Strengthening CBRA: New Legislation Adds Over 280,000 Acres of Protection

ByNews Editor

ASFPM is celebrating a major legislative victory for our coasts. A reauthorization, strengthening,  and expansion of the Coastal Barrier Resources Act passed the Senate on Tuesday, Nov. 19 and is now on its way to President Biden to be signed into law.

The final CBRA bill, officially titled the Bolstering Ecosystems Against Coastal Harm (BEACH) Act, expands and strengthens the original CBRA legislation in several important ways:

  • Adds more than 280,000 acres to the Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS) along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.
  • Authorizes a scientific study of coastal hazards and explores ways the CBRA could be expanded to better address these risks.
  • Reauthorizes the CBRA with basic funding for seven years, through 2031.

Why It Matters

Established in 1982, the CBRA disincentivizes development by removing eligibility for federal funding and financial assistance (like flood insurance) in sensitive coastal areas. A 2023 study found CBRA to be highly effective in meeting its goals:

  • 85% reduction in development in flood-prone areas.
  • 25% reduction in flood damage to nearby communities.
  • Nearly $10 billion saved in taxpayer money over 25 years.

These outcomes highlight the value of prioritizing natural infrastructure. CBRA’s healthy, protected habitats serve as natural buffers, absorbing storm impacts and reducing risks for nearby communities.

The BEACH Act builds on this success by implementing the Department of the Interior’s 2022 recommendations, which identified nearly 280,000 acres in nine Atlantic Coast states for addition to the CBRA. It also includes new protections in South Carolina, Florida, and Louisiana, where the risks from sea-level rise and storms are especially severe.

A Stronger CBRA After Years of Advocacy

The Senate bill was co-sponsored by Sens. Tom Carper (D-DE) and Lindsay Graham (R-SC), while Reps. Jen Kiggans (R-VA) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) championed the House bill. We are grateful for their bipartisan efforts to strengthen the bill. 

The bill didn’t come together overnight. Its development relied on collaboration with diverse stakeholders, rigorous scientific research, and strategic advocacy efforts. These efforts have resulted in the largest expansion of the CBRS since 1990 and a bill designed to more effectively protect vulnerable coastal areas, conserve natural habitats, and save taxpayer dollars.

ASFPM worked alongside a coalition of national and local organizations to champion the bill, including the National Audubon Society, National Wildlife Foundation, Natural Resources Defense, Council, National Association of Wetland Managers, Shellfish Growers Association, Taxpayers for Common Sense, Reinsurance Association of America, R Street Institute, Wetlands Watch, Back Bay Restoration Foundation, Lynnhaven River NOW, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, National Aquarium, Southern Environmental Law Center, Healthy Gulf, Surfrider Foundation, Western Carolina University, and the Union of Concerned Scientists. This collaborative effort amplified the bill’s support and ensured its success.

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