Declarations

Reauthorization Needed

“Congress needs to pass a long-term extension because homeowners living in flood prone regions of the country don’t have anywhere to turn should another major flood occur during this Congressional recess.”

—Blain Rethmeier, spokesman for the American Insurance Association. The U.S. Congress headed for Memorial Day recess without reauthorizing the National Flood Insurance Program, which was scheduled to lapse at 12:01 a.m., June 1, the first day of the hurricane season. It was the fourth time in the past year the NFIP was allowed to lapse because Congress has not voted to reauthorize it. According to the AIA, the House of Representatives was expected to strip the flood insurance provision from a larger bill dealing with unemployment benefits, Medicare payments to doctors and tax breaks that has been stalled by partisan fighting. The plan was to then conduct votes on extensions for the NFIP and other programs prior to adjourning for the Memorial Day recess. However, according to AIA, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said the Senate would not consider the legislation to extend the insurance and other programs until the week of June 7.