U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) on April 18 sponsored a bipartisan bill to authorize the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make certain contributions to local authorities to mitigate the risk of flooding on local property adjacent to medical facilities of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
“This bill will increase collaboration between local authorities and the VA so the VA can participate in and make certain contributions to local authorities to mitigate the risk of flooding on roads adjacent to their facilities,” Rep. Mace said.
The VA Flood Preparedness Act, H.R. 2683, which is cosponsored by U.S. Rep. Troy Carter (D-LA), also would require the VA Secretary to submit a report to the Veterans’ Affairs Committees of both houses of Congress that details how each medical facility is at risk of flooding, including the risk of flooding associated with rising sea levels, and whether additional resources are necessary to address such risks, according to the text of the bill.
“For years, veterans have been significantly impeded from accessing the Ralph H. Johnson V.A. Medical Center in Charleston due to constant flooding on the adjacent street and in the parking lot,” explained Rep. Mace. “This is in a very vulnerable area for flooding and the city is limited in what they can do to mitigate the problems because the facility is federal.”
The same is true in southeast Louisiana, according to Rep. Carter, who said residents “know the power and disruption that storms and floods can bring all too well.”
“After Hurricane Katrina, the VA Center in New Orleans flooded badly, shutting down operations at this critical site,” he said. “This bill will help position VA centers across the country so that they can better partner with local authorities on flooding studies to better identify the shortcomings of the past and shore up facilities to serve veterans for generations to come.”