Feenstra Leads Legislation to Help Protect Iowa Farmland and Rural Communities from Flood Damage
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Reps. Randy Feenstra (R-IA) and Don Davis (D-NC) introduced the Flooding Prevention, Assessment, and Restoration Act, which would invest in flood mitigation efforts and help protect Iowa farmland and rural communities from flooding.
From 1980 to 2024, there have been more than 8 flooding events in Iowa with losses exceeding $1 billion and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimates that the total costs of these events reach anywhere between $20 billion and $50 billion. Iowa agriculture alone sees crop losses, on average, of $230 million a year due to flooding.
“Last summer, our communities were devastated by historic flooding that left homes, schools, hospitals, farms, and other infrastructure severely damaged. While we need rapid emergency response to floods, we also need to take proactive measures to protect farmland and our rural communities from devastation and equip our producers with the tools that they need to safeguard their land from excessive water damage,” said Rep. Feenstra. “I’m glad to introduce legislation to improve the Emergency Watershed Protection program so that the USDA has greater flexibility to repair aging flood infrastructure, help cover the costs of needed improvements, and support farmers and rural landowners with protecting their land from flooding. By acting before floods strike, we can keep our farmland in production, save money in the long run, and help our rural communities mitigate and respond to flooding.”
“Farmers and rural communities in eastern North Carolina know the devastating impact of flooding all too well,” said Rep. Davis. “The bipartisan Flooding Prevention, Assessment, and Restoration Act empowers the Natural Resources Conservation Service to enhance flood protection beyond pre-disaster levels after a disastrous event. This legislation equips our rural areas with data to combat flooding and eases the financial strain of repairing aging flood prevention infrastructure. It's my honor to champion this bipartisan effort during North Carolina’s Severe Weather Preparedness Week with the aim of ensuring all in NC-01 remain prepared and ready at all times.”
“This bill works progressively to balance the needs of agricultural productivity with flood mitigation and will help protect Iowa’s valuable farmland and rural communities across the state,” said Mr. Larry Weber, Co-Founder and Director of the Iowa Flood Center as well as Director of IIHR – Hydroscience and Engineering, which is the IFR’s parent organization at the University of Iowa. “The proposed legislation aligns with much of the flood center’s efforts, and I am strongly supportive of the impact it will have on enhancing flood resiliency efforts in Iowa.”
“Unpredictable weather events, including floods, are not only devastating to the land but hinder farmers' ability to be successful,” said Kenneth Hartman Jr., President of the National Corn Growers Association. “We appreciate the work of Rep. Davis and Rep. Feenstra to take steps to protect growers and upgrade these vital systems in the heartland of America.”
“Representatives Davis and Feenstra’s Flooding Prevention, Assessment, and Restoration Act is smart, bipartisan policy that will protect farmers and rural communities from North Carolina to Iowa, and beyond,” said Melissa Roberts, President and Founder of American Flood Coalition Action. “This smart proposal gives farmers flexibility, resources, and data to effectively manage their flood risk. By streamlining key USDA watershed programs, it also helps producers and rural communities to rebuild stronger post-disaster, sparing future destruction while delivering greater value for taxpayers.”
This legislation seeks to enhance the flexibility of USDA's Emergency Watershed Protection programs and works to better help our farmers and rural areas combat flooding through enhanced levels of flood protection, improved data collection, and repairs to aging infrastructure.
Legislative text can be found HERE.
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