,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #hdfb ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,september #cj1 #bjbj,mr4 ,price of ,north ,carolina 7for himself and ,mr4 ,zeldin7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,financial ,services1 and in addition to the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure1 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 safeguard taxpayer resources and strengthen the ,nation's resilience against severe storms and flooding4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,flood ,resiliency and ,taxpayer ,savings ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,findings and purpose 7a7 ,findings ,the ,congress finds that-- 7#a7 floods are the most common natural disaster in the ,united ,states1 causing injuries1 damage1 and destruction in all #ej ,states since #bjab2 7#b7 recent storms have strained the capacity of many local and ,state governments to respond and recover1 necessitating significant increases in disaster assistance from the ,federal ,government2 7#c7 the ,congressional ,budget ,office has cautioned that ,u4,s4 economic losses associated with heavy precipitation1 storm surges1 and hurricane winds could average #ed billion every year and require ,federal spending averaging #ag billion per year2 7#d7 according to the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency1 nearly #bej weather-related disasters in the ,united ,states have caused at least #a billion in damage each since #aihj2 7#e7 since #bjje alone1 ,federal funding for disaster assistance has exceeded #dej billion1 including over #ai billion in supplemental appropriations signed into law in ,june of #bjai2 7#f7 after reviewing just a portion of the ,federal ,government property inventory1 the ,office of ,management and ,budget identified significant flood risks1 including more than #hj billion in ,federal assets located in designated flood zones2 7#g7 a #bjag study of ,federal mitigation grants conducted by ,national ,institute of ,building ,sciences ,multihazard ,mitigation ,council demonstrated that mitigation investment can save the ,nation1 on average1 #f in future disaster costs for every #a spent on hazard mitigation2 and 7#h7 the ,government ,accountability ,office has recommended that enhanced ,federal and local efforts to improve resilience can reduce the effects and costs of future disasters4 7b7 ,purpose ,it is the purpose of this ,act-- 7#a7 to improve the resiliency of communities and assets of the ,federal ,government against flooding1 thereby limiting damage1 reducing the need to rebuild after floods1 and saving taxpayer dollars2 and 7#b7 provide a flexible framework for full consideration of sensible resilience alternatives without requiring any specific construction or mitigation methods4 #c4 ,flood risk management 7a7 ,evaluation of potential for flooding ,when carrying out an agency action involving a federally funded project1 the head of each agency shall evaluate the potential for flooding throughout the planned lifetime or duration of the federally funded project to-- 7#a7 reduce the risk of financial and property losses1 including taxpayer losses resulting from floods2 7#b7 take practicable steps toward ensuring that ,federal resources will be allocated to structures and projects that will remain flood resistant throughout their intended design life2 7#c7 preserve and utilize1 to the extent reasonable1 the capacity of natural systems to protect against the damages of flooding2 7#d7 prevent1 to the extent possible1 the disruption of critical services during flood events1 including the closure of strategic transportation routes1 inaccessibility of health care facilities1 or loss of power or essential water and wastewater services2 and 7#e7 minimize the impact of current and future floods on human safety1 health1 and welfare4 7b7 ,determination regarding siting in floodplain ,in carrying out the review of agency actions required under ,executive ,order #aaihh 7#db ,fed4 ,reg4 #bfiea2 relating to floodplain management71 the head of each agency shall determine whether the federally funded project 7as such term is defined in subsection 7e77 under review is sited in a floodplain currently or is expected to lie within or take place in a floodplain during the expected duration or design life of the project1 taking into consideration-- 7#a7 the most recent flood insurance rate map published by the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency for the community in which the project shall take place1 including preliminary and advisory maps prepared by the ,administrator2 7#b7 relevant and available assessments of future flooding vulnerabilities conducted or used by the agency1 other agencies1 or ,state or local governments2 7#c7 additional available information regarding expected future conditions1 including changes in land use1 watershed characteristics1 and infrastructure2 and 7#d7 additional available hydrologic and hydraulic data from public and private sources regarding current and future flood risk1 including information on expected changes in precipitation patterns1 erosion1 and sea level4 7c7 ,alternate design levels for resilient infrastructure ,if1 after considering the available information required under subsection 7b71 the head of an agency determines that such information is not adequate or sufficiently credible to understand and characterize current and future flood risks to the project1 the head of the agency shall use the following design standards in evaluating resilience for or alternatives to the investment3 7#a7 ,non-critical projects ,if the project under review is not considered critical1 the head of the agency shall assume1 at a minimum1 that flood heights would be expected to be #b feet higher than the base flood elevation for the current #a percent annual chance flood or the flood elevation for the current #j4b percent annual chance flood1 whichever is greater4 7#b7 ,critical projects ,if the project under review is considered critical1 the head of the agency shall assume1 at a minimum1 that flood heights would be expected to be #c feet higher than the base flood elevation for the current #a percent annual chance flood or #a foot higher than the flood elevation for the current #j4b percent annual chance flood1 whichever is greater4 7#c7 ,resilience standard ,in evaluating resilience options1 the flood heights specified in preceding paragraphs shall establish a standard design level to which a structure or facility evaluated under this subsection shall be made functionally resilient4 ,this may include using structural or nonstructural methods to reduce or prevent damage1 elevating a structure1 or where appropriate1 designing it to adapt to1 withstand1 and rapidly recover from the corresponding flood event4 7#d7 ,alternatives ,in evaluating alternatives1 including alternative sites and designs1 the head of the agency shall fully consider the ability of natural systems and nature-based processes to achieve or support flood risk reduction and cost savings over the long term4 7d7 ,guidelines for agencies 7#a7 ,guidelines ,agencies shall amend their regulations and procedures to incorporate the resilience standards established under subsections 7b7 and 7c7 to establish new flood risk management standards4 ,agency standards shall1 at a minimum1 incorporate provisions to implement subsection 7a7 and shall require that the construction of ,federal structures and facilities and construction of structures and facilities using ,federal funds be in accordance with the standards and criteria established under subsections 7b7 and 7c7 and comply with applicable ,state1 local1 tribal1 and territorial standards that exceed ,federal standards and criteria4 ,such standards shall be consistent with the purposes of the ,national ,flood ,insurance ,program4 7#b7 ,issuance ,not later than the expiration of the #ah-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,federal ,interagency ,floodplain ,management ,task ,force shall issue guidelines to be used by agencies in meeting the requirements of this ,act4 7#c7 ,required content ,at a minimum1 such guidelines shall-- 7,a7 establish appropriate tracking and reporting procedures for agencies to follow2 7,b7 establish limits on the extent to which exceptions for a particular agency may be allowed in cases in which an exception is in the interest of national security1 is deemed to be an emergency action1 or is determined to present a conflict with other existing statutory requirements4 7#d7 ,other content ,such guidelines may also identify cases in which an agency may conduct a general review of types of projects that are similar or cases in which projects are of a limited duration or de minimis expenditure that would allow for expedited review4 7#e7 ,consultation ,in developing such guidelines1 the ,federal ,interagency ,floodplain ,management ,task ,force shall consult with ,states1 localities1 ,indian tribes1 and other relevant stakeholders through listening sessions and may issue final guidelines only after an opportunity for public review and comment4 7#f7 ,report to ,congress 7,a7 ,requirement ,not later than the expiration of the #b-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this ,act and not less often than annually thereafter1 the ,federal ,interagency ,floodplain ,management ,task ,force shall submit a report to the ,committees on ,transportation and ,infrastructure and ,financial ,services of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committees on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs and ,banking1 ,housing1 and ,urban ,affairs of the ,senate regarding compliance by agencies with the requirements of this ,act4 7,b7 ,contents ,each report submitted pursuant to subparagraph 7,a7 shall include information sufficient to describe-- 7i7 the number1 types1 and outcomes of reviews conducted by individual agencies2 7ii7 any rulemakings1 or policy or procedural changes made by agencies to ensure compliance with this ,act2 and 7iii7 any recommendations of the ,federal ,interagency ,floodplain ,management ,task ,force regarding improvements to enhance resilience from flooding and steward ,federal resources4 7e7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,administrator ,the term ,administrator means the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency4 7#b7 ,agency ,the term agency has the meaning given such term in ,executive ,order #aaihh 7#db ,fed4 ,reg4 #bfiea2 relating to floodplain management71 except that such term does not include any military department other than the ,army ,corps of ,engineers4 7#c7 ,critical ,the term critical means1 with respect to a project of an agency1 any project with respect to which the head of the agency determines that a slight chance of flooding would present an unacceptable amount of risk1 as such term is defined in section #i4d of title #dd1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations4 7#d7 ,federally funded project ,the term federally funded project means a project for which ,federal funds are used for purposes of managing1 acquiring1 or disposing of ,federal lands or assets and1 with respect to a structure or facility1 for new construction1 for substantial improvement1 or to address substantial damage4 ,such term does not include the making1 insuring1 guaranteeing1 or securitizing of residential mortgage loans for single-family or multifamily housing4 7#e7 ,federal ,interagency ,floodplain ,management ,task ,force ,the term ,federal ,interagency ,floodplain ,management ,task ,force means the interagency body that-- 7,a7 was established in #aige2 7,b7 has been responsible for preparing reports and guidance for a comprehensive1 coordinated approach to floodplain management2 7,c7 is chaired by the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency2 and 7,d7 includes membership from multiple agencies1 including the ,army ,corps of ,engineers1 the ,department of ,agriculture1 the ,department of ,housing and ,urban ,development1 and the ,department of ,commerce4 7#f7 ,resilience ,the term resilience means the ability to anticipate1 prepare for1 and adapt to changing conditions and withstand and rapidly recover from disruption due to emergencies4 7#g7 ,substantial improvement2 substantial damage ,the terms substantial improvement and substantial damage mean substantial improvement and substantial damage1 respectively1 to the extent described in section #acjg7;a77#b77;,e7 of the ,national ,flood ,insurance ,act of #aifh 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #djad7;a77#b77;,e774 7f7 ,applicability ,this ,act shall not apply to any federally funded project that has been reviewed for compliance with ,executive ,order #aaihh and approved by the appropriate agency before the date of the enactment of this ,act4