ODU Expert Testifies at Legislative Hearing on Coastal Resilience
July 23, 2019
Emily Steinhilber
By Sarah Huddle
Emily Steinhilber, who directs Old Dominion University's Commonwealth Center for Recurrent Flooding Resiliency, testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Water, Oceans and Wildlife at a legislative hearing July 25 in Washington.
Steinhilber, a research assistant professor and leading expert in the field, informed committee members about the work the center is doing in Hampton Roads and across the state regarding research, economic impacts, innovative interventions, community engagement and funding opportunities. Hampton Roads has experienced one of the highest rates of relative sea level rise on the Atlantic coast over the past century.
"I commend the members of the subcommittee for holding hearings on legislation that could add tools to the coastal resilience toolkit for the Commonwealth and communities in coastal Virginia as we support thriving economies and ecosystems," Steinhilber said.
Proposed Bills relevant to Steinhilber's testimony include:
- H.R. 3115 (Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J.), To direct the administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to make grants to state and local governments and nongovernmental organizations for purposes of carrying out climate-resilient living shoreline projects that protect coastal communities by supporting ecosystem functions and habitats with the use of natural materials and systems, and for other purposes. "Living Shorelines Act of 2019."
- H.R. 3541 (Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Ca.), To amend the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 to require the Secretary of Commerce to establish a coastal climate change adaptation preparedness and response program, and for other purposes. "Coastal State Climate Preparedness Act."
- H.R. 3596 (Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Me.), To amend the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 to establish a Working Waterfront Task Force and a working waterfronts grant program, and for other purposes. "Keep America's Waterfronts Working Act."
With Virginia's coastal communities at risk, Old Dominion University has taken a leading role in resiliency research and the development of community adaptation methods. Under President John R. Broderick's leadership, ODU faculty work across disciplines in our natural testbed in Hampton Roads to advance research, education and outreach on critical issues for resilience at the community, regional, national and global levels.
The Commonwealth Center for Recurrent Flooding Resiliency engages the expertise, resources and intellectual vibrancy of College of William & Mary Law School's Virginia Coastal Policy Center, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and Old Dominion University in support of building resilience to rising waters. The center serves, advises and supports Virginia by conducting interdisciplinary studies and providing training, technical and nontechnical services, and policy guidance about recurrent flooding resilience to the Commonwealth and its local governments, state agencies, industries and citizens. Visit floodingresiliency.org to learn more.
