(Radio Iowa) – Republican Congressman Randy Feenstra says after flooding hit communities in his district in mid-2024 he’s been meeting regularly with FEMA officials to talk about progress — and Feenstra says he’s pushing FEMA to approve federal funding for buyouts flood-damaged properties.

“We’ve got to get these dollars passed out, so you have Rock Valley, Rock Rapids, Hawarden — all these other communities. We’ve got to get them whole,” Feenstra says. “We’ve got to make sure that they’re on the right path so they can grow economically and help not only the businesses and schools, but also the families that lost their homes.” Under FEMA’s buyout program, 75 percent of the funding from the federal government. The state is required to provide 10 percent and the remaining 15 percent is the responsibility of the local government or city.

Sioux County, along with the cities of Spencer, Rock Rapids, Rock Valley, Hawarden and Correctionville have submitted applications for federal funding to help buy homes that are unlivable due to last year’s damage or in an area that frequently floods. Estherville and Cherokee are working on their applications. Feenstra, a Republican who’s running for governor, says if he’s elected, he’d set goals for how his administration would respond to Iowa disasters.

“We want to make sure that we are ready for anything, whether it be a tornado or a flood,” Feenstra says. “that we can get boots on the ground within 12 hours of the event happening and making sure that we resolve and help the problems that are happening through that disaster.” Feenstra says he has a meeting with FEMA officials tomorrow (Wednesday). He’s also asked to meet with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem who oversees FEMA. Feenstra is in Washington, D.C. today (Tuesday) where congress has reconvened and is wrestling with what to about Affordable Care Act subsidies that are set to expire at the end of the month.

“We are not going to shut down government again, but we are working collaboratively to get this done,” Feenstra says. “To me, it’s all about how…do we make sure that we reduce premiums and not continue down this same path of growing and expanding and increasing the cost through the Affordable Care Act.” Americans with an annual income below 400% of the poverty line will still receive federal tax credits next year, but without congressional action the health insurance subsidies expanded to other Americans in 2021 will expire December 31st.

In October, Feenstra said those subsidies that were established during the pandemic are too expensive for the federal government and congress should find other ways to reduce health care premium costs.