[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 179 (Tuesday, November 13, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H9476-H9478]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             STRENGTHENING COASTAL COMMUNITIES ACT OF 2018

  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill

[[Page H9477]]

(H.R. 5787) to amend the Coastal Barrier Resources Act to give effect 
to more accurate maps of units of the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier 
Resources System that were produced by digital mapping of such units, 
and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5787

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Strengthening Coastal 
     Communities Act of 2018''.

     SEC. 2. REPLACEMENT OF JOHN H. CHAFEE COASTAL BARRIER 
                   RESOURCES SYSTEM MAPS.

       (a) In General.--Subject to subsection (c), each map 
     included in the set of maps referred to in section 4(a) of 
     the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (16 U.S.C. 3503(a)) that 
     relates to a Unit of such System referred to in subsection 
     (b) of this section is replaced in such set with the map 
     described in subsection (b) with respect to that Unit.
       (b) Replacement Maps Described.--The replacement maps 
     referred to in subsection (a) are the following:
       (1) The map entitled ``Delaware Seashore Unit DE-07/DE-07P 
     North Bethany Beach Unit H01'' and dated March 18, 2016, with 
     respect to Unit DE-07, Unit DE-07P, and Unit H01.
       (2) The map entitled ``Pine Island Bay Unit NC-01/NC-01P'' 
     and dated March 18, 2016, with respect to Unit NC-01 and Unit 
     NC-01P.
       (3) The map entitled ``Roosevelt Natural Area Unit NC-05P'' 
     and dated March 18, 2016, with respect to Unit NC-05P.
       (4) The map entitled ``Hammocks Beach Unit NC-06/NC-06P (2 
     of 2) Onslow Beach Complex L05 (1 of 2)'' and dated March 18, 
     2016, with respect to Unit L05.
       (5) The map entitled ``Onslow Beach Complex L05 (2 of 2) 
     Topsail Unit L06 (1 of 2)'' and dated November 20, 2013, with 
     respect to Unit L05 and Unit L06.
       (6) The map entitled ``Topsail Unit L06 (2 of 2)'' and 
     dated November 20, 2013, with respect to Unit L06.
       (7) The map entitled ``Litchfield Beach Unit M02 Pawleys 
     Inlet Unit M03'' and dated March 18, 2016, with respect to 
     Unit M02 and Unit M03.
       (8) The map entitled ``Fort Clinch Unit FL-01/FL-01P'' and 
     dated March 18, 2016, with respect to Unit FL-01 and Unit FL-
     01P.
       (9) The map entitled ``Usina Beach Unit P04A Conch Island 
     Unit P05/P05P'' and dated March 18, 2016, with respect to 
     Unit P04A, Unit P05, and Unit P05P.
       (10) The map entitled ``Ponce Inlet Unit P08/P08P'' and 
     dated March 18, 2016, with respect to Unit P08 and Unit P08P.
       (11) The map entitled ``Spessard Holland Park Unit FL-13P 
     Coconut Point Unit P09A/P09AP'' and dated March 18, 2016, 
     with respect to Unit FL-13P, Unit P09A, and Unit P09AP.
       (12) The map entitled ``Blue Hole Unit P10A Pepper Beach 
     Unit FL-14P'' and dated March 18, 2016, with respect to Unit 
     P10A and Unit FL-14P.
       (13) The map entitled ``Hutchinson Island Unit P11/P11P (1 
     of 2)'' and dated March 18, 2016, with respect to Unit P11 
     and Unit P11P.
       (14) The map entitled ``Hutchinson Island Unit P11 (2 of 
     2)'' and dated March 18, 2016, with respect to Unit P11.
       (15) The map entitled ``Blowing Rocks Unit FL-15 Jupiter 
     Beach Unit FL-16P Carlin Unit FL-17P'' and dated March 18, 
     2016, with respect to Unit FL-15, Unit FL-16P, and Unit FL-
     17P.
       (16) The map entitled ``MacArthur Beach Unit FL-18P'' and 
     dated March 18, 2016, with respect to Unit FL-18P.
       (17) The map entitled ``Birch Park Unit FL-19P'' and dated 
     March 18, 2016, with respect to Unit FL-19P.
       (18) The map entitled ``Lloyd Beach Unit FL-20P North Beach 
     Unit P14A'' and dated March 18, 2016, with respect to Unit 
     FL-20P and Unit P14A.
       (19) The map entitled ``Tavernier Key Unit FL-39 Snake 
     Creek Unit FL-40'' and dated March 18, 2016, with respect to 
     Unit FL-39 and Unit FL-40.
       (20) The map entitled ``Channel Key Unit FL-43 Toms Harbor 
     Keys Unit FL-44 Deer/Long Point Keys Unit FL-45'' and dated 
     March 18, 2016, with respect to Unit FL-43, Unit FL-44, and 
     FL-45.
       (21) The map entitled ``Boot Key Unit FL-46'' and dated 
     March 18, 2016, with respect to Unit FL-46.
       (22) The map entitled ``Bowditch Point Unit P17A Bunche 
     Beach Unit FL-67/FL-67P Sanibel Island Complex P18P (1 of 
     2)'' and dated March 18, 2016, with respect to Unit P17A, 
     Unit FL-67, and Unit FL-67P.
       (23) The map entitled ``Bocilla Island Unit P21/P21P'' and 
     dated March 18, 2016, with respect to Unit P21 and Unit P21P.
       (24) The map entitled ``Venice Inlet Unit FL-71P Casey Key 
     Unit P22'' and dated March 18, 2016, with respect to Unit 
     P22.
       (25) The map entitled ``Lido Key Unit FL-72P'' and dated 
     March 18, 2016, with respect to Unit FL-72P.
       (26) The map entitled ``De Soto Unit FL-73P Rattlesnake Key 
     Unit FL-78 Bishop Harbor Unit FL-82'' and dated March 18, 
     2016, with respect to Unit FL-73P, Unit FL-78, and Unit FL-
     82.
       (27) The map entitled ``Passage Key Unit FL-80P Egmont Key 
     Unit FL-81/FL-81P The Reefs Unit P24P (1 of 2)'' and dated 
     March 18, 2016, with respect to Unit FL-80P, Unit FL-81, and 
     Unit FL-81P.
       (28) The map entitled ``Cockroach Bay Unit FL-83'' and 
     dated March 18, 2016, with respect to Unit FL-83.
       (29) The map entitled ``Sand Key Unit FL-85P'' and dated 
     March 18, 2016, with respect to Unit FL-85P.
       (30) The map entitled ``Pepperfish Keys Unit P26'' and 
     dated March 18, 2016, with respect to Unit P26.
       (31) The map entitled ``Peninsula Point Unit FL-89'' and 
     dated March 18, 2016, with respect to Unit FL-89.
       (32) The map entitled ``Phillips Inlet Unit FL-93/FL-93P 
     Deer Lake Complex FL-94'' and dated March 18, 2016, with 
     respect to Unit FL-93, Unit FL-93P, and Unit FL-94.
       (33) The map entitled ``St. Andrew Complex P31 (1 of 3)'' 
     and dated October 7, 2016, with respect to Unit P31.
       (34) The map entitled ``St. Andrew Complex P31 (2 of 3)'' 
     and dated October 7, 2016, with respect to Unit P31.
       (35) The map entitled ``St. Andrew Complex P31/P31P (3 of 
     3)'' and dated October 7, 2016, with respect to Unit P31 and 
     Unit P31P.
       (c) Limitations.--For purposes of subsection (a)--
       (1) nothing in this section affects the boundaries of any 
     of Units NC-06 and NC-06P;
       (2) the occurrence in subsection (b) of the name of a Unit 
     solely in the title of a map shall not be construed to be a 
     reference to such Unit; and
       (3) the depiction of boundaries of any of Units P18P, FL-
     71P, and P24P in a map referred to in paragraph (22), (24), 
     or (27) of subsection (b) shall not be construed to affect 
     the boundaries of such Unit.
       (d) Conforming Amendment.--Section 4(a) of the Coastal 
     Barrier Resources Act (16 U.S.C. 3503(a)) is amended--
       (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting 
     ``replaced,'' after ``may be''; and
       (2) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``replaces such a map 
     or'' after ``that specifically''.

     SEC. 3. DIGITAL MAPS OF JOHN H. CHAFEE COASTAL BARRIER 
                   RESOURCES SYSTEM UNITS.

       Section 4(b) of the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (16 
     U.S.C. 3503(b)) is amended--
       (1) by inserting before the first sentence the following:
       ``(1) In general.--''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(2) Digital maps.--
       ``(A) Availability.--The Secretary shall make available to 
     the public on the Internet web site of the United States Fish 
     and Wildlife Service digital versions of the maps included in 
     the set of maps referred to in subsection (a).
       ``(B) Effect.--Any determination as to whether a location 
     is inside or outside the System shall be made without regard 
     to the digital maps available under this paragraph, except 
     that this subparagraph does not apply with respect to any 
     printed version of such a digital map if the printed version 
     is included in the maps referred to in subsection (a).
       ``(C) Report.--No later than 180 days after the date of the 
     enactment of the Strengthening Coastal Communities Act of 
     2018, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural 
     Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
     on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a report 
     regarding the progress and challenges in the transition from 
     paper to digital maps and a timetable for completion of the 
     digitization of all maps related to the System.''.

     SEC. 4. REPEAL OF REPORT.

       Section 3 of Public Law 109-226 is repealed.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Colorado (Mr. Lamborn) and the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Hanabusa) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Colorado.


                             General Leave

  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Colorado?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5787, the Strengthening 
Coastal Communities Act of 2018, sponsored by our colleague from 
Florida, Congressman Neal Dunn.
  This legislation codifies modernized, digital maps under the Coastal 
Barrier Resources Act and was developed in a collaborative manner with 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Members whose districts are 
impacted by the map revisions. Only those maps that received sign-off 
from the affected Members were included in this package.
  I thank Mr. Dunn, Ms. Blunt Rochester, and all who participated in 
this process for their hard work on this important issue.
  The Coastal Barrier Resources System has proven to be a win-win for 
the

[[Page H9478]]

taxpayers and the environment since its enactment in 1982, saving the 
taxpayers billions of dollars by avoiding Federal investment in 
undeveloped storm- and flood-prone areas. H.R. 5787 will strengthen and 
update this system and allow its success to continue.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. HANABUSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5787 and I yield 
4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Delaware (Ms. Blunt Rochester), my 
colleague.
  Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to urge my colleagues 
to support the passage of H.R. 5787, the Strengthening Coastal 
Communities Act of 2018.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to start by thanking Chairman Bishop and Ranking 
Member Grijalva for working with myself and Congressman Dunn to quickly 
pass this important piece of legislation.
  In my home State of Delaware and in communities all over the country, 
our beaches and coastlines are critical not only for their 
contributions to our economy, but also for their natural beauty. For 
too long, those communities were encroached upon by overly ambitious 
development. That development was, in part, aided by programs that were 
put in place by the Federal Government.
  In the 1980s, Congress recognized the burden that development was 
placing on local communities and passed the Coastal Barrier Resources 
Act. The act ensured that certain coastal areas were removed from the 
Federal programs that incentivized increased development.
  Through the creation of the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources 
System, coastal communities across the United States were able to 
ensure that their cherished natural heritage was protected and 
preserved for generations to come.
  As the years passed, the coastal communities across America evolved. 
The Coastal Barrier Resources Act should have evolved as well. 
Unfortunately, that didn't happen, and it has been far too long since 
the maps designating areas belonging to the Coastal Barrier Resources 
System were updated. It was through the efforts of the Members of those 
coastal communities that this problem was identified.
  We are the people's House, and the Strengthening Coastal Communities 
Act of 2018 emanated from the thoughts and concerns of everyday 
citizens. It was the voice of a Member of my home State of Delaware 
that brought the issue to my attention, and I would be remiss if I 
didn't recognize him.
  Tom D'Amico, the president of the South Shore Homeowners Association, 
shared with me just how badly outdated the maps were. Tom and other 
coastal Delawareans told me that the only way in which the Coastal 
Barrier Resources Act could truly be effective is if the maps 
designating the exempt areas were kept up-to-date.
  I should also recognize the efforts of my State's senior Senator and 
ranking member on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, 
Tom Carper. I know that Senator Carper has been paying very close 
attention to this issue, as it has impacted our shorelines for many 
years.
  Finally, I recognize my friend and gentleman from Florida (Mr. Dunn). 
While, initially, Members from many States had introduced legislation 
updating maps for their individual States, it became clear that one 
bill that would update all the maps across the country would be the 
most effective and efficient way to accomplish our goals. When I came 
to Congress, I made a promise to the people of Delaware to work with 
other Members not based on the letter that was next to their name, but 
rather by finding Members with common interests, common challenges, and 
those who were willing to work to find common solutions. I am proud to 
have found a partner for this bill in Mr. Dunn.
  From the coasts of Delaware to Florida, to Louisiana, to Hawaii, and 
to the Virgin Islands, we all have a common interest in maintaining the 
natural beauty of our great country. While development is crucial to 
the continued economic growth in our country, we recognize that not 
every place is appropriate for development. We should not only 
acknowledge the wisdom of the 97th United States Congress in passing 
the Coastal Barrier Resources Act, but do everything possible to uphold 
its legacy by ensuring that the maps are updated and modernized, as 
this bill has done.
  Mr. Speaker, I also recognize Congressman Tom Evans, who was an 
original cosponsor from the State of Delaware.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Dunn), who introduced the 
bill.
  Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to be here today for the opportunity to 
speak on this bipartisan, commonsense bill to provide much-needed 
modernization and updates of the Coastal Barrier Resources System maps. 
I thank Chairman Bishop for his work throughout this process, as well 
as my colleague on the other side of the aisle, my friend, 
Representative Blunt Rochester, for her work on this issue as well.
  The Coastal Barrier Resources Act, signed into law in 1982, is meant 
to preserve our Nation's barrier islands by barring Federal funds and 
financial assistance from being used there, which therefore 
disincentivizes development. This bill maintains these protections for 
our Nation's barrier islands while simply providing for more precise 
digital maps to distinguish the CBRA zones.
  For decades, some of my constituents throughout the Second District 
of Florida have been burdened by being erroneously included in the CBRA 
zones. In some cases, this is due to the width of the pencil marks 
outlining the boundaries on the original outdated, hand-drawn maps. 
This was unacceptable in 1982, and it is outrageous in 2018.
  Now, more than ever, in the wake of one of the most devastating 
hurricanes in American history, a lack of access to Federal resources 
is particularly debilitating for residents in coastal communities 
across the Florida panhandle. This means no flood insurance, no FEMA 
assistance, or no SBA loans. Being included in the CBRA zones actually 
precludes the use of the funds from the BP oil spill in 2010.
  I am grateful that this bill will provide a remedy for some people 
who are dealing with these unnecessary burdens.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I 
encourage the Senate to take it up before the end of Congress.
  Ms. HANABUSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, I commend Congressman Dunn and Congresswoman 
Blunt Rochester for their leadership on this bipartisan bill to codify 
a series of updated Coastal Barrier Resources System pilot project 
maps.
  This legislation, much like the underlying act, demonstrates that 
good environmental stewardship, conservation, and coastal resiliency go 
hand in hand with responsible taxpayer protections.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support this measure, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 5787, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this question will be postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

                          ____________________