Davids, Colleagues Advocate for Infrastructure Funds to Come to Flood Control and Prevention Projects Along the Lower Missouri River

Statement

Representative Sharice Davids joined nearly a dozen of her colleagues to urge the Department of the Army to prioritize funding for flood mitigation and prevention projects along the lower Missouri River. The bipartisan, bicameral letter comes as the Department is beginning to allocate funding from the new bipartisan infrastructure law for projects in fiscal year 2022.

Davids and her colleagues are pushing Michael Connor, Assistant Secretary for Civil Works, to utilize funding from the bipartisan infrastructure law--which Davids helped lead to passage--for flood-related projects for the Lower Missouri River Basin, including the Navigation and Flood Control Studies and the Bank Stabilization and Navigation Project (BSNP). After historic floods in 2019 breached nearly every levee between Omaha and Kansas City, the Army Corps of Engineers began working on a system plan to prevent recurring floods. Davids and the other lawmakers urged the Department to use the new law's funds for those studies and for the outstanding repairs still needed after the devastating floods.

"Kansas City is the fifth most susceptible city to the effects of climate change, particularly flooding--a reality that every resident understands. I voted for the bipartisan infrastructure law to bring funds to projects exactly like this, that improve safety, climate resiliency, and provide opportunities for economic growth in our area," said Davids. "I'm glad to join with my Midwestern colleagues to urge the Corps to prioritize projects that will benefit our entire region."

Lawmakers joining Davids on the letter include Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Reps. Sam Graves (MO-06), Vicky Hartzler (MO-04), Jake LaTurner (KS-02), Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03) and Adrian Smith (NE-03). Read the full letter here.

Davids was the only member of the Kansas delegation to vote for the bipartisan infrastructure law, which continues to boost critical infrastructure projects across Kansas. Last week, Davids announced that Kansas will receive $225 million in FY 2022 to repair aging bridges. She previously announced the bipartisan infrastructure law is bringing more than $13 million for airports in the Third District and $79 million for water infrastructure across Kansas in FY 2022.

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