NEWS: Senators Blunt Rochester, Justice Introduce Bill to Support Farmers Faced with Flood Risks

Senators Blunt Rochester, Justice Introduce Bill to Support Farmers Faced with Flood Risks

Companion Legislation was Introduced by Representatives Panetta, Feenstra in the House of Representatives

Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) and Jim Justice (R-W. Va.) were joined by Congressmen Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.-19) and Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa-04) to introduce the bipartisan, bicameral Farmers Lifeline Options for Overcoming Disasters Act, or the FLOOD Act. This legislation would help farmers place floodplain easements on their property to mitigate flooding before a weather event occurs.

By adding the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Emergency Watershed Program to the Regional Conservation Partnership Program, this bill would increase access to resources for rural community members seeking to reduce the impact of flooding on their land through the purchase of voluntary easements.

"As the lowest lying state in the nation, Delawareans know the risk of flooding all too well," said Senator Blunt Rochester. "Our farming communities are key to both our culture and economy. Which is why I'm proud to introduce the FLOOD Act to ensure farmers in the First State and across the country have the resources they need to protect their properties, their crops, and their livelihoods."

"West Virginia knows all too well the devastation that flooding can bring - tearing through communities, damaging homes, threatening farmers' livelihoods, and leaving families picking up the pieces. Farmers contend with the weather every day and face threats from natural disasters every year - putting their operations and way of life at risk. I'm proud to join this legislation to help make sure that there are tools and resources available to safeguard lives, farms, and other property in watersheds from natural disasters, including floods," said Senator Jim Justice.

"More farmers more often are facing devastating floods, which are the second-most damaging natural disaster to agricultural production worldwide," said Rep. Panetta. "Our bipartisan, bicameral FLOOD Act would make it easier for farmers to create voluntary easements to mitigate future damage, restore native habitat, and produce the flood-compatible tools that they need to protect their livelihoods. That's the least that we can do in Congress as farmers continue to strengthen our food supply and keep putting food on America's tables."

"Representing one of the most rural congressional districts in the nation, I know firsthand how devastating floods and other natural disasters can be for our farmers and rural communities," said Rep. Feenstra. "Our agricultural economy is the backbone of our country, and those communities deserve the resources they need not only to recover quickly, but to emerge stronger and more resilient after disaster strikes. I'm proud to help lead this commonsense legislation to ensure the USDA can deliver timely assistance to disaster-impacted communities and support our farmers, small businesses, and rural communities when they need it most."

The FLOOD Act has been endorsed by the following organizations: The Nature Conservancy, American Rivers Action Fund, Delaware Department of Agriculture, Delaware Rural Water Association, National Association of Conservation Districts, American Floodplain Coalition, National Association of Counties, Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP), Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed, Farm Aid, American Sustainable Business Network, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, Iowa Environmental Council, West Virginia Rivers Coalition, Coastal Prairie Conservancy, Center for Rural Affairs, Socially Responsible Agriculture Project, Indiana Conservation Voters, Extreme Weather Survivor, Pheasants Forever, Quail Forever, Choose Clean Water Coalition, Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the University of Delaware, and American Flood Coalition Action.

"This legislation would create a commonsense, cost effective and proactive tool for reducing flood impacts before disaster strikes," said Jenny Conner, director of legislative affairs for The Nature Conservancy. "Communities across the country face growing flood risks and mounting recovery costs related to floods.  The FLOOD Act would benefit American farmers, taxpayers, and local communities."

"We thank Senators Jim Justice and Lisa Blunt Rochester and Representatives Jimmy Panetta and Randy Feenstra for introducing The FLOOD Act and recognizing the value of protecting both people and rivers through smart conservation investments," said Tom Kiernan, President, American Rivers Action Fund. "Floodplain restoration and easements are proven tools that support landowners while conserving flood-prone land. These USDA programs store floodwaters, improve water quality, create wildlife habitat, and help rivers reconnect with their natural floodplains-making communities more resilient to increasingly severe floods and storms." 

"All my life as a farmer, we as a nation have been unprepared for disasters that we know will happen, responding in an ad hoc manner with funding that is usually too little, too late," said Wm. Donald Clifton II, Delaware Secretary of Agriculture. "Financial assistance has been appreciated by those who received it, but it is rarely enough to fully mitigate the detrimental impact. Each time, a few farms fold under the financial pressure. We needed this bill decades ago. It is essential now and we should insist upon its passage."

"Counties play a critical role in building flood-resilient infrastructure across our nation's rural communities," said Matthew Chase, Executive Director of the National Association of Counties. "The FLOOD Act provides targeted technical assistance and financial support for watershed resilience and flood protection, helping county leaders better protect their communities. Counties urge Congress to swiftly pass this bipartisan legislation." 

"Farm Aid endorses The FLOOD Act because farmers and local governments need every available tool to respond to evolving environmental conditions and strengthen farm resilience," said Hank Tremblay, Policy and Advocacy Manager, Farm Aid. "Farmers are increasingly impacted by more frequent and severe storms, and this legislation will help reduce flood risks and restore floodplains."

"Rural communities, farmers, and local businesses are facing growing risks from flooding and aging infrastructure," said Liza LaManna, Manager of Agriculture and Water Policy, American Sustainable Business Network. "The FLOOD Act is a strong bipartisan step toward strengthening resilience, modernizing watershed infrastructure, and supporting economic opportunity in rural communities. American Sustainable Business Network supports investments that are good for businesses, farmers, and communities alike."  

"As the U.S. faces increasing climate risks and more frequent extreme precipitation, communities need stronger tools to prepare for flooding," Jeff Diamond, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy. "We strongly support The FLOOD Act because it provides states, local governments, Tribal Nations, and territories with the resources they need to strengthen flood resilience on an expedited timeline." -

"Iowa's rural communities and farmers are experiencing more frequent and intense flooding, increasing costs, reducing yields, and damaging critical infrastructure," said Cody Smith, Director of Climate Initiatives at the Iowa Environmental Council. "The FLOOD Act is a key step toward helping communities and farms better prepare for weather extremes through stronger planning, strategic infrastructure investments, and streamlined permitting."

"Flood warnings save lives, but they don't stop floods," Jennie Smith, Executive Director, West Virginia Rivers Coalition. "The FLOOD Act invests in proactive solutions-restoring floodplains and strengthening watershed infrastructure before disaster strikes. That's a smarter, more cost-effective way to protect West Virginia's communities." -

"Flood resilience begins long before floodwaters rise. Conserving and restoring natural floodplains and working landscapes reduces downstream flooding, improves water quality, supports agricultural productivity, and strengthens rural economies," Mary Anne Piacentini, President and CEO, Coastal Prairie Conservancy. "The Coastal Prairie Conservancy, a nonprofit land trust that has conserved more than 36,000 acres of wetlands coastal prairie, farms and ranches in southeast Texas, is pleased to support the bipartisan FLOOD Act and its emphasis on preventive, nature-based watershed solutions."

"To build flood resiliency and help rural communities mitigate flooding, we must work directly with local farmers and landowners throughout a watershed," said Cynthia Farmer, Center for Rural Affairs (CFRA) Iowa State Policy Manager. "That's why we support integrating Emergency Watershed Program measures into the Regional Conservation Partnership Program, giving producers more opportunities to implement projects that reduce flood risk and strengthen rural community preparedness."

"Socially Responsible Agriculture Project (SRAP) supports the FLOOD Act to encourage watershed resilience in regions with industrial livestock operations," said Cole Dickerson, Water Rangers Program Manager. "Flooding that impacts CAFOs can cause significant negative downstream impacts to public health, the environment, personal property, and local economies. The FLOOD Act provides safeguards to support responsible watershed management that can mitigate these downstream impacts."  

"Indiana's farmers manage nearly 14.6 million acres of farmland, and 94 percent of Indiana farms are family-owned or operated. These producers are on the front lines of flooding and extreme weather, and they need tools that help them recover while making their land and communities more resilient. Indiana already leads the nation in cover crop adoption, and voluntary floodplain and watershed solutions build on that conservation leadership to reduce disaster costs, protect water quality, conserve habitat, and keep Indiana's working lands productive," said Desi Rybolt, Conservation Policy Director of Indiana Conservation Voters. "We are proud to support this legislation because it offers a practical, cost-effective way to protect Indiana's farms, and families from flooding." 

"Flooding and extreme weather are putting enormous strain on families, farmers, and taxpayers. By supporting voluntary flood mitigation, watershed restoration, and resilient land management, this bill helps communities reduce future damage instead of relying only on costly disaster recovery after the fact," said Chris Kocher, co-founder and co-executive director of Extreme Weather Survivors (EWS). "Extreme Weather Survivors supports this legislation because investing in resilience is a practical, responsible way to protect people, property, and local economies."

"When disasters strike, rural communities often wait months to begin recovery because the USDA disaster programs they depend on lack funding. That's why AFCA strongly supports the bipartisan, bicameral Farmers' Lifeline to Overcoming Disasters Act," said Julie Seger, Federal Advocacy and Policy Director, American Flood Coalition Action (AFCA). "We thank Senators Blunt Rochester and Justice and Representatives Panetta and Feenstra for championing this important legislation to give USDA the ability to quickly get money to disaster-impacted communities to drive faster recoveries."

"Recent climatic events impacting agricultural production and fish and wildlife habitat conservation call for pragmatic solutions," said Taylor Schmitz, Senior Vice President and COO of the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation. "Voluntary conservation easements provide significant benefits for fish and wildlife habitat, water quality, and flood mitigation. By including the Emergency Watershed Program as a covered program under the Farm Bill's increasingly important Regional Conservation Partnership Program, the bipartisan FLOOD Act will help expand these conservation efforts, and CSF commends this commonsense approach."