Once a year, Surfrider Foundation volunteers from across the country make the time for a pilgrimage Washington DC for our Coastal and Ocean Recreation Hill Day. The purpose is to lobby Members of Congress on the issues like stopping offshore drilling, ensuring BEACH Act funding, protecting the Land and Water Conservation Act funding, reforming the National Flood Insurance Program, getting better policies to battle climate change, and this year support for the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act. Read about all of Surfrider Foundation's Federal Priorities here.
Julie Madey drove all the way from college several states away and spoke to Members of Congress and their staff from Delaware and she helped the New Jersey crew too.
We had surf industry representatives and pro surfers like Greg Long and Leah Dawson in our midst explaining how coastal recreation supports millions of livelihoods like theirs. In all, 150 people were at the event, our biggest Hill Day ever. Our dedicated volunteers expressed their desire for clean water and healthy beaches in meetings with 145 Representatives and Senators. After a long day of these meetings, participants were treated to a reception where US Senator Robert Menendez from NJ spoke.
All told it was a fantastic day where we brought the power and the passion of the Surfrider Foundation to Washington DC. We will be sure to come back next year, hopefully with some victories to speak of!