SCOTT, WITTMAN, LURIA CELEBRATE PASSAGE OF EMBRACE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT ACT AS PART OF NDAA

Statement

Representatives Bobby Scott (VA-03), Rob Wittman (VA-01), and Elaine Luria (VA-02) celebrated the U.S. House of Representatives passing the bipartisan Enhancing Military Base Resilience and Conserving Ecosystems through Stormwater Management (EMBRACE Stormwater Management) Act as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022. The EMBRACE Stormwater Management Act would implement stormwater management best practices to reduce flooding on and around military bases.

"I was very pleased to see the bipartisan EMBRACE Stormwater Management Act included in the NDAA which the House passed today," said Congressman Scott. "The Department of Defense recognizes climate change as the "threat multiplier' that it is and this bill will help the military address the growing need to manage stormwater and ensure readiness. Green infrastructure features -- like permeable pavement and rain gardens -- both reduce flooding on and around military bases and protect the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries."

"Flooding and severe weather have caused billions of dollars in damage to military installation in the United States. We have two choices: we can continue to allow flooding to cause damage and reduce readiness, or we can prevent and mitigate damage before it happens. I choose the latter," said Congressman Wittman. "I am proud to see the House adopt this forward-looking approach to protect Virginia military installations from flooding while helping to clean-up the Chesapeake Bay."

"Rising sea levels are threatening military readiness and put the health and safety of coastal communities like Hampton Roads at risk," said Congresswoman Luria, Vice Chair of the House Armed Services Committee. "Implementing stormwater management best practices will allow our military bases to more effectively deal with the effects of climate change while preventing one of the biggest unchecked pollutants from entering the Chesapeake Bay."

Additional co-sponsors of the EMBRACE Stormwater Management Act: Representatives John Sarbanes (MD-03), Anthony Brown (MD-04), and Nancy Mace (SC-01).

Supporting organizations: The Chesapeake Bay Commission, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Chesapeake Conservancy, Choose Clean Water, the Nature Conservancy, Southern Environmental Law Center, and Wetlands Watch

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