Congress Acts to Increase U.S. Military’s Flood Resilience

Today, the Senate passed the Enhancing Military Base Resilience and Conserving Ecosystems through Stormwater Management (EMBRACE Stormwater Management) Act as an amendment in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2022. The House also included the bill in the NDAA they passed last week.

“The EMBRACE Act is an important and proactive step toward building greater resilience from sea level rise, flooding and other climate threats on and around military installations. The Department of Defense has spent billions of dollars in the last several years to address damages from flooding and extreme weather, and we know climate change will increase impacts in the coming years.

“By funding stormwater management best practices that include natural infrastructure to retain water and limit runoff, installations will be able to reduce flood risk and damages while boosting operational readiness and mitigating environmental impacts. Natural infrastructure also provides important benefits for nearby communities and ecosystems, improving quality of life, creating jobs and providing a cleaner, safer environment for people and wildlife while saving money over time.

“We applaud Sen. Kaine and Rep. Scott for their leadership in sponsoring the EMBRACE Act in the Senate and the House, and thank Sens. Warner, Cardin and Van Hollen and Reps. Luria, Sarbanes, Brown and Mace for their co-sponsorship. EDF looks forward to working with stakeholders, including military partners, and members of Congress to address climate-fueled flood threats with bold, innovative and equitable solutions.”

• Elizabeth Gore, Senior Vice President, Political Affairs