Restoring America’s Floodplains Act

Key Points

• This bill gives the Department of Agriculture more authority to fix and maintain floodplains. These are low-lying areas near rivers that naturally soak up extra water during heavy rains to prevent flooding in nearby communities.
• The government would be able to plant native trees and plants, fix how water flows through the land, and monitor these areas over time to make sure they stay healthy and functional.
• Landowners who have these protected areas on their property could still use the land for certain activities. This includes things like hunting, fishing, cutting timber, or letting livestock graze, as long as those activities do not damage the environment.
• The Department of Agriculture would be allowed to sign deals with state governments, Native American Tribes, and private groups to help manage and restore these lands.
• Instead of just fixing immediate damage after a storm, the government could spend money to make the land even stronger for the future. This is meant to stop the same areas from being damaged over and over again by repetitive flooding.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.

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