WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) sent a letter to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sharing feedback he received from stakeholders on ways to improve NOAA’s implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. The agency has historically provided funding for shovel-ready projects that protect coasts, improve water quality, and support shoreline communities.

To improve implementation of funds provided in this legislation, Murphy encouraged NOAA to do the following:

1.       Extend application windows to allow potential grant recipients to prepare the strongest possible applications, ensuring the projects NOAA eventually funds will be more impactful and shovel-ready.

2.       Continue to provide funding for research, data, and evaluation that will be critical to identifying the areas of greatest need, the most effective project designs, and promoting best practices.

3.       Emphasize and fund capacity building of state agencies, research programs, institutions of higher education, and non-profit entities to better help states and town implement these new investments and execute the policy changes envisioned in these bills. 

“I appreciate your consideration of these perspectives and your agency’s ongoing partnership. The activities and projects funded through both the IIJA and the IRA will help protect our coasts, support fisheries, and improve water quality for years to come,” he wrote.

Full text of the letter is available here.

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