MATSUI APPLAUDS INCLUSION OF CRITICAL FLOOD INFRASTRUCTURE IN PRESIDENT BIDEN’S BUDGET REQUEST

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-06) lauded the inclusion of her flood protection priorities in President Biden’s budget request for fiscal year 2023. The announcement included a rare ‘New Start’ designation – one of two nationally – for a comprehensive study of the Yolo Bypass flood infrastructure as well as hundreds of millions for the Natomas and West Sacramento flood control projects.  

The Presidential Budget serves as a roadmap of the Administration’s priorities for the next fiscal year. Congresswoman Matsui has worked with the White House and Army Corps of Engineers to ensure that the Sacramento region’s critically important flood infrastructure is a national priority.

“New Start” designations, given out by the Army Corps of Engineers, are required before a federal project can begin. Each year, there are only a handful of these designations awarded across the entire country. Congresswoman Matsui advocated to make sure that the Sacramento region would acquire one of these sought-after designations. The Yolo Bypass study will focus on using the bypass to enhance agricultural sustainability, ecosystem function, public recreation, and long-term flood system operations. In addition, the American River Common Features Natomas Project was included with $172.7 million, and the West Sacramento Project was included with $79.7 million. While Congress must appropriate these funds, this strong support from the White House is the first step in the year-long process to receive federal funding.

“Protecting our region from its natural flood risk continues to be a top priority of mine, and President Biden’s budget request is a strong declaration of support towards these goals,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “The President’s budget request is a statement of our nation’s values, and we must continue to prioritize the safety of our region’s families and businesses. The ‘New Start’ designation will allow us to gather a comprehensive perspective on the obstacles and opportunities in the Yolo Bypass. This support from the White House also demonstrates the track record of success of our non-federal, local partners, the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (SAFCA) and the West Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (WSAFCA). I cannot emphasize enough the importance of delivering these investments to our region – and I look forward to working with the Army Corps of Engineers, SAFCA and WSAFCA to continue creating a safer region for us all.”

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