WASHINGTON, DC – For years, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program has provided communities across the country with resources to proactively fortify their infrastructure against natural disasters, such as building floodwalls, fortifying bridges, or protecting wastewater treatment facilities from floods. But the Trump Administration tried to unilaterally defund and dismantle the program.

In an effort to make it easier for communities across the nation to better protect critical, at-risk infrastructure and community assets from worsening natural disasters, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) have introduced a bipartisan bill that would reinstate the BRIC program and protect it against elimination in the future.

The Building Resilience and Stronger Communities Act (S.3403) reestablishes BRIC, protects it against future cancellation, and makes key changes to amplify the local impact of federal investments made through the program.

Earlier this year, the Trump Administration attempted to cancel the BRIC program and prevent congressionally-appropriated BRIC funding from being distributed to states, claiming it was “wasteful and ineffective.” Today, a U.S. District Court judge stepped in to block the Administration’s effort to terminate the program and claw back funding. As the legal process continues, Reed and Murkowski’s bill will ensure the program is protected against future cancellation by requiring that FEMA administer the program, rather than leaving it as an option for the administration.

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. When it comes to disaster preparedness, every dollar we proactively invest in boosting the resilience of our communities helps us save big in the long-term,” said Senator Reed. “I am pleased to team with up with Senator Murkowski on this bill and appreciate her leadership to help protect critical infrastructure. Our bipartisan legislation will reinstate and protect the BRIC program against future cancellation. At the same time, it will make it easier for Rhode Island’s towns and cities of all sizes to leverage federal funds for projects that better protect their community assets, homes, and businesses and save taxpayer dollars.”

Since 2020, BRIC has directed more than $4.5 billion in federal investments that have helped communities across the country prepare for natural disasters, reduce the impacts of disasters, promote long-term safety, and better steward taxpayer funds through proactive and wise investments. Through BRIC, local governments have been able to carry out essential projects such as elevating at-risk infrastructure, reinforcing bridges, and improving drainage systems.

Studies have found that every dollar invested in resilience and preparedness save communities between $13 to $18 in damages, cleanup costs, and economic impact.

The legislation introduced by Senators Reed and Murkowski will make it easier for small communities to leverage BRIC funding. Commonsense reforms in the bill include increasing the federal cost-share for small projects and for efforts to protect critical facilities like hospitals, schools, police and fire stations, and power stations. The bill also expands eligibility to ensure tribal governments can access funding.

A copy of the legislation can be viewed here.