119-hr3814

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3814 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

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119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 3814

 To require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a 
study on the effects of coastal erosion on tourism and other businesses 
 in Puerto Rico, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 June 6, 2025

 Mr. Hernandez (for himself and Mr. Huffman) introduced the following 
 bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a 
study on the effects of coastal erosion on tourism and other businesses 
 in Puerto Rico, and for other purposes.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Puerto Rico Business & Economic 
Assessment of Coastal Hazards and Erosion Study Act'' or the ``Puerto 
Rico BEACHES Act''.

SEC. 2. STUDY ON COASTAL EROSION.

    (a) In General.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall 
conduct a study, and submit to Congress a report thereon, on the 
effects of erosion, including the loss of beaches, dunes, and wetlands, 
on tourism, fisheries, and businesses, throughout coastal areas in 
Puerto Rico.

    (b) Coordination and Consultation.--In conducting the study 
required under subsection

    (a) , the Comptroller General shall coordinate 
and consult with relevant local agencies, including the Puerto Rico 
Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, the Puerto Rico 
Department of Economic Development, and the Puerto Rico Tourism 
Company.
            (c) Requirements.--The Comptroller General shall include in the 
report submitted under subsection

    (a) any recommendations--

    (1) on how to ameliorate any environmental factors that may 
 be affecting businesses in the areas described in subsection

    (a) ; and

    (2) to address any challenges experienced by industries as 
 a result of erosion in coastal areas.
            (d) Coastal Area Defined.--In this section, the term ``coastal 
area'' means a marine or freshwater area within or adjacent to a 
coastal State, including--

    (1) a coastal wetland or watershed;

    (2) coastal water;

    (3) a coastal bay;

    (4) a coastline; and

    (5) an estuary and associated upland.
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