To all to whom these presents shall
come, GREETINGS:
Whereas, America’s, and
specifically, the beaches of Texas are home to some of
the nation’s most precious natural resources. Beyond
their intrinsic natural beauty, healthy beaches provide
effective storm damage protection, offer residents and
visitors unequaled recreational opportunities, and
provide unique environmental habitats. Together with
coastal wetlands, bird sanctuaries, estuaries, ports,
intra-coastal waterways and other resources, our coastal
regions are economic engines filled with recreational
opportunities and environmental treasures that deserve
to be preserved and protected. America’s beaches are
major tourist destinations for millions of domestic and
foreign visitors, providing jobs and business profits
which, in turn, produce billions of dollars in tax
revenue for the federal government, as well as state and
local governments; and
Whereas, the devastation
caused by hurricanes and severe weather underscores the
need to invest in our nations water resources
infrastructure, including shore protection projects; and
Whereas, nearly 60 percent of
all Americans live within 50 miles of the Atlantic and
Pacific Oceans, the Gulf of Mexico, and the five Great
Lakes; and
Whereas, it is imperative the federal government
acknowledge its role and responsibility for continued
support of our nation’s public shores and beaches; and
Whereas, the past half-century has demonstrated
that beach nourishment works as a means of repairing
erosion, storm damage protection and providing
recreation while providing at least $4.00 in national
economic benefits for every $1.00 of federal money
spent.
Now, Therefore, Be it Resolved
that Brazoria County Commissioners’ Court calls upon its
federal legislators to help enact Texas Gulf Coast
2007 Coastal Federal Legislative Agenda including
the following actions:
Secure necessary funding levels
in General Investigations funding in the FY2008
Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act for
the Reconnaissance Study from San Luis Pass to the
San Bernard River within the limits of Brazoria
County; and
Provide necessary support to the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the Water Resources
Development Act (WRDA) as early in 2007 as possible
to provide for a new authority for the Corps of
Engineers to use regional sand management and
watershed management planning in all coastal regions
of the United States; and
Urges the inclusion in WRDA of
language requiring the Corps of Engineers to give
equal weight to the economic benefits of tourism and
recreation in formulating beach nourishment projects
and urges Congress to reauthorize the BEACH Act; and
Support increased funding of
beach restoration projects with a national goal of
$170 million in FY 2008 and beyond and urges
Congress to fund new beach nourishment study,
specifically for the San Luis Pass to San Bernard
River Reconnaissance Study and funding to open the
mouth of the San Bernard River; and
Draft and approve legislative
language counting recreation benefits equally with
storm damage reduction and environmental benefits
and to recognize the benefits derived from beach
nourishment as pre- and post-disaster mitigation;
and
Provide funding to the Minerals
Management Service (MMS) sufficient to the necessary
administration and oversight for the CIAP program to
distribute revenues derived from Outer Continental
Shelf (OCS) oil and gas activities; and
Supports the development of
guidelines that enable local governments to avoid
being penalized for undertaking interim erosion
control activities prior to a pending federal beach
nourishment project; and
Support funding for the National
Shoreline Technology Demonstration Program (Section
227 Program) at no less than $10 million in FY2008
and funding for the National Shoreline Study at no
less than $1,000,000 in FY2008; and
Provide funding for the national
Regional Sediment Management Demonstration
program at $20 million.
Urges Congress to initiate
funding for the National Coastal Data Bank. By
appropriating $1 million, Congress can begin a
four-year effort to establish an Internet-based home
for existing federal, state, and academic
institution data; and
Also supports increased funding
for FEMA’s Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) program and
urges that agency to recognize the significant
damage mitigation benefits derived from nourished
beaches;
Supports the re-creation of a
Senate Coastal Caucus as well as the strengthening
of the House Coastal Caucus and the Congressional
Waterways Caucus and will provide each with
day-to-day assistance;
Supports the mission of the
re-established Congressional Hazards Caucus and will
participate in the activities of the Congressional
Hazards Caucus Alliance, a working group formed to
provide information and support to Caucus members.
The Hazards Caucus is focused on reducing the
impacts of natural disasters and enhancing the
nation's ability to recover from these events.
Be it Further Resolved that
Brazoria County Commissioners’ Court issues this
Resolution supporting the Texas Gulf Coastal
Federal Legislative Agenda for 2007 and seeks the
aid and support of its legislative delegation in the
passage of these desperately needed programs; and
Be it Further Resolved
additionally that a copy of this Resolution
be spread upon the minutes of this Commissioners’
Court and that originals hereof be furnished to
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, Senator John Cornyn,
Representative Ron Paul and Representative Nick Lampson
Upon Motion Duly Made and Seconded,
the above Resolution was unanimously passed on
this 13th day of March 2007.
__________________________________________
County Judge E.J. King
__________________________________________
______________________________________
Commissioner "Donald "Dude" Payne
Commissioner L.M. "Matt" Sebesta, Jr.
Precinct 1
Precinct 2
__________________________________________
_______________________________________
Commissioner Jack Harris
Commissioner Mary Ruth Rhodenbaugh
Precinct 3
Precinct 4
