Rep. Rose Issues Statement on Army Corps Halting New York City Storm Resiliency Study

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- Rep. Max Rose, D-New York, issued the following statement on the Army Corps of Engineers indefinitely postponing its New York and New Jersey Harbor and Tributaries Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study:

"I want to be very clear that this does not impact the construction of the East Shore Seawall.

"However, the administration's decision to cancel this study is no different than telling New York City to go ahead and drown.

"Despite what the President thinks, superstorms cannot be wished away by denying the existence of climate change.

"These are complicated challenges and every second we aren't researching a solution, is a second we can never get back--and our city will pay the price whether through more severe flooding, higher insurance premiums, and even lives.

"This study must be reinstated."

Rose has made protecting Staten Islanders and South Brooklynites from future storms a top priority and to ensure governmental failures from Hurricane Sandy are never repeated. Rose's first piece of legislation, which was signed into law by the President, provided an easement which will allow the construction of the East Shore Seawall on Staten Island to help protect from future storms and reduce high flood insurance premiums for his constituents.

Last November, after continual pressure by Rose, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced it was delaying implementation of a proposed overhaul of how the National Flood Insurance Program calculates premiums and rates. Rose also held a roundtable discussion with local contractors and small businesses to learn from the mistakes made following Hurricane Sandy and ensure everyone is prepared and properly equipped for the upcoming construction of the seawall.