[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 111 (Friday, June 25, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H3152]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1130
                        EROSION IN ORANGE COUNTY

  (Mrs. STEEL asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mrs. STEEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to talk about an issue that 
is extremely important for my Orange County community.
  This week, my district braced for extreme high tides that presented 
another flood risk to Newport Beach. City workers raised sand berms on 
the Balboa Peninsula and handed out sandbags to residents, hoping to 
avoid another flood like the one we experienced last July.
  One Newport Beach resident this week said, ``I have lived here for 10 
years. I have never seen the bay so high or the ocean so high this 
early and before high tide.'' This risk of flood in our communities is 
real.
  This week, Lieutenant General Spellmon from the Army Corps said that 
erosion in our community was not unique. I agree that this is an issue 
all around California, but the difference is Orange County's problem 
was brought on by the Federal, man-made projects that permanently 
stopped natural sand flow onto our beaches.
  The Army Corps created this issue, and it is their job to ensure the 
final stages of sand replenishment are made a priority. The safety of 
our communities is at risk, and we are one natural disaster away from 
devastating damage.
  Mr. Speaker, I will continue to work with local stakeholders to call 
on the Army Corps to fix the problem they made.

                          ____________________