Bill Overview
Title: National Coastal Resilience Data and Services Act
Description: This bill addresses coastal flooding, including by directing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to develop a comprehensive suite of products and services with respect to coastal floods, coastal land loss, sea level rise, Great Lakes water level, and vertical land motion data.
Sponsors: Rep. Velazquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]
Target Audience
Population: People living in coastal areas vulnerable to flooding and sea level changes
Estimated Size: 130000000
- Coastal flooding impacts communities residing in coastal areas.
- Coastal land loss and sea level rise predominantly affect populations living along coastlines.
- The Great Lakes region in the US also experiences significant coastal-related impacts.
- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) primarily operates within the United States, suggesting a direct impact on US coastal populations.
Reasoning
- The target population primarily includes those living in coastal areas vulnerable to flooding and sea level rise, approximately 130 million people in the US.
- The budget constraints influence the scale and depth of the intervention, impacting the number and type of products and services developed by NOAA.
- Due to the large target population, not everyone will feel a high impact; many might experience low or medium levels of direct impact.
- Considerations include regional variances, different coastal environments (Great Lakes vs. oceanic coasts), and demographic diversity.
Simulated Interviews
Fisherman (New Orleans, LA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If this helps us better plan for flooding, it could save my business.
- I hope they provide real data we can use—not just for scientists.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 2 |
Real Estate Agent (Miami, FL)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increased data transparency allows clients to make informed housing decisions.
- Could stabilize property values if risks are managed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 1 |
Retired Engineer (Chicago, IL)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The Great Lakes can be overlooked in coastal policies, so I welcome this.
- Better data can lead to better infrastructure planning.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 2 |
Environmental Science Student (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Advocacy is critical, but grounded in solid data from institutions like NOAA.
- This could be a catalyst for stronger climate action.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
Software Developer (Houston, TX)
Age: 38 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Technology should play a bigger role in anticipating disasters.
- Direct access to flood data could improve our preparedness overall.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 1 |
Urban Planner (Boston, MA)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could greatly inform my work to design climate-resilient infrastructures.
- Important to balance economic and environmental priorities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 3 |
Freelance Photographer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Great opportunity to capture change through my lens with real-time data updates.
- Could increase public awareness through compelling visuals.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 2 |
Hospitality Manager (Key West, FL)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any information on sea level rise helps us prepare better for future hurricanes.
- Supports much-needed operational planning.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 1 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 1 |
Navy Officer (Norfolk, VA)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This can significantly improve base readiness and response times to flooding.
- Would prefer military-specific insights or data access.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 1 |
Teacher (Savannah, GA)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Education is the foundation of change and this can provide real case studies to our students.
- Necessary first step in long-term sustainability education.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $35000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $40000000)
Year 2: $55000000 (Low: $50000000, High: $60000000)
Year 3: $75000000 (Low: $70000000, High: $80000000)
Year 5: $95000000 (Low: $90000000, High: $100000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The allocation of funds must prioritize the most vulnerable coastal regions.
- Coordination between federal, state, and local agencies will be crucial for success.
- Long-term maintenance and updates of the data services need to be considered beyond initial implementation.