Congress has until Sept. 30 to reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program, which provides affordable protection for many family homes in North Texas. Reform efforts in the House would rein in spending and protect the long-term viability of the program.
Dear Friend,
The National Flood Insurance Program needs to be reauthorized by Sept. 30. The House is advancing legislation to reform and keep this important program afloat while addressing the fact that it is more than $24 billion in debt.
Anyone who lives in North Texas knows the importance of having affordable insurance against flood damage. While efforts to improve flood control along the Trinity River continue to advance, it is important that smart reforms to the federal flood insurance program are adopted.
The 1968 federal program insures more than $1 trillion in property across the country, but claims from major hurricanes over the past few years have drained it of funding and forced it to borrow from taxpayers.
Reforming the program will put it back on solid financial ground and ensure that it runs more efficiently and effectively. Fixing the program will make sure it’s available to protect North Texas homeowners in the future.
The House will be considering the 21st Century Flood Reform Act (HR 2874) in the coming weeks to reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program.
It will improve the flood insurance program by increasing private-sector competition and requiring the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to update its outdated flood-risk maps. The bill also grandfathers rates for existing policyholders to allow them to keep the same low flood insurance rates even when new flood maps are completed.
Remember, affordable federal flood insurance is available to anyone living in North Texas, whether they are in a floodplain or not. You might have already purchased flood insurance if it was required by your mortgage company.
You can learn more about national flood insurance by visiting the FEMA website.
Congress will have to pass something by the fall or risk a lapse in the program.
Sincerely,
Kay Granger
Member of Congress