WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Reinvesting in Shoreline Economies and Ecosystems Act, introduced in June by U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and cosponsored by Sens. Chris Coons (D-Del.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Angus King Jr. (I-Maine), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), is being reviewed by committee members in a legislative hearing today. This critical legislation will increase resources available for coastal restoration and resilience efforts by sending revenue generated from offshore wind back to coastal states and amending the revenue sharing program under the 2006 Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act.

“Coastal communities face severe and escalating challenges as the harsh realities of climate change fuel extreme weather and sea level rise,” said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO at the National Wildlife Federation. “Bolstering our resilience by restoring natural defenses like coastal wetlands and dunes — including by deploying a portion of revenues from responsible offshore wind development — will help protect coastal communities and save taxpayer dollars. We thank Senators Whitehouse and Cassidy for working tirelessly to increase the resources available for coastal communities and marine ecosystems.”

The bill will send a percentage of revenues to the National Ocean and Coastal Security Fund, which supports environmental research, monitoring, and restoration activities, including investment in protective natural infrastructure projects, through both a formula program and a competitive grant-based program administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The legislation also lifts the existing cap on stateside Land and Water Conservation Fund revenues, increasing resources for state efforts nationwide to protect national resources.

For more information on the National Wildlife Federation’s work to advance responsibly developed offshore wind energy visit offshorewind.nwf.org