Restore America’s Estuaries Applauds Passage of Coastal Habitat Conservation Act

Bill reauthorizes U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Coastal Program at $16.9 million annually

December 11, 2024

Press Contact: Brad Williamson
Manager, Government Affairs and Communications

Washington D.C. – Today, President Biden signed the Coastal Habitat Conservation Act (H.R. 2950) into law, marking a crucial step forward in the protection of our coasts. The legislation authorizes the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Coastal Program at $16.9 million annually through fiscal 2028.

Introduced in April 2023, the bill solidifies the importance of the Coastal Program’s mission to protect habitats, communities, and ecosystems along the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Gulf of Mexico, Great Lakes, and in the Caribbean.

Since 1985, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Coastal Program has grown to cover 24 priority coastal areas to support habitat conversation through to a network of staff dedicated to providing technical and financial assistance for implementing habitat restoration and protection projects. As a result of this funding, conservation efforts that impact the health of our estuaries such as dam removals, fish passage restoration, and urban restoration will continue.

The Coastal Habitat Conservation Act has long been a priority for RAE and our member organizations who are closely aligned with USFWS on coastal objectives. In August 2023, RAE sponsored Galveston Bay Foundation’s Director of Program Operations Haille Leija to testify before Congress, showing the value of our approach to advocating for coastal restoration policy and funding at the federal level by leveraging the impact of RAE members, partners, and communities.

“This collaborative legislation demonstrates that protecting our coasts is a bipartisan priority on which we all can agree,” said RAE President and CEO Daniel Hayden. “We are grateful to Representative Jared Huffman and Jennifer González-Colón as well as Senators Ben Cardin and Lindsey Graham for their dedication to protecting coastal habitats and communities.

RAE is proud to support the legislation alongside a diverse coalition of coastal stakeholders including Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Choose Clean Water Coalition, Coastal States Organization, National Wildlife Federation, Ocean Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy, and National Audubon Society.

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Restore America’s Estuaries is dedicated to the protection and restoration of bays and estuaries as essential resources for our nation.