U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO), ranking member of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, praised the committee’s Sept. 20 approval of a bipartisan bill to help reduce the risk of disasters.
The committee approved the Resilience Revolving Loan Fund Act of 2019, H.R. 3779, which incorporates several provisions from the Resilient Communities Act of 2019, H.R. 3531, which Rep. Graves sponsored in June to permit the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide capitalization grants to states for establishing revolving funds that would assist in reducing the harmful impacts to people and property from multiple hazards.
“I’m glad we were able to make important changes to the Resilience Revolving Loan Fund Act, particularly the inclusion of non-federal levees, providing another important tool to help our communities, farmers and businesses better prepare for future disasters,” Rep. Graves said. “I want to thank the chairman for working with the committee’s Republican members to move forward today on these bipartisan measures.”
By expanding the types of eligible projects, such as the repair and reconstruction of non-federal levees, the committee-approved H.R. 3779 would support and enhance FEMA’s existing mitigation programs. Funds also could be applied to projects related to nonprofits and businesses if they reduce flood risk, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Graves’ office.
“This year’s flooding has absolutely devastated North Missouri,” said Rep. Graves. “Levees up and down the Missouri, Mississippi and rivers in between were breached. We’ve got to make sure that our river communities have the ability to recover, as well as prevent future flooding.”
Rep. Graves also applauded Jo Anne Smiley, mayor of Clarksville, Mo., who publicly supported the bill after the Mississippi River town was inundated by floodwaters this year, according to the congressman’s office.
“It’s always great to partner with folks like Mayor Smiley to put forth legislation that can help North Missourians,” Rep. Graves said.