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HR 5490 118th Congress House Public Lands and Natural Resources Congressional oversight Connecticut Delaware Floods and storm protection Florida Geography and mapping Louisiana Marine and coastal resources, fisheries Maryland Massachusetts New Hampshire New Jersey New York State North Carolina Rhode Island South Carolina Virginia Water resources funding

Bolstering Ecosystems Against Coastal Harm Act

Introduced: May 31, 2024 Introduced by: Kiggans, Jennifer A. Republican · Virginia See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 21 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Nov 25, 2024
Became Public Law No: 118-117.
Nov 25, 2024
Signed by President.
Nov 21, 2024
Presented to President.
Nov 20, 2024
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Nov 19, 2024
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
Nov 19, 2024
Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S6638)
Sep 25, 2024
Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 546.
Sep 24, 2024
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5713-5718)
Sep 24, 2024
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Sep 24, 2024
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5713-5718)
Sep 24, 2024
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5490.
Sep 24, 2024
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5713-5719)
Sep 24, 2024
Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Sep 12, 2024
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 118-667.
Sep 12, 2024
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 563.
Dec 6, 2023
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
Dec 6, 2023
Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries Discharged
Sep 28, 2023
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Sep 26, 2023
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries.
Sep 14, 2023
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Sep 14, 2023
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Bolstering Ecosystems Against Coastal Harm Act or the BEACH Act

This act modifies the coastal areas belonging to the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS) and which are, therefore, ineligible to receive federal financial assistance for land development. It also expands exceptions to this restriction, establishes additional requirements for agencies administering the CBRS, and requires a study relating to coastal barrier ecosystems.

Specifically, the act updates and replaces existing CBRS maps with maps recommended by the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in a 2022 report to Congress titled John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System Hurricane Sandy Remapping Project. Affected coastal areas are located in 13 states: Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Virginia.

In addition, the act creates new exceptions to the limitation on federal financial assistance for certain (1) aquaculture operations (e.g., shellfish production) and (2) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers coastal storm risk management projects. The act also provides that insurable structures (i.e., walled and roofed buildings) that are on the ground in areas added to the CBRS within one year of enactment remain eligible for federal financial assistance. 

The act directs FWS to issue regulations requiring owners or lessors of real property in communities affected by the CBRS to disclose this information to prospective buyers or lessees.

Additionally, the act provides that FWS shall develop and finalize guidance relating to the expenditure of federal funds in emergency situations that threaten life, land, and property immediately adjacent to a system unit. The act also generally requires agencies that are involved with the CBRS to revise or issue regulations or guidance as necessary within one year of enactment.

Finally, the act directs FWS and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to conduct a scientific evaluation of the dynamics of coastal barrier ecosystems. FWS and USGS must provide related recommendations for the CBRS to Congress.

What's happening now November 25, 2024

Became Public Law No: 118-117.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 2958 Related bill Strengthening Coastal Communities Act of 2023
 Bill text 6 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Democratic 1
D
Blunt Rochester, Lisa
Delaware · May 31, 2024
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5490: Bolstering Ecosystems Against Coastal Harm Act. 118th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-5490/
MLA
"H.R. 5490: Bolstering Ecosystems Against Coastal Harm Act." 118th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-5490/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5490, 118th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-5490/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5490: Bolstering Ecosystems Against Coastal Harm Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-5490/)
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