Bill Summary
The "VA Flood Preparedness Act" is legislation aimed at addressing flooding risks to properties adjacent to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities. The bill amends Title 38 of the United States Code to empower the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide financial contributions to local authorities specifically for flood mitigation efforts. This includes addressing risks associated with rising sea levels.
Additionally, the act mandates that within two years of its enactment, the Secretary must submit a report to the Congressional Committees on Veterans' Affairs. This report will assess the flooding risks faced by each VA medical facility and determine whether additional resources are needed to mitigate these risks effectively. The goal of the legislation is to enhance flood preparedness and protect both the facilities and the surrounding communities.
Possible Impacts
The "VA Flood Preparedness Act" may affect people in several significant ways. Here are three examples:
1. **Enhanced Safety for Veterans**: By providing funding to local authorities to mitigate flooding risks near VA medical facilities, the Act aims to ensure that veterans have safer access to healthcare services. This could lead to fewer disruptions in medical services due to flooding, ultimately improving the health outcomes for veterans who rely on these facilities for treatment.
2. **Community Infrastructure Improvements**: The contributions to local authorities for flood mitigation can lead to broader community infrastructure projects that benefit not just veterans but the entire community. Improved drainage systems, levees, and flood barriers could enhance local resilience to flooding, protecting homes and businesses in the vicinity of VA facilities.
3. **Increased Accountability and Assessment**: The requirement for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit a report assessing the flooding risks at each medical facility ensures that there is accountability and a systematic approach to addressing potential hazards. This could foster a culture of proactive risk management within the VA, ultimately leading to better preparedness for climate-related challenges, which could affect not only veterans but also local residents and emergency services.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4188 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4188
To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to make certain contributions to local authorities to
mitigate the risk of flooding on local property adjacent to medical
facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 26, 2025
Ms. Mace (for herself and Mr. Carter of Louisiana) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to make certain contributions to local authorities to
mitigate the risk of flooding on local property adjacent to medical
facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``VA Flood Preparedness Act''.
SEC. 2. CONTRIBUTIONS TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO MITIGATE THE RISK OF
FLOODING ON LOCAL PROPERTY ADJACENT TO MEDICAL FACILITIES
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) In General.--Section 8108 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by inserting ``, or to mitigate the risk of flooding, including
the risk of flooding associated with rising sea levels'' before the
period at the end.
(b) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit
to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives
and the Senate a report that includes an assessment of--
(1) the extent to which each medical facility (as such term
is defined in section 8101 of such title) is at risk of
flooding, including the risk of flooding associated with rising
sea levels; and
(2) whether additional resources are necessary to address
the risk of flooding at each such facility.
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