Nola Reporter

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-La.), Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (D-Tx.), Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-Sc.), and Congressman Randy Weber (R-Tx.) have launched the bipartisan Flood Resilience Caucus to protect American families, homes, and communities from flood damage.

Extreme flooding ruins homes and property, uproots lives, and leaves a devastating impact on family and government budgets alike. Pre-disaster strategies to educate the public and invest in resilient infrastructure are critical to avert the post-disaster devastation so many communities face.

“My district knows firsthand the danger and destruction that flooding can bring to communities,” said Rep. Carter. “And as the climate changes, more and more communities will also be threatened by extreme flooding. We must take federal action to ensure that our nation is not only prepared to respond to and recover from flooding disasters, but to adapt our systems and infrastructure to be more resilient and better able to weather any storm. I’m proud to be a part of this new caucus and to be a leader in this effort.”

This Caucus will bring members of Congress together with flood resilience experts to represent the millions of Americans living in communities at highest risk of devastating flooding. The Caucus is committed to using proactive strategies and policy tools to protect American families’ homes and livelihoods.

“Along the Texas Gulf Coast, we know all too well the devastating impacts of flooding and disasters,” said Rep. Fletcher. “I am committed to working to protect communities from the impact of flooding and that is why I am glad to launch the Flood Resilience Caucus.  I look forward to working with Representatives Weber, Carter, and Mace as fellow Co-Chairs of the Caucus, as we bring the needs of our coastal communities to the forefront and respond to the threat of flooding.”

"We must be proactive in our efforts to enhance flood resiliency and adaptation in South Carolina in tandem with our Federal partners,” said Rep. Mace. “By investing time and effort in these initiatives, we can ensure the safety and well-being of our communities and protect our states against the effects of future floods. I am eager to begin our important work on this Caucus and applaud the bipartisan nature of tackling these issues. Thank you Rep. Fletcher for your leadership and collaboration!”

“The Texas Gulf Coast is home to millions of people, countless homes and jobs, and numerous refineries,” said Rep. Weber. “Prioritizing and strengthening the resiliency of the Gulf Coast is imperative since it’s a question of when—not if—another big storm barrels up the upper Texas Gulf Coast. I am excited to join the Flood Resilience Caucus to ensure that our coastlines have the necessary investments to help protect against future storms.”

Members of the bipartisan Flood Resilience Caucus recognize the importance of acting now to adapt communities and build resilience in the face of rising sea levels and extreme flooding. Research shows that proactive investments in adaptive measures, such as elevating homes and retrofitting infrastructure, can save taxpayers an average of six dollars for every one dollar of federal spending.

The Flood Resilience Caucus will use proactive strategies and policy tools to protect the more than 40 million Americans who live in communities at high risk of severe flood damage.

The Flood Resilience Caucus is co-chaired by Reps. Carter, Fletcher, Mace, and Weber. Other founding members include Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-Or.), Greg Murphy (R-Nc.), Jared Moskowitz (D-Fl.), Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fl.), and Jimmy Panetta (D-Ca.).

Original source can be found here.