Mass. Rep. Keating Urges House Approval of Flood Insurance Bill

U.S. Rep. William Keating, D-Mass., is calling for swift passage of a flood insurance bill in the House that would give hundreds of thousands of homeowners a reprieve from higher flood insurance premiums.

The Democrat said there’s no reason why House leadership shouldn’t take up the bill when lawmakers come back into session Monday.

Keating called the bill “the only responsible and democratic course of action on an issue that affects so many lives.”

U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey from Massachusetts praised passage of the bill on Jan. 30 in the Senate.

The legislation would delay for up to four years huge premium increases now set to phase in next year under updated government flood maps.

It also would allow homeowners with subsidized insurance policies to pass them on to people who buy their homes.