David Price: “The National Environmental Policy Act was first enacted in 1970, and since then, it has ensured that new projects comply…”

“The National Environmental Policy Act was first enacted in 1970, and since then, it has ensured that new projects comply with environmental standards that protect both human health and the environment. It is unwise and unnecessary to waive these requirements as we undertake disaster recovery. This amendment is particularly troubling when we consider that the loss of wetlands has actually contributed, contributed heavily, to an increase in coastal flooding from hurricanes. A 2017 study led by the University of California Santa Cruz showed a strong correlation between wetland cover and reduced property damage. The study estimated that wetlands in New York and New Jersey prevented a half a billion dollars in flood-related damage. So our public policy should aim to reduce the impacts of future disasters, which is why this bill contains more than $800 million in mitigation funding. To allow the Secretary to waive environmental requirements would undermine the principle that disaster recovery efforts should ensure communities are in a better position to withstand future natural disasters. Also, many disaster recovery projects involve multiple Federal funding sources. This provision actually could slow down recovery efforts, since HUD's environmental standards would no longer match those of other Federal agencies.…”