Congresswoman Nancy Mace has reintroduced the VA Flood Preparedness Act, a bipartisan initiative focused on enhancing the protection of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities against flooding and rising sea levels. The bill allows the VA to fund local governments and agencies to mitigate flood risks near its medical centers. It also mandates that the VA report to Congress on flood risk levels at each facility and whether additional resources are required for future challenges.
“Our veterans should never have to worry about floodwaters shutting down their care,” stated Congresswoman Nancy Mace. “This bill is a proactive, commonsense fix to stop problems before they start. The men and women who served this country earned reliable care and it shouldn’t disappear just because there is heavy rain.”
Congressman Troy A. Carter Sr., co-leading the bill, remarked: “In Louisiana we know all too well the damage that storms and floods can bring. After Hurricane Katrina, the V.A. Center in New Orleans was severely flooded, shutting down operations at this critical site. This bill will help position V.A. centers across the country so that they can better partner with local authorities on flooding studies to better identify the shortcomings of the past and shore up facilities to serve veterans for generations to come.”
The VA Flood Preparedness Act includes provisions for financial contributions from the VA to local authorities for flood mitigation projects near VA facilities. Additionally, it requires a report from the VA within two years assessing flood risks at its medical facilities and identifying if more resources are needed.
The legislation updates existing VA construction law (Title 38, Section 8108) by explicitly addressing mitigation of flooding risks associated with climate-driven events like sea level rise.
