In a recent legislative move in the United States, a bill proposed by congress members Grace Meng, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has been signed into law by President Biden. The bill authorizes the Army Corps of Engineers to collaborate with the city of New York, allocating nearly $190 million to address the flooding issues in the Queens district.
This legislation empowers the Army Corps of Engineers to work with New York City to strengthen and upgrade the infrastructure in Queens. The funds will be utilized to enhance water supply and wastewater infrastructure, manage stormwater, and address combined sewer overflow issues. President Biden signed the bill as part of the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA), which provides funding for water resource infrastructure projects nationwide.
The aim of Meng and her colleagues’ legislation is to mitigate the flooding in the Queens district. In 2021, Hurricane Ida and other severe storms caused significant flooding in Queens. The flooding resulting from Hurricane Ida led to the deaths of 13 people in New York City, with 11 fatalities occurring in the Queens district.
This bill follows a previous authorization introduced by Meng, Ocasio-Cortez, and Schumer last year, allocating $120 million for addressing flooding in Queens (which was included in the 2022 Water Resources Development Act). The passing of this new legislation authorizes an additional $190 million for flood mitigation efforts.
Meng stated that alleviating flooding issues and risks remains her top priority. She emphasized, “Residents of Queens have not forgotten the devastation caused by Hurricane Ida and other storms in our district. Unless we take action to protect our community, the threat of more flooding inundating our streets, homes, and businesses will persist.”
Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez remarked, “Not only does this bill authorize additional funding for water resource infrastructure projects in Queens, but it also negotiates an additional $70 million to address this urgent issue.”
Senate Democratic Leader Schumer expressed, “Efforts are underway to secure more critical support from the federal government for the Army Corps of Engineers, in order to develop methods to minimize flooding caused by heavy rains and enhance the city’s water supply and sewage systems.”
Congresswoman Meng serves as a senior member of the House Committee on Appropriations, which provides funding for federal agencies and programs, including the Army Corps of Engineers.