ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 70

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED MAY 2, 1996

By Assemblymen WOLFE, GIBSON, Holzapfel, Corodemus, Azzolina, Asselta, Assemblywoman J. Smith, Assemblymen Connors, Moran, Blee and LeFevre

A Concurrent Resolution urging the President and the Congress of the United States to restore funding in the Fiscal Year 1997 federal budget for shore protection, beach replenishment, and harbor and navigation maintenance projects along the New Jersey shore.

Whereas, The President of the United States' Fiscal Year 1997 budget proposal includes a significant reduction in funding for ongoing shore protection, beach replenishment, and harbor and navigation maintenance projects in New Jersey; and

Whereas, The completion of these projects is essential to preserving a State and national resource, and can be accomplished only with the assistance of the federal government; and

Whereas, New Jersey, in establishing a $15 million annual Shore Protection Fund, has clearly committed State funding to assist in the replenishment and preservation of beaches along the New Jersey shore; and

Whereas, Tourism is the State's second largest industry, and the billions of dollars in tourism spending in the coastal area constitutes approximately one-half of the total tourism spending in the State; and

Whereas, The proposed budget reduction, if realized, would have a disastrous effect on the shore tourism economy, including the potential loss of thousands of jobs directly and indirectly related to the tourism industry, on property values, and on State and local tax revenues; now, therefore,

    Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):

    1. The President and the Congress of the United States are respectfully urged to restore funding in the Fiscal Year 1997 federal budget for shore protection, beach replenishment, and harbor and navigation maintenance projects along the New Jersey shore.

    2. Duly authenticated copies of this concurrent resolution, signed by the President of the Senate and attested by the Secretary thereof, and signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the President and Vice President of the United States, the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, every Member of Congress elected from this State, the Commander and Chief of Engineers of the United States Army Corps of Engineers, and the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

STATEMENT

    This concurrent resolution urges the President and the Congress of the United States to restore funding in the Fiscal Year 1997 federal budget for shore protection, beach replenishment, and harbor and navigation maintenance projects along the New Jersey shore.

Urges President and Congress to restore federal shore protection funding.