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Senators Introduce Bipartisan National Flood Insurance Program Reauthorization Bill

Federal Issues National Flood Insurance Program Senate Banking Committee Federal Legislation Flood Insurance

Federal Issues

On June 13, a bipartisan group of senators introduced draft legislation to reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for six years, while incorporating reforms to address sustainability, affordability, and efficiency. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), a senior member of the Senate Banking Committee overseeing the NFIP, and a co-sponsor of the Sustainable, Affordable, Fair and Efficient National Flood Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2017 (SAFE NFIP), stated in a press release issued by his office, “SAFE NFIP addresses critical problems with the program, administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), following Superstorm Sandy and other disasters: unsustainability, low participation rates, inaccurate flood maps, an indifference to the benefits of flood control infrastructure, agency mismanagement, unsustainable debt service costs and contractor profiteering.” Among other things, the Act proposes a cap on premium rate hikes and an interest freeze on the NFIP’s debt to the Treasury for six years after enactment and fosters investments in mitigation efforts. U.S. Senators John Kennedy (R-La.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) cosponsored the bill.