The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will hold a hearing next week to examine the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) role and limited authorities under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), their impact on local land use development decisions, and the national implications of FEMA’s implementation of the NFIP.
The NFIP is intended to make flood insurance reasonably available to those who need it, while encouraging state and local government land use decisions that help reduce the risk of damage in flood prone communities and areas. Although FEMA’s position that it is not a land use regulatory agency is consistent with the NFIP, other federal agency decisions with respect to the Endangered Species Act are essentially compelling FEMA to regulate local land use decisions through its implementation of the NFIP.
Next week’s Full Committee hearing, entitled, “An Examination of FEMA’s Limited Role in Local Land Use Development Decisions," is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016, in 2167 Rayburn House Office Building.
Witness List:
Mr. Michael Grimm, Assistant Administrator for Mitigation, Federal Emergency Management Agency
Ms. Chris Shirley, Natural Hazards and Floodplain Specialist, Department of Land Conservation and Development, State of Oregon
The Honorable Denny Doyle, Mayor, City of Beaverton, OR
The Honorable Heather Carruthers, Commissioner, Board of County Commissioners, Monroe County, Florida; on behalf of the National Association of Counties
Mr. Jon Chandler, Chief Executive Officer, Oregon Home Builders Association; on behalf of the National Association of Home Builders
More information about the hearing, including testimony, additional background information, and link to live webcast will be posted here as it becomes available.
Source: House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
