Rep. Tom Rice Press Release

American Flood Coalition

American Flood Coalition Recognizes Representative Tom Rice as a Federal Champion

As South Carolina communities face stronger storms and more frequent flooding, Rep. Rice commits to leading on solutions to address flooding and sea level rise.

WASHINGTON, DC — May 13, 2022 — The American Flood Coalition today announced that Representative Tom Rice (R-SC) has been recognized as a Federal Champion, in alignment with the nonpartisan, national alliance dedicated to advancing solutions to more frequent flooding, stronger storms, and rising seas.

“I’m honored to be recognized as a Federal Champion by the American Flood Coalition,” said Rep. Rice. “Unfortunately, the 7th District is no stranger to flooding, storms, and other severe weather. The AFC is a dedicated ally to flood-affected communities and I look forward to working with them to ensure South Carolina’s coastal communities are resilient for years to come.”

Rep. Rice is the 28th Federal Champion recognized by the American Flood Coalition and the second representing South Carolina. The designation is for leaders who are committed to finding proactive solutions to the challenges posed by flooding.

“As South Carolina faces the impacts of rising seas and stronger storms, Rep. Rice has been a consistent advocate for smarter disaster recovery and preparation,” said Melissa Roberts, Executive Director of the American Flood Coalition. “We are pleased to recognize Rep. Rice as a Federal Champion and look forward to his continued leadership on behalf of all South Carolinians to strengthen flood resilience.”

Rep. Rice has long been a proponent of flood resilience and disaster preparedness. Throughout his tenure in the House of Representatives, he has led efforts to secure millions to protect coastal infrastructure from severe storms and floods and provide relief to families in the wake of disasters. His commitment to addressing these and other flooding challenges will further strengthen the American Flood Coalition’s efforts in South Carolina, as 35 of AFC’s more than 280 members are in the Palmetto State.

###

About the American Flood Coalition

The American Flood Coalition is a nonpartisan group of cities, elected officials, military leaders, businesses, and civic groups that have come together to drive adaptation to the reality of higher seas, stronger storms, and more frequent flooding through solutions that support flood-affected communities and protect our nation’s residents, economy, and military installations. The Coalition has over 280 members across 21 states, and has recognized 28 Federal Champions from 11 states.

Cities, towns, elected officials, businesses, and local leaders wishing to join the American Flood Coalition or read more about the organization’s work can visit the Coalition’s website (www.floodcoalition.org) to find out more.

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.

Facebook
X
LinkedIn

Recent News

Botetourt County, Virginia Deploys an Impact-Based Flood Warning System

Mayor Brad Cavanagh Advances Flood Protection and Economic Stability in Dubuque, Iowa

Mayor Pro Tem Andrea J. Barefield Leads Equitable Flood-Smart Growth in Waco, Texas

Join Our Newsletter

Name(Required)

Help Me Choose

Which characteristics is your community looking for in funding opportunities?

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.
Nature-based solutions
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.
Encourages public-private partnerships
The program encourages or requires collaboration between government entities and stakeholders, including the private sector, to fund, develop, or implement projects.
Offers rolling deadlines
The program accepts applications on an ongoing basis with no fixed deadline.

Is your project in the planning, design, or construction phase?

Planning
The gathering of data and information regarding the extent and impacts of flooding. Eligible activities may include data acquisition, risk assessment, and environmental analysis.
Design & scoping
Covers pre-construction activities, such as defining project scope, developing technical designs, and securing funding to prepare for implementation.
Construction & implementation
Involves carrying out flood resilience projects, including building infrastructure and deploying solutions to reduce flood risks.

Are you looking for grants, loans, or technical assistance for your project?

Funding (grants)
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.
Financing (loans)
A government-issued loan that must be repaid. These loans typically provide funding upfront, helping communities cover project costs before repayment begins.
Technical assistance
Assistance from the government in the form of services — such as project planning, engineering and design support, data analysis, training, capacity building, or collaboration through a cooperative agreement — instead of direct funding.

Some programs provide extra support for specific project types or communities. Do any of these apply to your project?

Small or rural communities
Programs that set aside funding, offer loan forgiveness, or adjust cost share requirements for communities with smaller populations.
Small or low-cost projects
Programs that offer reduced requirements for smaller projects, such as waived cost-sharing or exemptions from benefit-cost analysis.
Regional or watershed focus
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.
Tribal communities
Programs that dedicate resources or adjust cost share requirements specifically for tribal governments or organizations.