Congress Takes Steps to Keep Digital Coast Strong

From Maine to California, local communities rely on trusted national data to make smart, local decisions—and that’s exactly what NOAA’s Digital Coast delivers. This week, our coastal champions in Congress stepped up to ensure this vital resource delivers for the American people for years to come.

Representatives Dave Min (CA) and Rob Wittman (VA), together with Senators Tammy Baldwin (WI) and Lisa Murkowski (AK), have introduced bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Digital Coast Program— ensuring that coastal planners, flood managers, and community leaders can keep using the best available data and tools to protect people, places, and economies.

“Around the coasts, National Estuarine Research Reserves help thousands in communities respond faster to immediate threats and make informed decisions to reduce future risk,” says Rebecca Roth, executive director of the National Estuarine Research Reserve Association (NERRA).

“The Digital Coast is a unique, go-to resource for this work—providing trusted data, tools, and training grounded in real-world needs. We see every day how these data and tools help people and communities protect homes, businesses, infrastructure, and economies. We thank Representatives Min and Wittman and Senators Baldwin and Murkowski for their dedication to protecting this smart federal investment in safer, stronger coasts.”

At the heart of this platform’s success is the Digital Coast Partnership—a network of trusted national organizations, including the Reserve System, working together to tackle flooding, sea level rise, and other coastal hazards. With more than 100,000 members nationwide, the Partnership brings real-world knowledge and local insight that make national data meaningful where it matters most. This ensures that solutions are grounded in the real needs and challenges facing coastal communities every day.

“We join our partners nationwide in applauding this bipartisan bill and urging Congress to pass it swiftly; a strong Digital Coast means safer communities, stronger economies, and a more resilient future for all,” says Roth.