Earlier this week, Congressman Jerry McNerney introduced a bill to help farmers with the National Flood Insurance Program. The Agricultural Structures Building Act seeks to address negative impacts of the NFIP on agricultural areas and rural communities. The bill provides for local building restriction variances that would allow agricultural structures located in the floodplain to be rebuilt and repaired. This will provide a benefit to landowners, families and businesses in the San Joaquin Valley.
Here is the press release.
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Jerry McNerney (D-Stockton) co-introduced a bill to help farmers navigate the regulations and parameters set forth by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The Agricultural Structures Building Act will amend the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to allow farmers to repair, expand or improve agricultural structures that are located in special flood hazard zones.
“This bill will make a big difference for the farmers and growers in the San Joaquin Valley. We are seeking to provide increased flood protection, and this can be achieved through commonsense measures to help farmers and landowners follow the NFIP guidelines without undue burden,” said Congressman McNerney.
The Agricultural Structures Building Act seeks to address negative impacts of the NFIP on agricultural areas and rural communities. The bill provides for local building restriction variances that would allow agricultural structures located in the floodplain to be rebuilt and repaired. This will provide a benefit to landowners, families and businesses in the San Joaquin Valley.
San Joaquin County currently has 24,000 acres in agricultural production and a majority of that land is located in the regulatory floodplain. Farmers and landowners are experiencing negative financial burdens as a result of floodplain regulations under the NFIP. Direct impacts include higher flood insurance costs as farmers struggle to meet requirements to insure all structures on their properties. These same farmers also experience difficulty in meeting the NFIP flood-proofing and elevation standards in ways that allow their property to remain useful, beneficial, and affordable to their operations.
The health of rural towns and communities has a direct bearing on the sustainability of agriculture in the regulatory floodplain and, therefore, on the success of local, regional, and national agricultural economies. The schools, libraries, post offices, emergency services, churches, and businesses in rural agricultural communities are also finding it difficult to meet NFIP standards. Without the traditional and historic support services offered by our small communities, the rural way of life will drastically change and farmers and agricultural businesses will be without the community and business infrastructure they need to thrive.
“I have heard loud and clear the concerns of the farmers and producers in the San Joaquin Valley. The Agricultural Building Structures Act will help even the playing field for these landowners and give them some peace of mind,” said Rep. McNerney.
The Agricultural Structures Building Act was introduced by Rep. LaMalfa and is also cosponsored by Rep. Denham, Rep. Garamendi, and Rep. Matsui.
