[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 176 (Wednesday, December 7, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H7297-H7298]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  JOHN H. CHAFEE COASTAL BARRIER RESOURCES SYSTEM BOUNDARIES REVISION

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 6400) to revise the boundaries of certain John H. 
Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System units in New Jersey.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 6400

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. REPLACEMENT OF JOHN H. CHAFEE COASTAL BARRIER 
                   RESOURCES SYSTEM MAP.

       (a) In General.--The map subtitled ``Seidler Beach Unit NJ-
     02, Cliffwood Beach Unit NJ-03P, Conaskonk Point Unit NJ-
     04'', dated August 1, 2014, that is included in the set of 
     maps entitled ``Coastal Barrier Resources System'' referred 
     to in section 4(a) of the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (16 
     U.S.C. 3503(a)) and relating to certain John H. Chafee 
     Coastal Barrier Resources System units in New Jersey, is 
     hereby replaced by another map subtitled ``Seidler Beach Unit 
     NJ-02/NJ-02P, Cliffwood Beach Unit NJ-03P, Conaskonk Point 
     Unit NJ-04, Sayreville Unit NJ-15P, Matawan Point Unit NJ-
     16P'' and dated October 7, 2016.
       (b) Availability.--The Secretary of the Interior shall keep 
     the replacement map referred to in subsection (a) on file and 
     available for inspection in accordance with section 4(b) of 
     the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (16 U.S.C. 3503(b)).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Alaska (Mr. Young) and the gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands 
(Mr. Sablan) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alaska.


                             General Leave

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Alaska?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6400, introduced by my colleague, Mr. Pallone, 
makes boundary adjustments to multiple units of the Coastal Barrier 
Resources System along the coast of his New Jersey congressional 
district. I have no objection to this bill and compliment the gentleman 
for introducing the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, under the Coastal Barrier Resources Act--or CoBRA--the 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service identifies hazardous areas on

[[Page H7298]]

the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, and submits maps to Congress recommending 
that we make Federal subsidies off limits to people who choose to 
develop those lands.
  This is a commonsense, scientific, fiscally conservative way to 
protect private property and public infrastructure, while also ensuring 
that taxpayers do not have to foot the bill for risky coastal 
development. In this time of rising sea levels and increased storm 
surge brought on by climate change, CoBRA is becoming more and more 
important every day.
  H.R. 6400 would adjust the boundaries of several Coastal Barrier 
Resources System units in New Jersey, including one that contains an 
important flood control structure. These changes have been carefully 
mapped by the Fish and Wildlife Service, and reflect improvements in 
technology that have allowed us to show with great accuracy which 
parcels of land do and do not constitute ``coastal barrier resources'' 
under the law.
  As a result, numerous properties that were originally included by 
mistake will be removed, and other properties that have been identified 
as at-risk will be included.
  These changes to the C.B.R.S. are protective of private property 
rights, the environment, and the taxpayers, and I support passage of 
the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone), the author of the bill.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6400.
  This bill is extremely important to my constituents, especially those 
living in Union Beach, New Jersey. Passing this bill will allow the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to move forward on an important flood 
control project for Union Beach.
  H.R. 6400 would realign the mapping of several New Jersey units of 
the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resource System. Congressional 
approval is required for any changes to these maps by the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service. Over the past year, the Fish and Wildlife Service 
worked with the Corps to make noncontroversial changes to the mapping, 
completed its review, and transmitted them to Congress on November 21 
of this year.
  Until these maps are approved by Congress, Mr. Speaker, the Union 
Beach flood control project will be in limbo. The Corps cannot sign a 
project partnership agreement or make other progress until the updated 
maps are approved.
  Union Beach was devastated by Superstorm Sandy, and residents have 
been waiting far too long for this project to be completed. It was 
initially authorized by the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 on 
November 8, 2007, and funding and authorization for the project came 
from Sandy relief funding in 2013.
  Moving forward on this project is a priority for the State of New 
Jersey, local authorities in Union Beach, and the Army Corps; however, 
that can only be done if Congress approves the new maps, which it can 
do by passing H.R. 6400.
  Again, passing this bill is vitally important. It is 
noncontroversial. I want to thank Chairman Bishop, Ranking Member 
Grijalva, and House leadership for allowing this legislation to be 
considered under suspension of the rules.
  I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6400. The people of Union Beach 
have waited long enough to rebuild and protect their community from 
future storms.
  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I would like to 
compliment the gentleman from New Jersey. I do hope he understands that 
this is his district and I will support his legislation. I would like 
to have him do the same thing when I bring legislation to the floor 
that only affects my district.
  So, with courtesy to him, I will urge a ``yes'' vote on this 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Dold). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) that the House suspend 
the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 6400.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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