This bill would create the National Flood Impact Reduction and Resilience Program. The Program's purpose is to reduce loss of life and property from floods by coordinating Federal work with states, local governments, researchers, and the private sector. Program activities include developing flood risk reduction measures, promoting adoption of standards and codes, giving grants and technical help, keeping a repository of technical information, publishing maps of flood vulnerability and inundation, and supporting interdisciplinary research on floods.
The bill sets up an Interagency Coordinating Committee chaired by the Chief of the Army Corps of Engineers. Committee members include leaders or designees from FEMA, NIST, USGS, NOAA, OSTP, OMB, and others as the chair chooses. The Committee must prepare strategic and management plans, develop a coordinated Program budget, and create memorandums of understanding for data sharing in flood disasters. The Chief must also create an advisory committee of at least 11 non-Federal experts to assess science, engineering, and Program effectiveness.
If enacted, the law would create a federal program that supports research, standards, maps, and technical help about flood risk. The Program would fund or encourage measures such as improved building and infrastructure practices, natural and nature-based features, floodplain management, and nonstructural alternatives. It would publish maps and data about flood vulnerability and forecasts that state and local planners, engineers, building owners, and the public could use. The advisory committee and interagency coordination aim to guide the Program's priorities.
No publicly available information on funding amounts. The bill requires the Interagency Coordinating Committee to develop a coordinated Program budget each year and give guidance to agencies preparing appropriation requests. Each Program agency must include a report with its annual budget request that identifies Program activities and the portion of the request for each activity.
The bill's findings state floods cause widespread damage and that flood losses are likely to grow with increased precipitation and sea level rise. It says improved design, natural and nature-based features, better data and forecasting, and public outreach can reduce those losses. The findings also say there is an appropriate federal role in supporting flood resilience and that interagency coordination and outside input are needed.
No publicly available information on opponents' views in the bill text or metadata.