Bill Would Fund Flood Infrastructure in Rural Areas

Reps. April McClain Delaney and Carol Miller introduced the AGRI-FLOOD Resilience and Infrastructure Act in the House of Representatives.

Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Natural Disasters

Bill Would Fund Flood Infrastructure in Rural Areas

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Should the federal government spend more money to prevent future floods?

U.S. Reps. April McClain Delaney and Carol Miller introduced the AGRI-FLOOD Resilience and Infrastructure Act in the House of Representatives. The bill targets flood-preventative infrastructure in rural areas, following flooding that affected 13 counties in West Virginia earlier in 2025.

Why it matters

The bill was inspired by catastrophic floods in the representatives' districts, including the May 2025 Georges Creek flash flooding that caused tens of millions of dollars in damage. Residents of West Virginia have a direct stake in whether federal flood-prevention funding reaches rural communities.

The figures come from the bill's sponsors and reported local damage estimates, with the 13-county count describing earlier 2025 flooding across West Virginia. Whether the bill advances through Congress and how its dam and floodplain funding would be allocated remain unknown.

The players

April McClain Delaney

A U.S. Representative who co-introduced the AGRI-FLOOD Resilience and Infrastructure Act, drawing on flood damage in her district.

Carol Miller

A U.S. Representative from West Virginia who co-introduced the AGRI-FLOOD Resilience and Infrastructure Act following flooding in her district.

U.S. Department of Agriculture

The federal department that would administer the new program funding updates to aging dams and restoration of floodplains and wetlands.

The details

The bill would create a program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture that allocates funding to update aging dams and restore floodplains and wetlands. It would also make national flood risk assessments publicly available to strengthen flood monitoring and response.

Earlier in 2025: Flooding affected 13 counties in West Virginia.
May 2025: Flash flooding along Georges Creek caused tens of millions of dollars in damage.
Thursday: The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives.

Seasonal Patterns

The bill would route federal flood-prevention money through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the agency that already administers watershed and flood-prevention programs for rural land. Its focus on aging dams and floodplain restoration extends that existing USDA role to new infrastructure.

Residents in flood-prone rural areas of West Virginia should monitor whether the bill advances in Congress. The bill would make national flood risk assessments publicly available, which may help households evaluate their own flood exposure.

The takeaway

Federal flood-prevention funding for aging dams and floodplains could reduce the damage rural West Virginia communities face from future flash floods. Following the bill's progress will show whether that support materializes.