{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://figures.house.gov/media/in-the-news/alabama-port-authority-slated-receive-24m-restore-funding-wetlands-beneficial-use", "Alabama Port Authority slated to receive $24M in RESTORE funding for Wetlands Beneficial Use Project", "2025-11-19", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "AL", "Shomari Figures", "F000481", "figures.house.gov", "figures", "https://figures.house.gov/media", "scraper", "The new site will create hundreds of acres of wetlands south of the Causeway, turning eligible dredged material into restored habitat that benefits fisheries, wildlife, and coastal resilience.\n\n\u201cWetland restoration in Mobile Bay is vital to our coastal communities, and I am proud to advocate for RESTORE Act funding for this project,\u201d said Chris Blankenship, Commissioner of the ADCNR. \u201cI commend the Port Authority and the Corps for their vision and persistence in securing this permit, which ensures dredged material will be used in the most beneficial way possible.\u201d\n\nThe permit marks the final step in a comprehensive process driven by the Port\u2019s longstanding commitment to collaborating with federal, state, and local partners to expand beneficial use opportunities. The project has been in the works since 2016, with the engineering, design, and permitting funded by the Restore Council in 2017. This effort ensures that dredged material supports environmental protection, coastal resilience, and economic growth.\n\n\u201cBeneficial use is not just the right thing to do\u2014it\u2019s a strategic approach that allows us to grow responsibly while protecting the natural assets that make Alabama competitive,\u201d said Doug Otto, Director & CEO of the Alabama Port Authority. \u201cWe are especially grateful to Commissioner Blakenship for his leadership in advocating for RESTORE dollars. Having both the funding commitment and the USACE permit in hand is the catalyst we need to move forward with this project and to pave the way for additional beneficial use opportunities across Mobile Bay.\u201d\n\nSenator Tommy Tuberville said, \u201cThe Port of Mobile plays an important role in Alabama\u2019s economy, generating more than $415 billion since 2019. In addition to being an economic driver for our state, I\u2019m proud that the Port also works hard to preserve our wetlands. There\u2019s no reason why we can\u2019t continue growing business and keeping Alabama beautiful at the same time.\u201d\n\nSenator Katie Britt said, \u201cSince I took office, I have worked diligently with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to ensure sediment is responsibly disposed of in the Mobile Bay, including securing a provision in the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 to direct the Corps to use dredged material for beneficial use. I\u2019m thrilled to see these developments for the Upper Mobile Bay Wetlands Project, and I remain committed to advocating for beneficial use of dredged material in the Mobile harbor and ship channel. By working together at the state and federal levels, we will continue to strengthen Mobile Bay\u2019s natural resources and reinforce the Port of Mobile as an economic engine for our state and nation.\u201d\n\nCongressman Barry Moore said, \u201cThe Port of Mobile is one of our state\u2019s most important assets, and projects like this wetlands restoration underscore its commitment to balancing conservation with economic growth. By working closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Port is ensuring that Mobile Bay remains healthy while continuing to support jobs and investment across Alabama.\u201d\n\nCongressman Shomari Figures said, \u201cThe Upper Mobile Bay Wetlands initiative is proof of what is possible when smart environmental policy meets strong local partnerships. Beneficial use efforts like this one restore coastal ecosystems and create value for nearby communities.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://figures.house.gov/media/in-the-news/alabama-port-authority-slated-receive-24m-restore-funding-wetlands-beneficial-use"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8096471428871155, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}