    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book I)]
    [March 6, 1995]
    [Page 312]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Congress Transmitting the Report on Floodplain Management
    March 6, 1995

    To the Congress of the United States:
        It is with great pleasure that I transmit A Unified National Program
    for Floodplain Management to the Congress. The Unified National Program
    responds to section 1302(c) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968
    (Public Law 90-448), which calls upon the President to report to the
    Congress on a Unified National Program. The report sets forth a
    conceptual framework for managing the Nation's floodplains to achieve
    the dual goals of reducing the loss of life and property caused by
    floods and protecting and restoring the natural resources of
    floodplains. This document was prepared by the Federal Interagency
    Floodplain Management Task Force, which is chaired by FEMA.
        This report differs from the 1986 and 1979 versions in that it
    recommends four national goals with supporting objectives for improving
    the implementation of floodplain management at all levels of government.
    It also urges the formulation of a more comprehensive, coordinated
    approach to protecting and managing human and natural systems to ensure
    sustainable development relative to long-term economic and ecological
    health. This report was prepared independent of Sharing the Challenge:
    Floodplain Management Into the 21st Century developed by the Floodplain
    Management Review Committee, which was established following the Great
    Midwest Flood of 1993. However, these two reports complement and
    reinforce each other by the commonality of their findings and
    recommendations. For example, both reports recognize the importance of
    continuing to improve our efforts to reduce the loss of life and
    property caused by floods and to preserve and restore the natural
    resources and functions of floodplains in an economically and
    environmentally sound manner. This is significant in that the natural
    resources and functions of our riverine and coastal floodplains help to
    maintain the viability of natural systems and provide multiple benefits
    for people.
        Effective implementation of the Unified National Program for
    Floodplain Management will mitigate the tragic loss of life and
    property, and disruption of families and communities, that are caused by
    floods every year in the United States. It will also mitigate the
    unacceptable losses of natural resources and result in a reduction in
    the financial burdens placed upon governments to compensate for flood
    damages caused by unwise land use decisions made by individuals, as well
    as governments.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    March 6, 1995.