Resident Commissioner Introduces ‘Puerto Rico BEACHES Act’ to Address Coastal Erosion with Ranking Member Jared Huffman

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández (D-P.R.), a member of the House Natural Resources Committee, introduced the Puerto Rico Business & Economic Assessment of Coastal Hazards and Erosion Study Act-also known as the Puerto Rico BEACHES Act-with House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.).

ThePuerto Rico BEACHES Actwould direct the Government Accountability Office to assess the economic and environmental impact of coastal erosion across Puerto Rico's shores and propose federal recommendations to support local communities, tourism, fisheries, and small businesses affected by climate-driven erosion.

"For too long, we've underestimated how much our economy depends on the sand beneath our feet. When our beaches erode, our tourism jobs disappear, our businesses suffer, and our coastal communities lose the natural protections they've relied on for generations," said the Resident Commissioner. "The Puerto Rico BEACHES Actis about gathering the facts, understanding the stakes, and preparing a serious, science-based response. I'm deeply grateful to Ranking Member Huffman for his leadership on environmental issues and for his partnership on this important legislation for Puerto Rico."

"Puerto Rico is losing ground. Beaches, wetlands, and coastal communities are disappearing under rising seas, stronger storms, and years of unchecked, often unregulated development," said Ranking Member Huffman. "These coastlines are not only vital to the island's culture, economy, and local food security - they are protected public rights under Puerto Rico's constitution. Allowing these vital spaces to vanish threatens livelihoods, erodes cultural identity, and deepens economic hardships faced by communities across the island. The BEACHES Act will help chart a course toward a more resilient, just, and sustainable future for the island. These beaches belong to the people of Puerto Rico, and Congress has a responsibility to listen and act accordingly."

"We thank Resident Commissioner Hernández Rivera and Congressman Huffman for this initiative that will benefit Loíza and all coastal municipalities facing this reality. The commissioner has personally witnessed, in our communities of Las Carreras, Parcelas Suárez, and others, the importance of addressing this issue," said Loíza Mayor Julia Nazario.

Puerto Rico's coastline spans nearly 700 miles, with about two-thirds of the island's 3.2 million residents living in coastal areas. More than 20 percent reside in high-risk flood zones, and a recent study found that over 60 miles of shoreline have migrated inland due to worsening erosion.

The Puerto Rico BEACHES Actunderscores the urgent need to assess and mitigate the threats coastal erosion poses to Puerto Rico's economy, infrastructure, and natural resources. The study will be conducted in coordination with key local agencies, including the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, the Department of Economic Development, and the Puerto Rico Tourism Company.

This bill stems from a visit led by the Resident Commissioner, along with Ranking Member Huffman and Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (D-Md.), to the Municipality of Loíza. During the visit, the Resident Commissioner and the members of Congress met with the mayor to receive updated information on the impact of climate change and coastal erosion in the area.

The Resident Commissioner and Representative Huffman also visited the San Juan Bay Estuaryto assess water quality mitigation efforts, as well as federally funded projects in the area, such as the Caño Martín Peña.

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