Wetlands are usually coastal areas, mostly covered by water, which support plant and animal species adapted for life in saturated soils. These areas include swamps, marshes and bogs. In addition to providing habitat for wildlife, wetlands help control flooding, filter pollutants from water supplies, and help absorb the energy of hurricanes coming ashore. Wetlands also provide essential spawning, feeding and nursery areas for three-quarters of the fish caught by our commercial fishing industry. When the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, there were about 392 million wetland acres. Only 116.4 million acres now remain. It is estimated that about 40,000 acres of coastal wetlands are disappearing each year. The coastal wetland areas located in our Atlantic and Gulf States are the most threatened by development and pollution. These fragile ecosystems are frequently damaged by oil drilling operations and pollution deposited by rivers. Rising land values are also encouraging development in, or near, our wetland areas.

Pending Legislation: S.2215 - Restoring America’s Floodplains Act
Sponsor: Sen. Joni Ernst (IA)
Status: Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
Chair: Sen. John Boozman (AR)

• I oppose reforming current wetlands conservation policy and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Leader John Thune (SD).
• I support clarifying and enhancing the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) ability to provide technical and financial assistance for restoring floodplains and wetlands by:
  
  1.) Clarifying that the USDA can provide technical and financial assistance to landowners for restoring vegetative cover and wetland functions on floodplain easements.
  
  2.) Giving the Secretary of Agriculture the authority to enter into compatible-use agreements with landowners, as well as agreements with government agencies and non-governmental organizations, to address long-term management and maintenance of these restored areas.
  
  3.) Working within the existing Emergency Watershed Protection Program, which provides assistance to safeguard communities from natural disasters that affect watersheds.
  
  4.) Supporting activities such as removing levees and replanting native species, which are critical for mitigating flood risk and restoring natural habitats.
  
  And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Sen. John Boozman (AR) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.