Sen. Hoeven: Senate Confirms Brock Long As FEMA Administrator

WASHINGTON, June 20 -- The office of Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., issued the following statement after the Senate confirmed Brock Long as administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

"Even in the face of drought, we know that flooding remains a threat for many of North Dakota's communities every year," Hoeven said. "Comprehensive flood protection and affordable flood insurance are key to the peace of mind of our state's families and businesses. Administrator Long has committed to help us advance these priorities, and I look forward to working with him to make our communities more resilient and better prepare them for potential threats and disasters."

In a meeting earlier this month, Hoeven pressed Long to ensure that FEMA's flood maps are updated to reflect flood protection as it is built. This will help keep flood insurance rates affordable for North Dakota's residents, especially in places like Minot and the Red River Valley, where protections will be built over several years. The senator previously hosted Roy Wright, Deputy Associate Administrator for Insurance and Mitigation at FEMA, in Minot and Fargo to review the agency's flood mapping efforts and ensure affordable flood insurance for the regions.

Hoeven continues working to secure comprehensive flood protection for communities across the state. The senator wrote and secured the language in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 appropriations bill that authorized the construction start for Fargo and the new study for Minot, which the Army Corps subsequently included in its FY2016 work plan.

Last month, Hoeven announced that the Corps' FY2017 work plan includes $20 million for comprehensive flood protection in the Fargo-Moorhead region and $900,000 to support its feasibility study in the Souris River Basin. Hoeven also met with Mick Mulvaney, Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), during his confirmation process to stress the importance of flood protection for communities in North Dakota. OMB is responsible for approving Army Corps work plans, and Hoeven has stayed in regular contact with Mulvaney since his confirmation.

As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Energy and Water, Hoeven is working to secure additional funding for these regional flood protection efforts.