Florida Congressmen Help Start Coastal Communities Caucus

The Coastal Communities Caucusis launching in Congress with two Florida congressmen helping organize the new group. The new caucus will focus on issues facing Americans who live on Americas coastlines.

U.S. Rep. David Jolly, R-Fla., and U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Fla., announced on Monday they were two of the eight founders of the caucus. The two Florida congressmen offered their reasons why the new group was needed.

Communities across the country face unique opportunities and challenges by living and working along our nation's coastlines, Jolly said on Monday. From prestorm mitigation to flood insurance, to critical marine and shore habitats, to weather-related disaster, erosion, and tourism -- these are not partisan issues, nor are they confined to only one coastal community. In an effort to best advocate in the United States Congress for communities along our Gulf, Atlantic, and Pacific coasts, I have joined with my colleagues who represent these districts to form a bipartisan, bicoastal Congressional Coastal Communities Caucus to give a unified voice to our districts and advocate for our unique community needs in a unified, bipartisan manner.

The people that live, work and recreate on the coast face specific needs and challenges, and that is why the Coastal Communities Caucus is so important, Murphy said. Whether its tackling flood insurance, protecting our regions from natural disasters, dealing with sea-level rises or preserving coastal ecology, this coalition of members will help to represent the key needs of our constituents.

Keep an eye on Sunshine State News for more on the new caucus