Rep. Michael Waltz

Former Congressman, Florida

Michael Waltz formerly represented Flagler and Volusia counties as well as portions of Lake and St. Johns counties in the state of Florida. He is a proud Florida native, combat-decorated Green Beret, former White House and Pentagon policy advisor, small business owner, and a proud father.

Waltz was born in Boynton Beach, Florida, and grew up in Jacksonville. He has always felt called to serve his country and, after graduating from the Virginia Military Institute, he went on to serve over 20 years in the U.S. Army. After being commissioned as an Army lieutenant, Waltz graduated Ranger School and was selected for the elite Green Berets. He has served all over the world as a decorated Special Forces officer with multiple combat tours in Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Africa. During his time in Afghanistan, he led the teams searching for Pvt. Bowe Berghdal, who deserted his post.

Waltz’s public service continued in the Pentagon where he was a defense policy director for Secretaries of Defense Rumsfeld and Gates. He then went on to serve in the White House as Vice President Dick Cheney’s counterterrorism advisor, which allowed him to see first-hand the difficult decisions the President and his Cabinet must make to protect our national security. During his time as a policy adviser, Waltz continued his military service and directly implemented the strategy he helped devise. His experiences as a soldier and a policy advisor inspired him to write his own book, “Warrior Diplomat: A Green Beret’s Battles from Washington to Afghanistan,” the proceeds of which continue to benefit the Green Beret Foundation.

Following his time in the White House, Waltz co-founded a small business that grew from just a handful of employees working from home to over 400 employees in Florida, Virginia, and nine countries throughout Europe and the Middle East. Their work supported the Departments of Defense and Treasury with analysis of terrorist financing and specialized training. A former Fox News Channel contributor, Waltz has excelled as a media commentator, providing expert commentary on foreign policy and defense issues to viewers around the world.

As an Army veteran and National Guardsman, Waltz knows how to accomplish a mission for his country. This is the warrior attitude he brought with him to Washington when he was sworn into office in 2019.

 

The American Flood Coalition is an IRS Section 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The American Flood Coalition is not a Congressional Membership Organization and nothing on this website shall be read to imply official sponsorship by either the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate or any of their respective Members. Federal Champion is an honorary title awarded by the American Flood Coalition to recognize Members of Congress who have come together to drive adaptation to the reality of higher seas, stronger storms, and more frequent flooding.

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Disaster declaration
A Presidential Disaster Declaration unlocks a suite of federal programs that assist local governments with disaster recovery. This is a good filter for communities included in recent Disaster Declarations related to flooding.
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The program has a strong focus on providing assistance to promote a healthy ecosystem as a critical defense against flooding impacts. Eligible activities may include floodplain restoration, environmental stewardship, projects that use natural features to mitigate erosion, and living shorelines.
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The program encourages or requires collaboration between government entities and stakeholders, including the private sector, to fund, develop, or implement projects.
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The gathering of data and information regarding the extent and impacts of flooding. Eligible activities may include data acquisition, risk assessment, and environmental analysis.
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Covers pre-construction activities, such as defining project scope, developing technical designs, and securing funding to prepare for implementation.
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Involves carrying out flood resilience projects, including building infrastructure and deploying solutions to reduce flood risks.

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A monetary award that does not need to be repaid. Many federal grants are reimbursable, meaning recipients must cover project costs upfront and then request reimbursement from the government.
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Small or rural communities
Programs that set aside funding, offer loan forgiveness, or adjust cost share requirements for communities with smaller populations.
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Programs that offer reduced requirements for smaller projects, such as waived cost-sharing or exemptions from benefit-cost analysis.
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Programs that support projects that take a watershed management approach or address flooding at a regional scale, requiring coordination beyond a single town or community.
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Programs that dedicate resources or adjust cost share requirements specifically for tribal governments or organizations.
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