Tlaib, Pressley, Brown Introduce Bill to Require FEMA to Repair Flood-Damaged Basements

DETROIT – Today, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) with Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) introduced the Fix Our Flooded Basements Act to ensure that people who have suffered from disastrous flooding can live safely and repair the basements in their homes.

Current federal assistance for repairs to flood-damaged basements is woefully insufficient and narrowly defined, leaving countless Americans trapped in dangerous or uninhabitable conditions facing negative health and safety impacts from mold, mildew, and water damage. Without legislative changes to our disaster relief, emergency assistance, and government flood insurance policies, too many of our neighbors are unable to fully recover when disaster strikes.

“In Southeast Michigan, we know firsthand the devastating impacts severe flooding can have on our families,” said Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib. “We have seen the destruction it causes in our neighborhoods and the basements of our homes. Water damage can ruin electrical systems, destroy heating and cooling systems, damage foundations, and create long-term mold and health issues. As flooding becomes more frequent due to climate change, it’s crucial that we take action to require FEMA to provide flood victims with the full resources they need to rebuild their lives.”

The Fix Our Flooded Basements Act would right this wrong by:

• Ensuring that federal assistance for repairs and personal and building property is available for flood-damaged basements, not just rooms that meet existing narrow occupancy requirements.
• Expanding the coverage of federal assistance to cover the costs to repair and replace property and in a flood-damaged basement affected by a major disaster.
• Ensuring that federal assistance can be adequately spent on recovery by excluding hazard mitigation measures and GFIP premiums from the maximum amount of federal disaster financial assistance provided under the FEMA Individuals and Households Program.
• Expanding eligibility and coverage for FEMA’s Group Flood Insurance Policy.

“The Fix Our Flooded Basements Act would fill a critical gap in disaster recovery resources that has left so many overburdened and desperate for relief,” said Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley. “This bill would help folks impacted by natural disasters restore their entire homes and move forward with rebuilding their lives. I’m grateful to my sister-in-service Congresswoman Tlaib for her partnership in this life-changing work.”

“FEMA flood assistance programs should cover the whole home, including basements,” said Congresswoman Shontel Brown. “I’m proud to join Congresswoman Tlaib in introducing the Fix Our Flooded Basements Act, important legislation to ensure that disaster relief and emergency assistance programs expand to include repairs and replacement for flood-damaged basements.”

This legislation is cosponsored by Reps. Becca Balint (VT-AL), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Cleo Fields (LA-06), Shomari Figures (AL-02), Jesús “Chuy” Garcia (IL-04), Pablo José Hernández (PR-AL), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Grace Meng (NY-06), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Jared Moskowitz (FL-23), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Robert “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Terri Sewell (AL-07), and Shri Thanedar (MI-13).

This legislation is endorsed by After the Storm Metro Detroit Recovery Project, Eastside Climate Action Coalition, Eastside Community Network, Enterprise Community Partners, Habitat for Humanity of Detroit, Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County, National Low Income Housing Coalition, United Way SE Michigan, and Wayne Metro Community Action Agency.

A copy of the legislation is available here.

A one-pager on the bill is available here.