WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), Vice Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee, delivered a speech on the House floor to call out the Trump Administration's elimination of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grants.

"When we talk about government cuts to environmental programs, I will caution that rising seas don't care who is in the White House. The water doesn't care how a small town that experiences 90 days of flooding or more a year voted in the last election. Flooding will continue to devastate communities, even if the President does not believe in climate change," said Congresswoman Elfreth.

FEMA ended the BRIC grants program as part of the Administration's supposed efforts to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse. The $882 million in BRIC grant funding helped communities across the country reduce their long-term natural disaster risks. Crisfield was awarded $36.2 million for a project to ward off the threat of flooding every day. On average, BRIC projects save $6 for every $1 in up-front spending.

Earlier this year, Elfreth was named a Federal Champion by the American Flood Coalition. She spent six years in the Maryland Senate working on holistic and comprehensive legislation to address the impacts of climate change.

CLICK HERE or the image below to view Elfreth's full remarks.

Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth

Remarks as Delivered

Floor Speech in Support of FEMA Grants

April 30th, 2025

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise today to call attention to this Administration's devastating cuts to FEMA's BRIC program, otherwise known as the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grants.

Now, towns like Crisfield in Maryland and Baltimore and dozens of communities across this nation rely on this funding to ward off the very real and very devastating effects of flooding.

Not only do these programs save lives, but it's also one of the best investments that this federal government can make in this country, matching state and local funding. And these projects in the long term save $6 for every $1 in up-front spending.

And yet, on this Earth Day, and just before we are about to enter hurricane season, instead of protecting our communities from sea level rise, the Trump Administration ended this program.

When we talk about government cuts to environmental programs, I will caution that rising seas don't care who is in the White House. The water doesn't care how a small town that experiences 90 days of flooding or more a year voted in the last election.

Flooding will continue to devastate communities, even if the President does not believe in climate change.

That's why I will continue to fight for the reinstatement of these funds for Crisfield, for Maryland, and for every community affected by flooding across this country.

And with that, I yield back.

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