Rep. Panetta Authors and Introduces FLOOD Act to Protect Farmers From Rising Flood Risks

Washington, D.C. – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) authored and introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to help farmers protect against increasing flood risks and strengthen our food security. The Farmers Lifeline Options for Overcoming Disasters (FLOOD) Act is co-led by Rep. Randy Feenstra (IA-04), and Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) and Jim Justice (R-WV) are leading companion legislation in the Senate.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, flooding is the second-most damaging natural disaster in agricultural production worldwide, impacting 27% of agricultural land. In the United States, increasingly frequent and severe flooding, including tidal flooding driven by sea-level rise, is placing growing pressure on coastal farming communities. These events damage cropland, increase soil salinity, disrupt livestock operations, and threaten the quality and availability of water used for agricultural production.  

As flooding becomes more frequent, farmers need additional tools to protect their land, sustain agricultural production, and strengthen our nation’s food security. The FLOOD Act provides those tools by expanding opportunities to implement proactive flood mitigation measures before disasters occur.

“More farmers more often are facing devastating floods, which are the second-most damaging natural disaster to agricultural production worldwide,” said Rep. Panetta. “Our bipartisan, bicameral FLOOD Act would make it easier for farmers to create voluntary easements to mitigate future damage, restore native habitat, and produce the flood-compatible tools that they need to protect their livelihoods. That’s the least that we can do in Congress as farmers continue to strengthen our food supply and keep putting food on America’s tables.”

“Representing one of the most rural congressional districts in the nation, I know firsthand how devastating floods and other natural disasters can be for our farmers and rural communities,” said Rep. Feenstra. “Our agricultural economy is the backbone of our country, and those communities deserve the resources they need not only to recover quickly, but to emerge stronger and more resilient after disaster strikes. I’m proud to help lead this commonsense legislation to ensure the USDA can deliver timely assistance to disaster-impacted communities and support our farmers, small businesses, and rural communities when they need it most.”

“As the lowest lying state in the nation, Delawareans know the risk of flooding all too well,” said Sen. Blunt Rochester. “Our farming communities are key to both our culture and economy. Which is why I’m proud to introduce the FLOOD Act to ensure farmers in the First State and across the country have the resources they need to protect their properties, their crops, and their livelihoods.”

“West Virginia knows all too well the devastation that flooding can bring – tearing through communities, damaging homes, threatening farmers’ livelihoods, and leaving families picking up the pieces. Farmers contend with the weather every day and face threats from natural disasters every year – putting their operations and way of life at risk. I’m proud to join this legislation to help make sure that there are tools and resources available to safeguard lives, farms, and other property in watersheds from natural disasters, including floods,” said Sen. Justice.

Specifically, the FLOOD Act would:

• Define the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Emergency Watershed Program (EWP) as a covered program under the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).
• Allow for the purchase of voluntary easements in areas of high flood risk before a flood event occurs. These easements will restore, enhance, or maintain native habitat or allow for the cultivation of flood-compatible crops.
• Increase access, ease, and reliability for rural and farming communities to seek relief in order to reduce flooding impacts on farms.

The bill is endorsed by organizations including The Nature Conservancy, American Rivers Action Fund, Delaware Department of Agriculture, Delaware Rural Water Association, University of Delaware, National Association of Conservation Districts, American Flood Coalition, National Association of Counties, Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP), Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed, Farm Aid, American Sustainable Business Network, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, Iowa Environmental Council, West Virginia Rivers Coalition, Coastal Prairie Conservancy, Center for Rural Affairs, Socially Responsible Agriculture Project, Indiana Conservation Voters, Extreme Weather Survivors, Pheasants Forever, Quail Forever, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Choose Clean Water Coalition, and Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation.

“This legislation would create a commonsense, cost effective and proactive tool for reducing flood impacts before disaster strikes. Communities across the country face growing flood risks and mounting recovery costs related to floods. The FLOOD Act would benefit American farmers, taxpayers, and local communities. Expanding a successful conservation partnership program to help secure voluntary floodplain easements in high-risk areas is a practical and timely solution. These easements can support both healthy ecosystems and productive agriculture. Investing in natural infrastructure before disasters happen is one of the most effective ways to protect communities, safeguard working lands, and reduce taxpayer-funded disaster recovery costs. We thank Senators Blunt Rochester and Justice, and Representatives Panetta and Feenstra for their bipartisan leadership in advancing this forward-looking solution,” said Jenny Conner, Director of Legislative Affairs for The Nature Conservancy.

“Recent climatic events impacting agricultural production and fish and wildlife habitat conservation call for pragmatic solutions,” said Taylor Schmitz, Senior Vice President and COO of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation. “Voluntary conservation easements provide significant benefits for fish and wildlife habitat, water quality, and flood mitigation. By including the Emergency Watershed Program as a covered program under the Farm Bill’s increasingly important Regional Conservation Partnership Program, the bipartisan FLOOD Act will help expand these conservation efforts, and CSF commends this commonsense approach.”

“Counties play a critical role in building flood-resilient infrastructure across our nation’s rural communities,” said Matthew Chase, Executive Director of the National Association of Counties. “The FLOOD Act provides targeted technical assistance and financial support for watershed resilience and flood protection, helping county leaders better protect their communities. Counties urge Congress to swiftly pass this bipartisan legislation.”

“Farm Aid endorses the FLOOD Act because farmers and local governments need every available tool to respond to evolving environmental conditions and strengthen farm resilience. Farmers are increasingly impacted by more frequent and severe storms, and this legislation will help reduce flood risks and restore floodplains,” said Hank Tremblay, Policy and Advocacy Manager, Farm Aid.

“We thank Senators Jim Justice and Lisa Blunt Rochester and Representatives Jimmy Panetta and Randy Feenstra for introducing the FLOOD Act and recognizing the value of protecting both people and rivers through smart conservation investments,” said Tom Kiernan, President, American Rivers Action Fund. “Floodplain restoration and easements are proven tools that support landowners while conserving flood-prone land. These USDA programs store floodwaters, improve water quality, create wildlife habitat, and help rivers reconnect with their natural floodplains—making communities more resilient to increasingly severe floods and storms.” 

“Rural communities, farmers, and local businesses are facing growing risks from flooding and aging infrastructure. The FLOOD Act is a strong bipartisan step toward strengthening resilience, modernizing watershed infrastructure, and supporting economic opportunity in rural communities. American Sustainable Business Network supports investments that are good for businesses, farmers, and communities alike,” said Liza LaManna, Manager of Agriculture and Water Policy, American Sustainable Business Network.

“As the U.S. faces increasing climate risks and more frequent extreme precipitation, communities need stronger tools to prepare for flooding. We strongly support the FLOOD Act because it provides states, local governments, Tribal Nations, and territories with the resources they need to strengthen flood resilience on an expedited timeline,” said Jeff Diamond, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy.

“Socially Responsible Agriculture Project (SRAP) supports the FLOOD Act to encourage watershed resilience in regions with industrial livestock operations. Flooding that impacts CAFOs can cause significant negative downstream impacts to public health, the environment, personal property, and local economies. The FLOOD Act provides safeguards to support responsible watershed management that can mitigate these downstream impacts,” said Cole Dickerson, Water Rangers Program Manager. 

“Flooding and extreme weather are putting enormous strain on families, farmers, and taxpayers. By supporting voluntary flood mitigation, watershed restoration, and resilient land management, this bill helps communities reduce future damage instead of relying only on costly disaster recovery after the fact. Extreme Weather Survivors supports this legislation because investing in resilience is a practical, responsible way to protect people, property, and local economies,” said Chris Kocher, co-founder and co-executive director of Extreme Weather Survivors (EWS). 

“When disasters strike, rural communities often wait months to begin recovery because the USDA disaster programs they depend on lack funding. That’s why AFCA strongly supports the bipartisan, bicameral Farmers’ Lifeline to Overcoming Disasters Act. We thank Senators Blunt Rochester and Justice and Representatives Panetta and Feenstra for championing this important legislation to give USDA the ability to quickly get money to disaster-impacted communities to drive faster recoveries,” said Julie Seger, Federal Advocacy and Policy Director, American Flood Coalition Action (AFCA).

Full text of the bill is available here.

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