Securing Federal Support to Protect Saipan’s Coastline
Last Tuesday, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee unanimously approved the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026. I was able to secure inclusion of my amendment authorizing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to address beach erosion and coastal storm damage at Micro Beach and Makaka Beach in Garapan, Saipan. After enduring multiple major typhoons the past several years, strengthening our shorelines is about more than protecting our beaches, it is about safeguarding our communities, supporting our tourism economy, and enhancing the resilience of the CNMI. As a strategically located U.S. commonwealth in the Indo-Pacific, investing in the CNMI’s coastal infrastructure also advances our nation’s broader security and readiness interests. If enacted into law, this authorization will allow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to begin the process of evaluating and developing a federal shoreline protection project for Micro Beach and Makaka Beach, subject to future appropriations and implementation. We will continue working with the Corps and our local partners, including the CNMI Department of Lands and Natural Resources and other agencies, to move this project forward and ensure the CNMI receives the federal resources it deserves.