Blum, Loebsack call for construction of Cedar Rapids flood protection

CEDAR RAPIDS - Eastern Iowa U.S. Reps. Rod Blum and Dave Loebsack called on the Army Corps of Engineers to begin construction on the Cedar Rapids flood management project that was authorized by Congress in 2014.

After Cedar River flooding in 2008 that resulted in an estimated $2.4 billion in property losses. Congress authorized $73.1 million in funding for a flood management and prevention project for Cedar Rapids in the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) in 2014. But since the project's approval. there have been multiple delays keeping the project from moving forward. In their joint letter Tuesday, Blum and Loebsack ask that the Corps address the delays and expedite construction.

'This project has already been authorized by Congress, and it's my hope that the Army Corps of Engineers recognizes the importance of the project so it can move forward in a timely fashion,” said Blum, a Dubuque Republican who represents Cedar Rapids. 'Ensuring that the community of Cedar Rapids never again experiences the devastation of 2008 is critical.”

Loebsack, an Iowa City Democrat who represented Cedar Rapids at the time of the flooding, said the community has 'waited too long to get the protection necessary to prevent future devastation.”

'I have been fighting since the floods of 2008 to get these protection measures approved by Congress and signed into law by the president, as well as delivering more than $4 billion in disaster assistance to help Iowa rebuild,” Loebsack said. 'While we can't predict what future weather will bring, we have to get these flood protection measures in place quickly so downtown Cedar Rapids can continue its recovery and thrive.”

Blum and Loebsack, who represent the 1st and 2nd congressional districts, respectively, said they will continue to work together with the Corps, the administration and the relevant Congressional committees to ensure the completion of the project to protect the lives and property l Comments: (319) 398-8375; james.lynch@thegazette.com