Every day, Surfrider’s 250 chapters and student clubs from around the country work to protect our ocean, waves, and beaches for all people. This effort involves on-the-ground action like beach cleanups, coastal restoration, and water quality monitoring. It also requires advocacy - calling on our decision makers at the local, state, and federal levels to do more to protect our coasts. What makes Surfrider unique is our ability to do it all - from running programs at your local beach, all the way to lobbying Congress and the federal administration in Washington DC.
This month is an important one for Surfrider’s federal advocacy efforts. For 10 years now, chapter and student club leaders have organized and mobilized to make their voices heard in our nation’s capital as part of Surfrider’s Coastal Recreational Hill Day. The event has engaged more than 1,000 ocean users directly with their representatives in Congress, the White House, and the agencies in place to protect our coastal resources.
This year, Coastal Recreation Hill Day is more important than ever. While the current administration continues to derail programs, funding, and protections for our coasts and ocean, it is imperative the users of these spaces show up and speak up. And showing up they are.
Currently there are 185 people registered for this year's event, to be held on April 29 and 30, from 28 U.S. states and territories. These chapter and student club volunteers, Surfrider staff, and partner representatives will be advocating for three priorities: 1) Increased funding for water quality monitoring through the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act programs; 2) Investment in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s vital coastal management and research programs; and 3) Opposition to the expansion or new oil and gas leasing in U.S. waters.
Our ocean and coasts are visited by hundreds of millions each year, providing millions of jobs and generating $240 billion annually. Yet, our nation’s coastlines are threatened by efforts by the federal administration to strip away protections and exploit our ocean resources. Congressional leadership is needed now more than ever to restore protections for clean beaches, resilient coasts, and a healthy ocean. Fortunately, Surfrider’s federal advocacy efforts and Coastal Recreation Hill Day are keeping these priorities at the top of the agenda for our decision-makers in DC.
If you can't join us this year, you can still make your voice heard. Please click here to take action today and ask congress to protect our coasts and ocean.