[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 190 (Thursday, October 28, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1159]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA FLOOD PREVENTION ACT OF 2021

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 28, 2021

  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I rise to introduce the District of 
Columbia Flood Prevention Act of 2021. The bill would amend the Coastal 
Zone Management Act of 1972 (CZMA) to include the nation's capital in 
the definition of ``coastal state.'' Senator Tom Carper, the Chairman 
of the Environment and Public Works Committee, has introduced the 
companion bill in the Senate. Our bill would correct an apparent 
oversight in the omission of the District of Columbia from the CZMA by 
making the District eligible to receive federal funding and oversight 
for federally issued permits, facilities and actions that affect our 
coastal waters. The District urgently needs the protection of the CZMA 
because of serious flood risks that currently affect federal assets, 
residents and businesses, including the National Mall and the cluster 
of downtown federal agencies.
  Congress has authorized a number of programs to help states and 
territories respond to floods and mitigate risk through resiliency 
projects. An effort to reduce coastal flood risk, the CZMA provides 
planning and technical services to assist states in protecting, 
restoring and developing coastal communities and resources. Once the 
federal government approves a state's coastal management plan, the 
state becomes eligible for grants. Federal actions must be consistent 
with the state plans and vice versa.
  Even though the District, including the federal complex, is located 
on two rivers, and has suffered substantial coastal floods in the past, 
it was omitted from the list of eligible states and territories in the 
CZMA. It is notable that under Section 304 of the CZMA, ``coastal 
state[s]'' include the states and U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, the 
Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, 
the Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands and American Samoa). 
Because territories are included in the definition of ``coastal 
states'' while D.C. is absent, it appears that D.C.'s omission is a 
mistake, which only Congress can correct. This oversight likely 
occurred because the CZMA was passed in 1972, which was before the 
District achieved home rule.
  Scientists have predicted that the tides on the Atlantic Coast could 
rise two to four feet by the year 2100, causing property worth as much 
as $7 billion in the District to be routinely under threat by 
floodwaters. This damage includes private homes and businesses and the 
National Mall, federal buildings and three military bases located in 
the District. The Anacostia and Potomac Rivers, which surround the 
District, are tidally influenced, part of an ``intertidal zone'' 
between high and low maritime tides. In addition, the Maryland and 
Virginia coastal zones each include the tidal Potomac River, with 
Maryland's zone ending at the District line.
  I initially offered the D.C. Flood Prevention Act in a previous 
Congress. The bill passed the House as part of the Coastal and Great 
Lakes Communities Enhancement Act. And again, last month, the House 
Committee on Natural Resources passed this bill as part of the Ocean-
Based Climate Solutions Act of 2021, Chairman Raul M. Grijalva's effort 
to modernize federal ocean management policy to account for climate 
change.
  The District should be eligible under the CZMA just like the states 
and territories already listed in the CZMA. I urge support for this 
bill.

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