Congressional Estuary Caucus
Dedicated to promoting the successes of estuary restoration and conservation, as well as addressing the challenges facing our nation’s estuaries.
The Congressional Estuary Caucus (CEC) was established in early 2017 to help educate leaders at all levels of government on the importance of estuaries, and ensure we sustain the robust support for proven programs that work to confront the mutual troubles of U.S. estuaries.
CEC members recognize the critical importance of our nation’s estuarine systems and work to protect and restore our nation’s estuaries. Caucus members are committed to ensuring that the full range of benefits provided by estuaries continue to be realized including: sustaining economically important fishery resources, improving the resilience of coastal communities, protecting vital infrastructure from extreme weather events, and providing new recreational opportunities. As threats to estuaries continue to mount, the CEC’s work will be critical to ensuring these systems remain healthy and productive.
“We know we have an imperative to act to protect our estuaries for the planet and economy.” – Rep. Suzanne Bonamici
Membership
Currently, the CEC has nearly 40 members representing districts along each of our nation’s coasts.
Suzanne Bonamici |
Rick Larsen |
Brian Mast |
Bill Posey |
116th Congress Membership
| Brian Babin (TX36) Gus Bilirakis (FL12) Earl Blumenauer (OR03) Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE) Bradley Byrne (AL01) Salud Carbajal (CA24) Gerald E. Connolly (VA11) | Charlie Crist (FL13) | Derek Kilmer (WA06) | Francis Rooney (FL19) |
2021 Briefings
June 17, 2021 | Nature as infrastructure: protecting our coasts, bringing jobs to our communities, and restoring natural ecosystems
Nature-based solutions have become the preferred method in most instances for habitat restoration and protection. Learn from experts in the field of coastal restoration on the benefits of these types of projects and why nature should be a key component of the infrastructure conversation. Panelists: John Floberg, NOAA; Duane De Freese, Indian River Lagoon Council and NEP; Brandon Puckett, North Carolina Coastal Reserve and NERR, Alicia Lehrer, Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council. Moderated by Daniel Hayden, President of Restore America’s Estuaries.