PORTLAND, Maine - The U.S. Senate has passed a bill backed by Maine's Angus King that seeks to revitalize waterfront communities by fostering economic development and infrastructure improvements along the coast.
The Waterfront Community Revitalization and Resiliency Act is designed to help communities attract water-dependent industries and projects that rely on the water.
The bill would create a voluntary Resilient Waterfront Community designation within the federal Department of Commerce. King says the designation would recognize communities that adopt waterfront revitalization and resiliency plans.
The plans would touch on economic and ecosystem aspects as well as challenges to infrastructure.
King says the bill can help revitalize neighborhoods and build recreation and tourism opportunities.
King is an independent. He co-sponsored the act along with several other senators.