Sioux City Times

U.S. Representatives Randy Feenstra and Don Davis have introduced the Flooding Prevention, Assessment, and Restoration Act, aimed at mitigating flood risks in Iowa's farmland and rural communities. This legislation seeks to enhance efforts to protect these areas from flooding by investing in flood mitigation.

Since 1980, Iowa has experienced over eight significant flooding events with losses exceeding $1 billion each time. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimates total costs between $20 billion and $50 billion. On average, Iowa agriculture suffers crop losses of $230 million annually due to floods.

Rep. Feenstra emphasized the need for proactive measures: “Last summer, our communities were devastated by historic flooding that left homes, schools, hospitals, farms, and other infrastructure severely damaged... 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.”

Rep. Davis highlighted the impact on North Carolina: “Farmers and rural communities in eastern North Carolina know the devastating impact of flooding all too well... This legislation equips our rural areas with data to combat flooding and eases the financial strain of repairing aging flood prevention infrastructure."

Larry Weber from the Iowa Flood Center supports this initiative: “This bill works progressively to balance the needs of agricultural productivity with flood mitigation... I am strongly supportive of the impact it will have on enhancing flood resiliency efforts in Iowa.”

Kenneth Hartman Jr., President of the National Corn Growers Association stated: “Unpredictable weather events, including floods... hinder farmers' ability to be successful.”

Melissa Roberts from American Flood Coalition Action described it as "smart" policy: “This smart proposal gives farmers flexibility, resources, and data to effectively manage their flood risk."

The act aims to improve USDA's Emergency Watershed Protection programs through better data collection and infrastructure repairs.