Press Releases

Miami. Fla. – Today, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (FL-24) applauded the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) announcement of an almost $3 billion allocation from the Bipartisan Infrastructure law directly geared toward improving coastal climate resiliency projects.

“Florida residents are no strangers to storms, flooding, and extreme weather, but as we feel the effects of our changing climate, South Florida is on the front lines of the climate crisis. We need action,” said Congresswoman Wilson. “This funding will help NOAA to better plan, prepare, and respond to climate change affecting not only South Florida, but the whole country, and I am so thankful to President Biden for putting our climate first!”

As a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Congresswoman Wilson was one of only five members permitted to cosponsor President Biden’s landmark Infrastructure bill. The announcement today builds on a series of steps that the Administration has taken over the month of June – National Ocean Month – to conserve and restore the health and productivity of the nation’s oceans and coasts for the benefit of all Americans. These funding opportunities are designed to help coastal communities invest in and optimize green infrastructure and nature-based solutions to increase resilience to climate change and extreme weather events.

NOAA will select high-impact projects that will incentivize investments in communities, states, and regions that can drive additional funding to complementary projects. Funded projects will support three major initiatives: 

• Climate Ready Coasts will help coastal communities build the future they want to see, investing in natural infrastructure projects that build coastal resilience, create jobs, store carbon, remove marine debris, and restore habitat. ($1.467 billion over five years) 
• Climate Data and Services will support a whole-of-government effort to address the climate crisis by getting critical information and tools in the hands of decision-makers, particularly to address floods, wildfire, drought, and ocean health. ($904 million over five years) 
• Fisheries and Protected Resources will advance efforts to restore important fisheries habitat and promote community economic development. ($592 million over five years) 

The investments will be scalable, leverage partnerships, and be responsive to the need for better climate information. NOAA will ensure the impact of this funding is equitable, coordinated, and results in projects that benefit Tribal Nations and underserved and underrepresented communities.

Today’s announcement highlights Notice of Funding Opportunities for the coming year focused on habitat restoration, coastal resilience, and marine debris as part of the Climate Ready Coasts initiative including:

• Transformational Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience Grants ($85 million)
• Coastal Habitat Restoration and Resilience Grants for Underserved Communities ($10 million)
• Coastal Zone Management Habitat Protection and Restoration Grants ($35 million)
• National Estuarine Research Reserve System Habitat Protection and Restoration Grants ($12 million)
• Marine Debris Removal ($56 million)
• Marine Debris Challenge Competition ($16 million)
• Marine Debris Community Action Coalitions ($3 million)