In just two weeks, over 160 Surfrider volunteers, world-class surfers and industry leaders will virtually travel to our nation’s capital to advocate for federal action to protect our coasts and ocean. Our network will meet with over one hundred congressional offices and the Biden administration to encourage bold action on our federal priorities, including protecting clean water at the beach and upstream, preventing plastic pollution and addressing the climate crisis.
As the largest grassroots network of coastal recreation users, Surfrider is an important and growing voice in federal advocacy. When our U.S. network of 185 chapters and clubs speaks with one voice, we’ve shown that we can have a profound impact on federal decision-making.
Surfrider's Hill Day efforts will consist of 36 regional delegations representing 26 of the nation’s 32 coastal states and territories. Our goal is to build bipartisan leadership to protect our nation’s coastal ecosystems and the public’s ability to enjoy these resources.
This year Surfrider members and partners will meet virtually with members of Congress at Coastal Recreation Hill Day
A key theme of this year’s Coastal Recreation Hill Day is demanding federal action on climate change to respond to the impacts of sea level rise, extreme weather, and ocean acidification. During Hill Day, Surfrider and a group of industry leaders and professional surfers will meet with the White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy and the House Committee on the Climate Crisis to discuss the threats of climate change to our coasts and the solutions that must be implemented.
Participation this year includes nearly double the amount of Surfrider volunteers as the last in-person 2020 Hill Day and a record amount of student club participation (30 students from 20 clubs across the coastal U.S.!), due to the ability for more people to join as a virtual event. So while we can’t walk through the halls of Congress this year, we will certainly have the concerns and voice of our grassroots community heard in the nation’s Capital.
Fortunately, you don’t need to participate in Coastal Recreation Hill Day to make your voice heard on federal issues. All of us should regularly contact our elected officials to express support for protecting our coasts and ocean. To easily send a message to your representatives, please visit our Take Action page. Even better, call your representatives in the Senate and House or schedule a meeting with their district office.
We also invite you to join us at our Welcome Reception on March 8 to hear from leaders in the surf and ocean protection industry. Speakers include Carissa Moore, U.S. Olympic Surfing Gold Medalist and 5X World Surf League Women’s World Champion; Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, U.S. House of Representatives; Director John Armor, NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries; and more. Visit our Hill Day webpage to register and learn more. Let’s turn the tide in 2022!
Surfrider’s Federal Priorities click here
Coastal Recreation Hill Day webpage