At the beginning of July, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act, a sweeping infrastructure bill with a $1.5 trillion price tag. It is a partisan package, and in its present form, it is unlikely to pass in the Senate.
But there are good ideas in it, including measures that have previous bipartisan support that conservatives should find appealing. Previously, we discussed one such idea, the Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act, which provides a framework to address the long-term habitat connectivity of native species. This bill is a critical step forward in protecting our nation’s lands and waters and in restoring fish, wildlife, and plant populations to conserve biodiversity for future generations.
Another provision of the Moving forward Act involves coastal and drought resiliency. As the climate continues to change, it is critical that ecosystems adapt. Parks and communities across the nation face major threats: extended droughts, intense fires, extreme rain, storms, and flooding.
Western states, in particular, continue to experience longer droughts. A lack of water threatens agricultural industries and recreational opportunities, which directly impacts local economies. The Colorado River, for example, supports the water supply for seven states and nine national parks.
The FUTURE Western Water Infrastructure and Drought Resiliency Act (Section 81201) would provide $3.5 billion to support water infrastructure in these states. The funds would contribute to ensuring water security, promoting water recycling and reuse, and strengthening ecological resiliency.
By funding water infrastructure in the West, the legislation could help to restore fish and wildlife populations. This would boost thriving outdoor recreational industries and local economies by providing more hunting, fishing, and outdoor activities for communities.
Furthermore, there is strong support for federal funding of water infrastructure projects. In a recent poll by the Value of Water Campaign, 84 percent of Americans said they support federal investments in water projects. Nearly three-quarters of Americans in the same poll said they would support projects specifically intended to boost the environment’s resilience to climate change.
Coastal communities face the opposite problem of the lack of water in the West. Along coastlines, parks and communities are experiencing extreme rains, flooding, and storms. To support resiliency in these coastal areas, the Act seeks to establish a Coastal Resiliency Fund (Section 83101) and Living Shoreline Grants (Section 83102).
The Coastal Resiliency Fund would provide the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) $3 billion to protect coastal communities by restoring natural features like coral reefs and marshes while restoring fish and wildlife habitats. Projects that boost local economies and create job opportunities would be prioritized, along with project proposals in under-resourced communities.
The Living Shoreline Grants are also administered through the NOAA. The $50 million available would be used to protect parks and neighboring communities from rising sea levels and stronger storms. The grants will fund projects that create sand dunes, wetlands, barrier islands, and coastal forests. Projects in disaster areas, under-resourced communities, or neighboring military installations are given priority for funding.
The coastal and drought resiliency provisions of the Moving Forward Act are thoughtful policies that support American parks, communities, and economies. If passed, these provisions would provide funding for states to strengthen water and environmental infrastructures while providing job opportunities for Americans just as our communities need help with economic recovery.
As conservatives, we at ConservAmerica do not take lightly increasing federal spending that adds to the national deficit and grows the federal government, so we would urge policymakers to seek to offset new spending with reductions in other areas. We would also encourage the federal government to seek ways to streamline federal regulations that are an obstacle to local decision making to respond to these growing challenges and incentivize greater private sector investment in infrastructure.