Biden signs bill aimed combat flooding in Queens into law

President Joe Biden signed a bill that aims to help combat flooding in Queens. Eagle file photo by Ryan Schwach

By Ryan Schwach

President Joe Biden signed a bill into law this week that aims to combat excessive flooding in Queens by sending close to $200 million to the borough to shore up its resiliency infrastructure.

The bill was championed by a trio of New York legislators – Queens Congressmembers Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Grace Meng and Senator Chuck Schumer.

The measure looks to address severe flooding that has become all too common in Queens during rain storms, tropical storms and hurricanes like Ida and Sandy.

The new law gives the Army Corps of Engineers $190 million to enhance and upgrade environmental infrastructure in the borough, such as improving water and wastewater infrastructure, storm water management and combined sewer overflows.

Biden signed the legislation over the weekend as part of the Water Resources Development Act of 2024, a bill passed by Congress last month that funds water infrastructure projects across the country.

“Borough residents have not forgotten the devastation that Queens endured from Hurricane Ida and other heavy rainfall, and the threat of more floodwaters gushing down local streets and into homes and businesses will continue unless we act to protect our communities,” said Meng.

“Hurricane Ida killed several of my constituents and caused extensive damage in my congressional district, and I saw firsthand the devastating impact that the storm had on the area. Lives and property cannot be put at risk,” she added. “Mitigating this type of dangerous and widespread flooding remains a top priority of mine, and I’m proud to keep up the fight for the upgrades that Queens needs and deserves.”

Now, Congress will have to allocate the funds to the Army Corps of Engineers.

“Year after year, families in Queens face the deadly consequences of outdated infrastructure when storms hit. We saw the devastation of Hurricane Ida, which tragically took 13 lives, and we know that climate change is only making these risks worse,” said Ocasio-Cortez.

Schumer said he was “proud to support this legislation which authorizes federal funding to combat flooding in Queens, which has caused immense damage to roads, businesses and homes, and even tragic loss of life following major storms like Hurricane Ida.”

“I’ve worked hard with Representatives Meng and Ocasio-Cortez to secure more critical federal support for the Army Corps of Engineers to develop ways to minimize flooding from heavy rain events and to upgrade the city’s water and sewer systems,” he added.