Enhancing Long-Term, Efficient, and Viable Alternatives to Empower Flood-Prone Communities Act of 2026

This bill directs the Army Corps of Engineers to give nonstructural flood protection methods, such as raising homes, floodproofing buildings, and buying out flood-prone property, equal consideration with levees and floodwalls in flood studies. It bars the Corps from pausing or ending funded flood projects that include these methods, and requires it to restart any such projects paused since January 20, 2025, within 45 days, with some exceptions. It raises the federal share of costs for these methods to between 75 and 100 percent, depending on the community and the property's flood history. It also requires buyouts to be voluntary, covers moving and temporary housing costs, sets elevation standards, and creates an expert working group and a Corps center of expertise.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Sheldon Whitehouse Democrat sponsor
• 1 cosponsors