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Surfrider Federal Priorities

Each year, the Surfrider Foundation prioritizes a set of federal bills and funding opportunities to advance Surfrider's mission at the national level. We encourage our U.S. network of chapters, members, and supporters to advocate in support of these bills and funding needs through grassroots advocacy and participation in Surfrider's annual Coastal Recreation Hill Day, a lobby day on Capitol Hill. Listed below are Surfrider's current Federal Priorities. We encourage you to help support these bills by taking action to contact your federal representatives, and sharing these important opportunities with your friends, family and community.

 

PROTECT CLEAN WATER AND PUBLIC HEALTH

Sewage spills and stormwater runoff threaten the health of beachgoers and coastal ecosystems across the US. These problems are expected to worsen with more extreme weather events, flooding and sea level rise overwhelming sewer and wastewater systems. Sufficient water quality monitoring is needed to protect public health, identify pollution hotspots, inform solutions and safeguard valuable coastal tourism economies. 

Support: $15 million for EPA's BEACH Act Grants Program in the FY 2024 Budget. Beach water quality monitoring programs protect children, swimmers and beachgoers from contracting dangerous waterborne illnesses and infections.

Support: $3 billion for EPA's Clean Water State Revolving Fund in the FY 2024 Budget. This funding would help upgrade our nation's failing wastewater systems to stop sewage pollution at the source, while helping to boost the economy.

Support: $100 million for EPA's Border Water Infrastructure Grant Program in the FY 2024 Budget. This funding would help address public health and ecological crisis at the U.S./Mexico Border, where over 36 billion gallons of polluted water have flowed into the U.S. through the Tijuana River since January 2023.

 

PREVENT PLASTIC POLLUTION

Plastic pollution is a grave environmental problem that threatens coastal economies and the health of marine ecosystems, including critical components of the food chain. Surfrider supports laws aimed at reducing sources of plastic pollution, including prohibition of easily littered single-use plastics, such as plastic bags, straws and polystyrene foam. Surfrider also supports prevention and response to ocean trash and funding for agencies and efforts that address marine plastic pollution. In 2019, Surfrider Foundation and UCLA Environmental Law Clinic completed a House and Senate briefing on plastic pollution solutions and have Briefing Booklet available online.

Support: The comprehensive Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act (S.  H.R.) introduced by Senator Merkley and Representative Huffman to address the toxic plastics crisis and stop pollution at the source.

Support​: The Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act (S.2337) introduced by Senator Durbin, an important breakaway bill of the comprehensive Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act, to stop the flow of trillions of plastic nurdles from entering our waterways each year.

Support​: The development a strong, binding Global Plastics Treaty to address plastic waste across the planet, and the advancement of federal procurement policies that phase out single-use plastics.

 

TAKE ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

Coastal communities and marine ecosystems are increasingly threatened by sea level rise, extreme weather events, ocean warming and acidification. These threats are exacerbated by the Administration's efforts to expand harmful and unnecessary offshore oil drilling. Bold federal leadership is needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, prohibit new offshore oil drilling, advance climate justice, protect critical habitat and blue carbon ecosystems, and enhance coastal resilience by protecting natural shorelines.

 Support: Legislation that bans new offshore oil drilling, including the West Coast Ocean Protection Act (H.R.470/S.22), the Florida Coastal Protection Act (HR.1443), and the COAST Anti-Drilling Act (HR.1320/S.617)

Support: The Strengthening Coastal Communities Act (S.2958) and the Bolstering Ecosystems Against Coastal Harm Act (HR.5490) to strengthen and expand beach, bluff and coastal habitat protections; and advance opportunities to support wetland migration. 

  Support: Increased funding for NOAA in the FY 2024 budget including funding for Coastal Zone Management, Coastal Resilience, Sea Grant, and National Marine Sanctuaries programs.