WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA), along with 20 colleagues, sent a letter to President Joe Biden calling for large-scale climate resiliency and flood protection investments in the upcoming infrastructure plan.

Flooding has become the most common and expensive natural disaster in the United States, devastating businesses, uprooting families, and straining governments’ resources at all levels. Through an extensive infrastructure package, the Biden Administration can proactively address future flood risk and increase funding for the Army Corps of Engineers.

“Eight years after Superstorm Sandy destroyed thousands of homes, and caused nearly $20 billion in damages, New York City, like so many other coastal communities, remains deeply vulnerable to future storm surges,” said Rep. Nadler. As climate change drives higher sea levels, flood-prone regions like New York City face increasingly frequent and severe weather events. Equitable and effective flood mitigation is urgently needed to protect our communities, our economy, and our environment now and for decades to come. I am thankful that President Biden has moved quickly to address the climate crisis and has committed to improving our nation’s resilience against the impacts of climate change. As we move into the next phase of the President’s plan to Build Back Better and address our country’s aging infrastructure, I am proud to join my colleagues in calling for large-scale investments to enhance the resilience of our communities.”

“The Sacramento region is one of the most flood prone in the country, presenting unique challenges that require bold investments to keep our community safe from disaster,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “With the devastating impacts of the climate crisis, flood damage continues to rise across the nation, hurting families and businesses. As we implement the next stage of President Biden’s plan to revive our economy and improve our aging infrastructure, it is essential that we continue to prioritize our flood resilience and protect communities most vulnerable to flood risk.”

“I’m grateful for the steps President Biden has taken from Day One to manage flood risks and strengthen resilience across America,” said Rep. Kathy Castor, Chair of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. “Like so many parts of the country, my community in Tampa Bay is particularly susceptible to dangerous storm surge as we already are experiencing rising seas, worsening floods, and other costly risks fueled by the climate crisis. Today my colleagues and I are urging the President to make greater investments in flood protection, in order to protect our local economies and make further progress on his promise to Build Back Better,”

A full copy of the letter can be found here.