Storm Damage

Floor Speech

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Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Speaker, since December 18, 2023, my home State of Maine has endured a barrage of devastating storms causing severe flooding, power outages, and millions of dollars in damages.

The sheer destruction that these storms have done to our working waterfronts is astonishing.

More frequent, intense storms, floods, and rising sea levels mean our communities will continue to be faced with the kind of devastation we have seen in Maine over the past few weeks.

At the same time, our working waterfronts are rapidly disappearing nationwide due to heavy development pressure.

When fishermen must grapple with the loss of wharves, processing facilities, and other essential infrastructure, in addition to navigating the challenge of climate change, it threatens the very survival of our communities.

My and Congressman Wittman's bipartisan Keep America's Waterfronts Working Act will help reverse a worrying trend of shrinking waterfronts while simultaneously protecting jobs and preserving the character of our coastal communities.

Congress must act to protect our working waterfronts and the more than 30,000 Mainers and 2.3 million Americans who rely on marine- related industries for their livelihoods. This is bigger than any of us.

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