Title: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that sea level rise and flooding are of urgent concern impacting Florida that require proactive measures for community planning and the States tourism-based economy to adapt.
Policy area: Emergency Management

Summary:
This resolution: (1) acknowledges the significance of sea-level rise and flooding throughout communities across the country and in Florida, and (2) affirms the need for greater adaptation funding and the incorporation of historical flooding and sea-level rise projections into planning.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 112 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 112

  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that sea level 
rise and flooding are of urgent concern impacting Florida that require 
proactive measures for community planning and the States tourism-based 
                           economy to adapt.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 7, 2019

    Mr. Rooney of Florida (for himself and Mr. Gaetz) submitted the 
     following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                   Transportation and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that sea level 
rise and flooding are of urgent concern impacting Florida that require 
proactive measures for community planning and the States tourism-based 
                           economy to adapt.

Whereas sea level rise is worsening flooding during king tides and increasing 
        storm surge from hurricanes and is already a costly problem that needs 
        to be addressed;
Whereas rising sea levels amplify the threat and magnitude of storm surge in 
        coastal areas, meaning the impact and power of hurricanes will only 
        increase, endangering even more coastal property and infrastructure;
Whereas our national defense is of the utmost priority and the significant 
        impact of flooding at, on, and leading into coastal bases diminishes our 
        ability to train, maintain, and deploy;
Whereas more than half of Florida's 21 military bases are along the coast, and 
        specifically Naval Air Station (NAS) Key West, Naval Station Mayport, 
        and Kennedy Space Center are of concern;
Whereas Federal reports show that Mayport has experienced sea level rise at \1/
        3\ inch per year, a pace that's accelerated since the 1990s;
Whereas NAS Key West has the majority of 5,800 acres at or under 3 feet above 
        sea level, and 80 percent of its land is exposed to flooding by Category 
        1 hurricanes;
Whereas the Kennedy Space Center has an ongoing shoreline restoration project 
        and critical needs around historic launch complex 39A and B, and 
        billions of dollars of infrastructure and technology sit just a few feet 
        from the current shoreline;
Whereas projected sea level rise will only exacerbate the flooding problems 
        around bases, especially those along the coast, further jeopardizing our 
        national defense and weakening our combat readiness;
Whereas sea level rise and flooding cause damage to coastal homes, disrupt 
        transportation networks with longer commutes, adversely impact small 
        businesses and other commercial interests, impose additional costs on 
        our cities through infrastructure and drainage system upgrades, and 
        erode our beaches;
Whereas the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) estimates that roughly 40 
        to 60 percent of small businesses never reopen their doors following a 
        disaster;
Whereas sea level rise along the coast of Florida has risen 6 inches in the last 
        30 years, and its speed has increased threefold in recent years, with 
        scientific projections forecasting another 8 inches of sea level rise in 
        the next 20 years;
Whereas sea level rise of just 3 inches since 2000 has increased flooding, 
        statewide, in Florida by 300 percent;
Whereas sea level rise, hurricane storm surge, and flooding currently threaten 
        millions of homes in Florida alone;
Whereas sea level rise poses a unique threat to Florida given the limestone 
        bedrock beneath much of the State which allows rising seawater to 
        infiltrate sewage systems and threaten ground water supplies through 
        saltwater intrusion;
Whereas the Everglades, a unique ecosystem and the jewel of Florida, is at 
        significant risk of saltwater intrusion due to sea level rise, which 
        would kill the mangroves and threaten coastal Florida's most important 
        source of freshwater and protection from storm surge;
Whereas cities in Florida alone are already spending over $4 billion to harden 
        infrastructure, improve drainage, nourish beaches, and combat tidal 
        flooding from 6 inches of sea level rise over the last 30 years;
Whereas Hurricane Irma caused $50 billion in damage;
Whereas proactively investing to prevent flooding is a wiser use of resources 
        than spending on flooding recovery, as exemplified by FEMA research 
        showing that $1 spent on disaster prevention can save up to $7 in 
        recovery costs; and
Whereas national coordination, support, and funding are necessary for flood-
        prone communities to address the challenges of sea level rise and 
        flooding: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) acknowledges the significance of sea level rise and 
        flooding throughout communities across the country and in 
        Florida; and
            (2) affirms the need for greater adaptation funding and the 
        incorporation of historical flooding and sea level rise 
        projections into planning.
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