By Forum Staff
Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-Flushing) Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-Queens and Bronx), and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that the House of Representatives’ passage of the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA), which includes their provision that authorizes the Army Corps of Engineers – in working with the City – to spend nearly $190 million to help combat flooding in Queens.
Originally introduced by Meng, Ocasio-Cortez, and Schumer, the provision adds nearly $70.8 million in additional funding, an increase from the $120 million authorized to Queens in the Water Resources Development Act of 2022, which was signed into law last year by President Joe Biden. The funding supports projects that would directly address water and wastewater infrastructure and improve stormwater management such as combined sewer overflows.
“From major storms to the impact of climate change, flooding has become a persistent problem in Queens,” Meng said. “Weather events, like Hurricane Ida, have cost our community billions in damage, families have lost their homes, local businesses have been devastated, and lives have been lost, because our existing water infrastructure could not handle the intense rain and rapid flooding. Left unaddressed, this problem will only continue to ravage our community. This provision, which I secured in the Water Resources Development Act, would help ensure that Queens is more resilient and better prepared to handle the growing impacts of flooding.”
Over the next century sea levels are projected to rise an alarming six or more feet along U.S. coastlines, including Queens. By 2050, up to $72 billion in property values will be at risk for coastal flooding. WRDA helps communities, like Queens invest in flood control projects in the face of more severe and frequent weather events by completing national coastal mapping to support navigation, flood risk management, environmental restoration, and emergency operations missions.
The bill provides the authority for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to carry out water resources development projects and studies that provide improvements to rivers and harbors throughout the United States and provide conservation development of water-related resources. Passed every two years with bipartisan support, this measure responds to local water resource needs and helps communities respond to the emerging threats of climate change.
Allowing the Army Corps of Engineers to spend the money is the first step in the process. If enacted, Congress would still need to allocate funding to the Corps in order to carry out infrastructure projects in Queens.
“Our response to the climate crisis must match the urgency of the moment,” Ocasio-Cortez added. “The stakes are clear: 13 people in Queens tragically lost their lives due to flooding from Hurricane Ida in 2021. This is why, in 2022, I worked with Rep. Meng and Senator Schumer to acquire nearly $120M for Queens flooding infrastructure improvements. Two years later, I’m proud to say that we’ve now nearly doubled that funding with $190M in funding for 2024 and 2025. When I contributed to the Water Resources Development Act of 2024, I did so with the safety and well-being of my constituents in mind. We need to act now to protect our communities and ensure they are resilient against future climate challenges.”
The legislation will now head to the Senate for approval.
