025-2026 Federal Legislative Goals

NCBIWA supports the creation of a revenue sharing model for any and all offshore energy revenues.  More specifically, a bill that would allow a percentage of offshore energy revenue to be shared with states with offshore energy leases (agreements for the use of the ocean for energy production, such as wind, oil, and gas) managed by The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM).  So far this year, revenue sharing legislation such as the BREEZE Act or RISEE Act has not been reintroduced in Congress but we will be following the legislation closely as discussions continue.

NCBIWA also supports ASBPA in their efforts to work with Congress on various essential coastal programs needed to protect and strengthen our coastal communities such as:

  • Sustained and supplemental USACE funding, including Coastal Investigations, Construction, Operations & Maintenance, and beneficial use of dredged materials (BUDM).
  • NOAA’s Coastal Resilience Grants (e.g., NFWF NCRF) and Navigation, Observations, & Positioning to provide critical foundational information to address coastal resilience needs.
  • BOEM’s Marine Minerals Program and National Offshore Sand Inventory to build and refine sediment resource management in federal waters.
  • FEMA pre-mitigation grant programs (e.g., BRIC, FMA)
  • DOT Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation Program (PROTECT) Grant
  • USGS Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program to assess and forecast shoreline erosion and extreme weather to protect critical infrastructure.