Congressman Kim Discusses Path Forward on Flooding Issues at Town Hall

WASHINGTON, DC – This weekend, Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) held a town hall in Seaside Heights to discuss flooding and proposed changes to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) that could have major impacts on communities throughout Ocean and Burlington counties.

“Flooding issues hit home for our neighbors across Burlington and Ocean Counties, and with potential changes coming to the NFIP, it’s critical for our communities to have their voices heard in that debate,” said Congressman Kim. “I want to thank Mayor Vaz and the other shore town mayors who have shown what we can achieve when we put aside partisan labels and work together to help the people we serve. I look forward to working closely with them to ensure New Jersey’s families have a voice in Congress on this issue in the months ahead.”

Saturday’s town hall came at the request of residents across Burlington and Ocean Counties who expressed concerns about local flooding issues. Recently, Congressman Kim met with shore town mayors to discuss challenges faced by the NFIP. In addition, Kim joined with a bipartisan delegation to call for common-sense changes to the NFIP that would help New Jersey families.

“There are issues that we’ve spoken about as a group – Barnegat Bay mayors, County Mayor’s Association – with the Congressman that we want to achieve both from the standpoint of local and federal government,” said Seaside Heights Mayor, Anthony Vaz. “The Congressman has been very attuned to this. There is a lot on the agenda – dunes, back bay flooding, proposed increases in insurance rates for flooding and veterans – that we can get to the Congressman and he can come back in support of these initiatives as he has done for us. These are bipartisan initiatives that Republicans and Democrats can get together and solve as we are doing here.”

In addition to Mayor Vaz, representatives from the New Jersey Organizing Project, Reclaim the Bay, the Seaside Park Taxpayers Association, and the American Policy Holders Association participated in the town hall.

This was the twelfth town hall held by Congressman Kim during the 116th Congress, and part of a monthly series to allow the Congressman to hear directly from constituents throughout New Jersey’s Third District.

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