Bonamici seeks pause in flood insurance changes

U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici has joined others in the Oregon congressional delegation in calling on the Federal Emergency Management Agency for an immediate pause on planned changes to the National Flood Insurance Program.

For the last several years, FEMA has been working to bring the National Flood Insurance Program into compliance with the federal Endangered Species Act. In July, the agency announced that local jurisdictions would be required to select one of three preimplementation compliance measures aimed at regulating flood plain development by Dec. 1.

The changes have drawn concerns from local leaders, especially surrounding impacts on housing and infrastructure. In a letter addressed to FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell last week, legislators urged the agency to engage collaboratively with the Oregon governor's office, state agencies, tribal nations, the National Marine Fisheries Service, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and local governments.

"We want to be clear: our concerns with the implementation do not arise from any hesitation about pursuing ambitious, comprehensive policies to protect critical habitat for endangered species," Bonamici, an Oregon Democrat who represents the North Coast, and other members of the Oregon delegation wrote. "It is the role of government to craft and implement responsible policy that follows the science, but it's also important to fully resource the changes that must be made."