Congress Expected to Debate Passage of Flood Insurance Legislation

The Senate returns this week to begin debate on passage of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) which is in danger of lapsing coverage due to the program’s looming expiration at the end of July. NRMCA advocated for lawmakers to include a building code study which may be found in both the House-passed NFIP reauthorization (H.R. 1309), as well as the initial Senate version (S. 1940). The NRMCA-drafted language calls upon the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to study whether more robust building codes can be integrated into the NFIP as criteria for participation in the program. NRMCA believes this provision goes to the core of the program by ensuring that buildings in flood zones are built to standards suitable to survive the next flood or hurricane,  including the high winds found in many storms.

Holding up passage is Sen. Mark Pryor’s (D-AR) efforts to attach an amendment to limit some of FEMA’s insurance premiums as well as Sen. Rand Paul’s (R-KY) efforts to attach a pro-life amendment. Regardless, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has indicated he will not be deterred by the amendment process and tactics slowing the process.

Please call your Senator today and tell him or her to vote for the NFIP bill which contains NRMCA’s draft building code study.