[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 27 (Friday, February 18, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E319]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             FULL-YEAR CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2011

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                               speech of

                           HON. MIKE McINTYRE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 18, 2011

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1) making 
     appropriations for the Department of Defense and the other 
     departments and agencies of the Government for the fiscal 
     year ending September 30, 2011, and for other purposes:

  Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to the Broun 
amendment that would eliminate funding for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
coastal projects.
  Simply put--this is a ``penny wise/pound foolish'' effort.
  Representing a coastal district I can speak first hand to the 
importance of coastal projects.
  Beaches are of incredible economic importance to the local, state, 
regional, and national economy contributing nearly $35 billion in 
annual Federal revenues.
  There are over 2 billion visits made to our nation's beaches each 
year, with the Federal Government collecting $320 per beach tourists 
for every $1 spent on beach renourishment!
  And more people visit our nation's beaches each year than all of our 
national parks combined!
  North Carolina beaches create about 50,000 jobs, $1.6 billion in 
spending revenues, $78 million in state revenue and beach-related 
tourism provides a total payroll of $350 million!
  But the coast is also something much more important than numbers--it 
is a place where our batteries can be recharged, where family memories 
are built, and where many choose to live out the sunset of their lives.
  Let's reject this amendment and support the coastal communities which 
support and provide much-needed employment and enjoyment for our 
Nation!

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