Press Releases

Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Van Drew hosted Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam Telle, along with federal, state, and local officials, to evaluate the erosion along the Jersey Shore following a year of damaging hurricanes and nor'easters. The visit focused on beach replenishment, long-term storm protection, and ensuring South Jersey receives the federal attention it deserves.

"This was an important visit for South Jersey," said Congressman Van Drew. "What matters is this: they are here, they are listening, and they understand what is at stake. The Assistant Secretary saw firsthand the damage our shore communities are dealing with, and he understands how important the Jersey Shore is to our economy and to the families who live here. They announced a significant investment into our shoreline of tens of millions of dollars, and it is only beginning of the process to bring more major funding our way. I want to thank Assistant Secretary Telle for coming down and taking the time to walk the beaches with us, meet with our mayors, and talk with the Army Corps about this. We are looking forward to continuing to work closely with him, the Army Corps, and all our local partners to make sure this gets done the right way.

"At the same time, we have to think long term. That is why I have introduced the Coastal Trust Fund Act," Congressman Van Drew continued. "We need a stable, reliable funding stream for beach nourishment and storm risk reduction to better prepare us for future storms and erosion. We are also looking at lower-cost options for dredging and replenishment, including equipment from Europe that could potentially make this work more efficient and more affordable. If we can bring in better technology and have it operated by our local workforce, that means creating jobs right here in South Jersey while getting the sand back where it belongs. This is about protecting South Jersey today while also making sure our beaches are here for generations to come."

"President Trump loves the people of New Jersey, and we are here today to ensure that we understand their challenges and deliver the resources needed to reduce their flood risk following the storms in recent years," said Adam Telle, the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works. "Jeff Van Drew has been a tireless advocate for reducing coastal storm risk in this critical part of our country, and we will soon be unveiling our Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork initiative, which will accelerate the delivery of flood safety and economic prosperity for communities across our Nation."

Click here to read more about the Coastal Trust Fund Act.