DC Download: February 2025

The 119th Congress began last month with its work cut out for it and at NERRA, we have our running shoes on. Here are the highlights and some tips on how you can support our Reserve System.

• House and Senate appropriations committees are in discussions to pass the FY 2025 appropriations bill by March 14, 2025. Both House and Senate bills include funding levels that fall short of NERRA’s requested $47 million for NERRS Operations, Research and Facilities (ORF). As a result, NERRA is advocating for the Senate’s mark of $34 million for NERRS ORF and the House’s mark of $10 million for NERRS Procurement Acquisition and Construction (PAC).

• Thank you to Reserve friends groups and foundations and NERRA Board members who have sent electronic Valentine’s Day cards to their Congressional delegations, affirming their love for estuaries and supporting the Senate mark for the NERRS FY 2025 budget. These cards have been well received! If you have questions about how to send your cards or need changes, contact lola@rocacommunications.com

• Work on the FY 2026 appropriations bills have also begun. The NERRA Board has voted to request the funding needed to serve the public and efficiently operate each Reserve in FY 2026: $47 million for NERRS ORF and $10 million for NERRS PAC. Thank you to the many individual and community voices affirming the value and benefits the NERRS serves in your state and all around the country.

• With discussions about both FY 2025 and FY 2026 budgets underway, March, April, and May are great months for members of your congressional delegation or their staff to visit your Reserve. Please extend invitations to DC and home state staff. Here are some tips for hosting them.

• Please join the virtual coastal rally on February 25th, 3 pm EST. Hosted by national coastal and ocean nonprofits like NERRA, the rally’s goal is to energize our community as we prepare for congressional visits in March. All state and university NERRS staff and members of friends groups and foundations are invited. (Reserve staff: please confirm your participation with your manager.)

• NERRA has joined other national nonprofits in creating a two pager outlining the value of the U.S. marine and coastal economy and the importance of investing in programs like the NERRS. We encourage everyone to use the handout and the messages it contains in their communications.

• As always, a new Congress brings new leadership. Of note are the changes in Senate committees with jurisdiction over the NERRS budget and the Coastal Zone Management Act. Susan Collins (R-ME) is now chair of Senate Appropriations and Patty Murray (D-WA) is ranking member.  The Commerce Justice, Science, and Other Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee is chaired by Jerry Moran (R-KS) with Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) as vice chair.  The Senate Commerce Committee (which has jurisdiction over CZMA) is chaired by Ted Cruz (R-TX);  Maria Cantwell (D-WA) is the ranking member. More to come—we deeply appreciate all of your work at Reserves and to support our national System.