Murphy Announces RELIEF Act

Press Release

Congressman Chris Murphy announced that he will introduce the Rebuilding our Economy and Limiting the Impacts of Expected Flooding (RELIEF) Act, legislation that will create a $100 million per year grant program to provide municipal governments with the resources they need to create jobs and address pressing flood mitigation projects.

"The terrible damage caused by Hurricane Irene underscored a serious problem we have with chronic flooding in this part of Connecticut," said Murphy. "The RELIEF Act is designed to allow local governments to get started on flood mitigation projects that will create jobs and help prevent widespread flood damage to homes and businesses in the future."

Communities like Plainville, Meriden, New Milford, and Danbury experience flooding nearly every year, and current federal programs simply aren't keeping up. The RELIEF Act will create a $100 million per year grant program authorized for 5 years that can provide up to $5 million in individual grants to municipalities (either alone or in cooperation with other municipalities or states) for flood control projects that present immediate public safety hazards or threats to property. The program will be run by FEMA, which will be able to act more decisively to immediately fund needed flood control infrastructure.

Murphy added, "This is just common sense. Our flood prone areas need work, and so do many engineers, builders and construction workers. The RELIEF Act will put people back to work and help towns finally complete these projects."

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