Central Louisiana News

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) has commented on a new Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report which indicates that federal spending on flood mitigation projects yields significant financial benefits. According to the report, every dollar spent on such projects helps communities adapt to flooding and reduces damages by $2 to $3 on average.

“This report confirms what Louisiana has proved for years—investing in resiliency pays off,” said Dr. Cassidy. “The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provided over $367 million in coastal resiliency grants and millions more in flood mitigation assistance grants for Louisiana. This funding lowers our risk of flooding and will ultimately reduce the burden on the National Flood Insurance Program. It’s a win-win.”

Senator Cassidy has been an advocate for investing in flood mitigation infrastructure, securing billions through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Recently, he addressed the Senate floor about reauthorizing and reforming the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), marking his sixth speech focusing on unsustainable flood insurance premiums.

In January, at Cassidy's request, the U.S. Senate Banking Committee held a hearing on NFIP featuring testimony from a Louisiana witness, highlighting the urgent need for congressional action. Cassidy also participated in a roundtable hosted by GNO, Inc., and the Coalition for Sustainable Flood Insurance before introducing related legislation.

Earlier this month, President Biden approved a disaster declaration following Hurricane Francine, covering Ascension, Assumption, Lafourche, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Mary, and Terrebonne Parishes.

Cassidy played a key role in negotiating IIJA provisions that allocated $5.5 billion for disaster mitigation, coastal restoration, and flood mitigation assistance. Last week, he announced that Louisiana would receive $206 million from FEMA’s Flood Mitigation Assistance program—the second highest allocation among states.

Additionally, IIJA provides $17 billion for Army Corps of Engineers projects including $2.55 billion specifically earmarked for Coastal Storm Risk Management and Hurricane and Storm Damage Reduction projects targeting states affected by federally declared disasters over the past six years.