Pallone Secures Continued Federal Funding for Beach Renourishment Projects

Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) today secured continued federal funding for the placement of sand on beaches that have previously been replenished but have lost sand in the last few years. The victory comes after President Bush proposed shifting the cost of all beach renourishment to state and local governments in his Fiscal Year (FY) 2005 budget.

The New Jersey congressman had language included in a Continuing Resolution (CR) that prevents the Army Corps from implementing the Bush administration proposal when the new fiscal year begins on October 1. Today, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the CR, which continues federal funding for all federal programs since Congress has yet to complete its appropriations work for the upcoming year.

Pallone believed the language was necessary after Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works John Paul Woodley, Jr. said he intended to enforce the Bush administration policy on October 1 unless Congress directed him otherwise.

"If Congress did not act today, state and local governments would be picking up the entire bill for renourishing their beaches come Friday," Pallone said. "The Army Corps should have never had the opportunity to implement President Bush's shortsighted budget proposal, and I'm confident we'll defeat it entirely later this year."

After hearing about the Army Corps' intentions, Pallone and U.S. Rep. Clay Shaw (R-FL), co-chairs of the House Coastal Caucus, sent a letter to House appropriators earlier this week urging them to include language in the CR directing the Army Corps to continue funding for periodic renourishment projects until a final bill can be signed.

"We ask that as you work on development of a continuing resolution for FY 2004 and a final FY 2005 Energy and Water Appropriations bill, you include legislative language to reject the Administrations proposed policy change," the Coastal co-chairs wrote. "By rejecting this proposal, statutory and contractual commitments that the Army Corps of Engineers has made with non-federal sponsors will be maintained, thereby allowing federal participation in all work beyond initial construction on renourishment projects."

In June, the House approved a FY 2005 Energy and Water Appropriations bill that included language that would allow funding to place sand on beaches that have previously been replenished but have lost sand in the last few years, including $500,000 that Pallone secured for the area reaching from Sandy Hook to Barnegat Inlet.

Pallone also secured additional funding beyond President Bush's request for projects along the Bayshore in Monmouth County. Pallone's requests to increase funding for all projects currently in the engineering and design phase were met. Union Beach, not funded by the Administration, will receive $100,000 to complete the engineering and design. Leonardo, slated to receive $198,000 in the Administration budget request, will now receive $250,000. Pallone's request for $250,000 for Highlands was met, which is $100,000 above the Administration's request. Finally, Keyport will receive an additional $50,000 above the Administration's request of $150,000.

The Senate has yet to pass a Fiscal Year 2005 Energy and Water Appropriations bill. Continuing resolutions are required to fund federal programs until the spending bills are passed by both the House and Senate and signed into law by the president.