This week, the NRMCA Government Affairs team is joining forces with a large contingent of trade groups and companies to "Flood the Hill" as part of a campaign to lobby the Senate to hold a vote on flood insurance legislation before the end of the month. Last July, the House passed the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2011 (H.R. 1309) with overwhelming bipartisan support. H.R. 1309 aims to reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which has been held afloat by extensions since its expiration in 2007. More importantly, however, the bill includes language crafted and requested by NRMCA which directs 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.

The Senate concluded committee work last September to consider a similar draft bill, S. 1940, which includes identical building codes study language. However, the full Senate has yet to act and reauthorize the NFIP with the NRMCA-supported building codes study language.

In addition to direct lobbying on Capitol Hill, phone calls, snail-mail, social media and press releases, the various participating groups are also engaged in grassroots efforts. Earlier this week NRMCA alerted association membership, urging them to send letters to their senators that  ask Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to schedule a vote on the NFIP before it expires on May 31.