North Miami-Dade News

Reps. María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) and Scott Peters (D-CA) have introduced the bipartisan National Coordination on Adaptation and Resilience for Security (NCARS) Act. This legislation aims to create a national resilience strategy and protect Americans from natural disasters. The bill is supported by Reps. John Curtis (R-UT) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), as well as Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).

The need for a strategic plan to protect Miami from extreme weather is more important than ever, as the city faces increasing risk from flooding and storms. Rep. Salazar, emphasizing the urgency of the situation, states, "Miami communities are at risk and are ground-zero for rising waters. We must come together to protect Florida families and improve disaster planning. I’m proud to lead the National Coordination on Adaptation and Resilience for Security (NCARS) Act to ensure we build stronger infrastructure and keep our communities safe."

The NCARS Act aims to consolidate government efforts and ensure efficiency in disaster planning. Currently, the federal government has a fragmented approach to disaster mitigation and preparedness, with duplicative efforts spread across multiple agencies. The legislation sets a National Adaptation and Resilience Strategy and an Implementation Plan, with the involvement of federal, state, local, private sector, and non-profit partners. It also establishes a Chief Resilience Officer in the White House to implement the plan, creates interagency working groups to streamline efforts and ensure accountability, and establishes a federal information hub to provide resilience resources to communities.

Rep. Peters, acknowledging the need to prepare communities for the impacts of climate change, states, "A robust national strategy led by a Chief Resilience Officer, instead of a patchwork of disparate efforts, will be essential for an effective response to the increasingly dangerous climate hazards our communities face."

Senator Coons, co-chair of the bipartisan Senate Climate Solutions Caucus, emphasizes the importance of a coordinated government strategy for resilience, stating, "Resilience is critical not only for Delaware, but for Americans in frontline communities across the nation."

Senator Murkowski highlights the impact of weather events on Alaskan communities and expresses support for the NCARS Act, saying, "A single clear and coordinated federal approach to disaster preparedness and climate resilience is the right thing to do for communities in Alaska and across the country."

Other organizations that support the NCARS Act include the Pew Charitable Trusts, The Nature Conservancy, US Chamber of Commerce, Environmental Defense Fund, and the Center for Climate and Security.

The introduction of the NCARS Act marks an important step towards a unified and coordinated approach to disaster preparedness and climate resilience in the United States. With the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters, it is crucial to have a comprehensive strategy in place to protect communities and ensure their long-term resilience. The bill's provisions, including the establishment of a Chief Resilience Officer and the creation of interagency working groups, will streamline efforts and improve accountability in disaster planning. By investing in climate resilience, the government can save significant costs when disaster strikes. The NCARS Act is a bipartisan effort to address the urgent need for a national resilience strategy and protect Americans from the impacts of natural disasters.

To learn more, click on this link: https://salazar.house.gov/media/press-releases/salazar-introduces-national-coordination-adaptation-and-resilience-security