This bill requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to update design standards for levees and floodwalls along the Upper Mississippi River at least every 20 years to reflect the most current flood probability data and safety factors. The updates must incorporate the latest science on flooding, wave action, and settlement while following Federal Emergency Management Agency guidelines and obtaining public input throughout the process. The legislation affects local communities and sponsors managing flood protection systems in Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri from Cape Girardeau to Guttenberg. The bill allows local sponsors to maintain their current flood protection levels without penalty and makes previous alterations made before July 2014 federally authorized, though any upgrades to meet new standards would be voluntary and funded locally. The bill does not specify federal funding amounts or strict implementation deadlines beyond the 20-year update cycle requirement.
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