(Radio Iowa) – The U.S. House has approved a bill designed to adjust federal flood control regulations, something southwest Iowans sought after historic flood levels hit the region in 2019. Congresswoman Cimdy Axne, a Democrat from Des Moines, is a co-sponsor of the Water Resources Development Act. She says it addresses the plight of communities like Hamburg, which the Army Corps forced to remove reinforcements added to a levee in 2011, then Hamburg got swamped by floodwaters last year.

“Nearly a decade ago when Hamburg was told to either come up with $5.6 million or tear down a temporary levee that provided protection, they had to tear it down,” Axne says. “That type of language is not going to be in there any more. We’re going to make sure that reasonable things happen to keep them safe.” The bill directs the Army Corps of Engineers to complete its comprehensive study of the lower Missouri River basin. Axne says the bill includes provisions addressing flooding concerns in eastern and central Iowa as well.

“It increased adjustments for the federal cost share of inland waterways projects to develop some of the critical infrastructure that’s needed on the Mississippi,” Axne says. “We addressed issues in Des Moines with the Birdland Levee.” The bill would provide nearly 10 BILLION dollars to the Army Corps of Engineers for 46 projects nationwide. The bill now goes to the full Senate. Its possible the measure may be added to larger spending package congress must pass to keep the federal government operating.