[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 108 (Wednesday, June 27, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4515-S4516]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. CARPER:
  S. 3146. A bill to amend the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 to 
allow the District of Columbia to receive

[[Page S4516]]

Federal funding under such Act, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  Mr. CARPER. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation to 
allow the District of Columbia to receive funding and other benefits 
under the Coastal Zone Management Act. I am pleased to offer this 
companion legislation to a bill, H.R. 2540, introduced by the 
Congresswoman from the District of Columbia, Eleanor Holmes Norton.
  Few of us realize that 70 percent of the District is located within 
the coastal plain. Similar to my State of Delaware, sea level rise, 
upstream sources of water and degraded infrastructure mean that the 
District could experience serious future cleanup and repair costs due 
to flooding--including damage to federal property, which makes up 
almost 30 percent of the District. Since 1950, the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports there has been a 343 percent 
increase in nuisance flooding in the District. And, since 2006, DC has 
experienced two 100-year flooding events, and District officials 
estimate that a future 100-year flood event could cause over $1.2 
billion in damages. Needless to say, these events will become more and 
more common due to climate change and sea level rise.
  The District of Columbia would use funding from the Coastal Zone 
Management Program for flood risk planning and environmental 
restoration to prevent and mitigate future flood damage. At the same 
time, this work would help to restore and conserve the District's 
coastal resources such as habitat, fisheries, and endangered species.
  If included in the Coastal Zone Management Program, the District of 
Columbia would be eligible for $1 million or more of federal funding 
annually to assist in coastal flood-control projects, to combat non-
point source water pollution, and to develop special area management 
plans in areas experiencing environmental justice and/or flooding 
issues.
  The National Coastal Zone Management Program, housed in NOAA, was 
established through the passage of the Federal Coastal Zone Management 
Act of 1972. At the time, Congress recognized the need to manage the 
effects of increased growth in the nation's coastal zone, which 
includes jurisdictions bordering the oceans and the Great Lakes.
  There are currently 34 jurisdictional coastal zone management 
programs, including both states and territories. In order for the 
District of Columbia to participate in the program, Congress must pass 
this amendment to the Coastal Zone Management Act that would include 
the District under the definition of a ``coastal State.'' Thank you, 
Mr. President.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 3146

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Flood Prevention Act of 
     2018''.

     SEC. 2. ELIGIBILITY OF DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA FOR FEDERAL 
                   FUNDING UNDER THE COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT ACT 
                   OF 1972.

       Section 304(4) of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 
     (16 U.S.C. 1453(4)) is amended by inserting ``the District of 
     Columbia,'' after ``the term also includes''.

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