Booker, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Strengthen American Infrastructure Against the Impacts of Climate Change

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Yesterday, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Representative Kevin Mullin (D-CA) introduced their Federal Flood Risk Management Act, legislation to ensure that federally-funded infrastructure projects are built to withstand the impacts of climate change and flooding. Flooding is the most common natural disaster and, according to the Congressional Budget Office, costs the United States $46 billion on average each year.

"Flood damage already costs New Jersey taxpayers millions each year, and as climate change accelerates and drives more severe flooding, those costs will keep rising unless we invest in resilient infrastructure," said Senator Booker. "This legislation is a fiscally responsible step that ensures federally funded projects are built to withstand flooding, protect communities, and strengthen our preparedness for extreme weather, helping us avoid far greater costs from disaster response and rebuilding."

"From the devastating flooding that hit Western Maryland last year to nuisance flooding that frequently disrupts business and impacts residents' lives in our coastal communities, flooding presents a clear threat here in Maryland and across the country. As the climate crisis causes increasingly severe storms and flooding with more frequency, it's past time we take action to harden our infrastructure against these threats. This legislation will both help ensure the federal government is leading the way in that effort and ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely on infrastructure that is built to withstand the challenges of climate change," said Senator Van Hollen.

"Extreme weather is becoming more frequent and more severe, and it's taking a huge toll on our infrastructure. Our bill will help ensure that federally-funded infrastructure is built to be more resilient to the impact of floods and other disasters," said Senator Schatz.

"Communities in California and across the country are increasingly facing the devastating consequences of stronger floods and extreme weather events," said Congressman Mullin. "Too many families have seen their homes, businesses, and livelihoods threatened by flooding, only to be left wondering how they will rebuild. The Federal Flood Risk Management Act is a critical step toward making our communities more resilient. By requiring federally-funded projects to account for future flood risks using the best available science, this bill will help protect lives, safeguard taxpayer investments, and reduce the costly damage caused by increasingly severe storms."

Understanding the dangerous and costly consequences of flooding, the Obama Administration first set standards in 2015 to make sure that federal projects were able to stand up to heightened flood risks. President Biden later reinstated these standards, which also take into account how climate change is impacting weather and sea levels. President Trump revoked these standards in his first term and again in January 2025. Throughout both Trump Administrations, the Senators repeatedly pushed back against this effort. The Senators are reintroducing the Federal Flood Risk Management Act to codify the standards first set forth by President Obama and ensure that we make resilient federal investments that take into account the impacts of climate change. Doing so will protect our nation's infrastructure, save taxpayer dollars, safeguard businesses from flood damage, and keep communities safe.

"Flooding is the costliest disaster facing our country, with billions in taxpayer funds spent to rebuild public infrastructure," said Joel Scata of the Natural Resources Defense Council. "The Federal Flood Risk Management Actensures federally funded projects, like hospitals, roads, and schools, are built to withstand future floods, protecting people and property. When federal funds are used to build or rebuild, the government has a responsibility to ensure those investments are safe, sustainable, and resilient."

The text of the bill is available here.