Representatives Sorensen, Hinson Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Flood and Drought Resiliency in Farming Communities

Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) and Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (IA-02) introduced their bipartisan Flood Resiliency and Land Stewardship Act, which would improve flood and drought mitigation in agricultural communities across Illinois through existing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) conservation programs.

“I’ll never forget the concern I felt for my neighbors while reporting on the massive Quad Cities flood in 2019 as I livestreamed on the ground to warn Quad citizens of the rising waters that were creeping dangerously into business and homes along the Mississippi River,” said Congressman Sorensen. “Now, I’m grateful to have the opportunity to take action by introducing bipartisan legislation that will help our farming communities improve flood resiliency on their lands by strengthening soil health and water quality. Floods and droughts affect all Americans, and I’m glad to work across the aisle toward delivering solutions for my neighbors.”

“Covering the devastating Flood of 2008 was one of the primary reasons I decided to get involved in public service,” said Congresswoman Hinson. “Even in the lowest of times, Iowans banded together to recover and rebuild in a more resilient way. At the federal level, we must pursue proactive solutions that prioritize commonsense mitigation and flood prevention efforts to help save lives and livelihoods in the event of severe weather. While we can’t predict the weather, we can ensure we are prepared. I will continue working across the aisle to deliver certainty and protect our communities, businesses, and agriculture.”

“We applaud Representatives Ashley Hinson and Eric Sorensen for their bipartisan leadership to advance flood-smart agriculture policy through the Flood Resiliency and Land Stewardship Act,” said Julie Seger, Director of Policy & Government Relations, American Flood Coalition Action. “By making flood and drought prevention a core purpose of USDA’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program, this bill will help farmers, local communities, and other stakeholders deliver locally led flood solutions that protect both farmlands and downstream communities.”

The bill strengthens flood and drought resilience in agricultural communities by explicitly codifying flood and drought prevention as a purpose of the Regional Conservation Partnership Program of the USDA.