Pallone Blasts House Republicans for Gutting Beach Replenishment Funds, Putting NJ Shore at Risk

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ) took to the House floor today to denounce Republicans for advancing an appropriations bill that slashes federal funding for beach replenishment projects - a move that would hit New Jersey's shoreline communities especially hard. He delivered the following remarks on the floor:

"Today we're debating one of the worst energy and water bills appropriations bills I've ever seen. Usually when you're in charge, they're very good, actually. But this one is terrible, and I think it sets a dangerous precedent.

It hurts our constituents by increasing their energy costs, as so many are already seeing huge hikes to their bills. It weakens our national security, and it undermines the critical work that the Army Corps of Engineers does to keep our coastal communities safe.

So, Mr. Speaker, I want to focus on the cuts for protection. Republicans are making a massive cut to the shore protection funding that allows the Corps to fund beach replenishment projects in places like the Jersey shore. In my district, this Republican bill woefully underfunded replenishment projects by hundreds of millions of dollars. Now, just recently, Hurricane Erin slammed our coast, washing away dunes and eroding beaches, a stark reminder of why replenishment funding is so critical.

Mr. Speaker, House Republicans are abandoning coastal communities at a time when climate change is accelerating erosion and increasing the risk of devastating storms. And I have to stress: beach replenishment projects or protection projects aren't luxuries. They're lifelines. We don't do them so people can sunbathe. We do them to protect the homes, the businesses and the public infrastructure.

Towns in my district and in red and blue districts throughout our country alike depend on replenishment to prevent damage from coastal storms. It's that simple. And we can't let a bunch of climate denying Republicans in Congress gamble with New Jersey or with other coastlines. I think about it like a slot machine on the Atlantic City boardwalk, which is: hope that the storm doesn't come and we'll be okay. Well, that's not what happens. The reality is that places like the Jersey Shore that need protection from the next big storm, and making drastic cuts like these are simply dangerous. So thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I yield."

A video of his remarks is available here.

The Republican Energy and Water Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2026 dedicates just $15 million nationwide for beach replenishment - a 70 percent cut from the typical $200 million allocation. New Jersey alone relies on tens of millions annually for Army Corps of Engineers projects that repair and protect beaches after storms, safeguard coastal property, and sustain the state's tourism economy.

For decades, Pallone has led bipartisan efforts to secure funding for beach replenishment and coastal resiliency. His district includes some of the most vulnerable stretches of coastline in the country, where beach erosion has worsened after storms like Hurricane Sandy and, most recently, Hurricane Erin.

###