COAST Act

The COAST Act amends a 1946 flood control law to increase annual funding for emergency shoreline protection from $25 million to $45.5 million. It expands the types of infrastructure protected to include public recreational assets, public lands, and parks, while maintaining coverage for highways, bridges, historical lighthouses, schools, hospitals, and nonprofit services. The bill directly affects communities vulnerable to coastal erosion by enabling faster repairs to critical infrastructure during emergencies. Key changes are limited to the funding amount and the updated list of protected assets under the existing emergency protection program.