,i #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #eeba ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,september #ag1 #bjad ,mr4 ,quigley 7for himself and ,mr4 ,king of ,new ,york7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure1 and in addition to the ,committee on ,financial ,services1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency to enter into an agreement with the ,national ,research ,council to conduct a study on urban flooding1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,urban ,flooding ,awareness ,act of #bjad4 #b4 ,urban flooding defined 7a7 ,in general ,in this ,act1 the term urban flooding means the inundation of property in a built environment1 particularly in more densely populated areas1 caused by rain falling on increased amounts of impervious surface and overwhelming the capacity of drainage systems1 such as storm sewers4 7b7 ,inclusions ,in this ,act1 the term urban flooding includes-- 7#a7 situations in which stormwater enters buildings through windows1 doors1 or other openings2 7#b7 water backup through sewer pipes1 showers1 toilets1 sinks1 and floor drains2 7#c7 seepage through walls and floors2 7#d7 the accumulation of water on property or public rights-of-way2 and 7#e7 the overflow from water bodies1 such as rivers and lakes4 7c7 ,exclusion ,in this ,act1 the term urban flooding does not include flooding in undeveloped or agricultural areas4 #c4 ,urban flooding study 7a7 ,agreement with ,national ,research ,council ,the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency shall enter into an agreement with the ,national ,research ,council under which the ,national ,research ,council will conduct a study on urban flooding in accordance with the requirements of this section4 7b7 ,contents 7#a7 ,general review and evaluation ,in conducting the study1 the ,national ,research ,council shall review and evaluate the latest available research1 laws1 regulations1 policies1 best practices1 procedures1 and institutional knowledge regarding urban flooding4 7#b7 ,specific issue areas ,the study shall include1 at a minimum1 an examination of the following3 7,a7 ,the prevalence and costs associated with urban flooding events across the ,united ,states1 with a focus on the largest metropolitan areas and any clear trends in frequency and severity over the past #b decades4 7,b7 ,the adequacy of existing federally provided flood risk information and the most cost-effective methods and products to identify1 map1 or otherwise characterize the risk of property damage from urban flooding on a property-by-property basis1 whether or not a property is in or adjacent to a #a-percent 7#ajj-year7 flood plain1 and the potential for training and certifying local experts in flood risk characterization as a service to property purchasers and owners and their communities4 7,c7 ,the causes of urban flooding and its apparent increase over the past #bj years1 including the impacts of-- 7i7 global climate change2 7ii7 increasing urbanization and the associated increase in impervious surfaces2 and 7iii7 undersized1 deteriorating and otherwise ineffective stormwater infrastructure4 7,d7 ,the most cost-effective strategies1 practices1 and technologies used to reduce the impacts of urban flooding1 with a focus on decentralized1 easy-to-install1 and low-cost approaches1 such as nonstructural and natural infrastructure on public and private property4 ,the examination under this subparagraph shall include an assessment of opportunities for implementing innovative strategies and practices on government-controlled land1 such as ,federal1 ,state1 and local roads1 parking lots1 alleys1 sidewalks1 buildings1 recreational areas1 and open space4 7,e7 ,the role of the ,federal ,government and ,state governments1 as conveners1 funders1 and advocates1 in spurring market innovations based on public-private-nonprofit partnerships4 ,such innovations may include smart home technologies for improved flood warning systems connected to high-resolution weather forecast data and ,internet- and cellular-based communications systems4 7,f7 ,the most sustainable and effective methods for funding flood risk and flood damage reduction at all levels of government1 including-- 7i7 the potential for establishing a ,state revolving fund program for flood prevention projects similar to the revolving fund programs under the ,federal ,water ,pollution ,control ,act and the ,safe ,drinking ,water ,act2 7ii7 stormwater fee programs using impervious surface as the basis for fee rates and providing credits for the installation of flood prevention or other stormwater management features2 7iii7 grant programs2 and 7iv7 public-private partnerships4 7,g7 ,information and education strategies and practices1 including nontraditional approaches such as the use of social media1 for community leaders1 government staff1 and property owners on-- 7i7 flood risks2 7ii7 flood risk reduction strategies and practices2 and 7iii7 the availability and effectiveness of different types of flood insurance policies4 7,h7 ,the relevance of the ,national ,flood ,insurance ,program and ,community ,rating ,system to urban flooding areas outside traditional flood plains1 and strategies for broadening coverage and increasing participation under the programs4 7,i7 ,strategies for protecting downstream communities from the flooding impacts of development in upstream communities1 including a review of-- 7i7 potential standards for watershed-wide flood protection planning2 and 7ii7 the potential establishment of streamlined legal processes for victims of flood damage1 to avoid the need for expensive litigation4 7c7 ,consultation ,the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency shall carry out this section in consultation with the ,secretary of the ,army 7acting through the ,chief of ,engineers71 the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development1 the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency1 and ,state1 regional1 and local stormwater management agencies1 and such other interested parties as the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency considers appropriate4 7d7 ,report to ,congress ,not later than #c years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency shall submit to the ,committee on ,financial ,services and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,banking1 ,housing1 and ,urban ,affairs and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,senate a report containing the findings of the ,national ,research ,council based on the results of the study1 including recommendations for implementation of strategies1 practices1 and technologies relating to urban flooding by ,congress and the executive branch4