Rep. Angie Craig Advocates for Flood Resiliency

Today, U.S. Rep. Angie Craig's budget amendments that prioritize funding for flood damage research, data collection, and infrastructure resilience were adopted by the House.

As part of the spending package under consideration this week, Rep. Craig introduced an amendment that increased funding to the Army Corps of Engineers National Flood Risk Management, Flood Damage Data, and Corps Water Management System Programs. These programs help prevent future flood damage by researching the appropriate use of structures such as levees and floodwalls, providing data for districts and communities applying for FEMA Hazard Mitigation grants, and regulating the river flow through more than 700 reservoirs, locks, and other water control structures.

"The increased flooding in my district is taking a serious toll on farmers, families, and economies," said Rep. Craig. "Congress must move from reacting to floods to preventing them by finding ways to make our river communities more resilient in the face of increasingly frequent and severe floods. Funding these programs is a critical step, and I'm proud to lead this charge."

Rep. Craig also introduced an amendment to advocate for the Army Corps of Engineers Beneficial Use of Dredged Material Program, which require the Army Corps of Engineers to work more closely with states and stakeholders to make better use of dredged material from federal navigation projects. The Second Congressional District is home to one selected pilot program location at Lake Pepin, which researches how the area can better account for removing the dredged material, a topic of concern for farmers and community stakeholders.

Spring flooding has hit Minnesota's Second Congressional District particularly hard, with farmers facing a delayed planting season and families being temporarily displaced from their homes from flood damage. These amendments help ensure Congress adequately funds the critical work of the Army Corps of Engineers in their mission to respond to and prevent flood damage while maintaining navigable waters up and down the Inland Waterway System.

In Congress, Rep. Craig serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and is working to ensure the federal government makes robust infrastructure investments in Minnesota. She recently voted for a supplemental $1 billion dollars to address ongoing and widespread flooding along the Mississippi River and has launched a disaster assistance webpage to compile resources for local communities to prevent future economic and environmental damage.