WASHINGTON, June 29 -- The office of Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, issued the following news release:

Today, the Senate approved a major transportation bill that includes a five year reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program. The flood insurance measure was attached to the conference report for H.R. 4348, the surface transportation reauthorization legislation.

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison supported the reauthorization and issued the following statement:

"The long awaited flood insurance reforms included in the transportation bill are a major victory for property owners and taxpayers alike. Texans living in flood-prone areas will continue to have access to affordable flood insurance, and improvements to the National Flood Insurance Program's premium structure will place it on sounder financial footing.

"The reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program ensures that Texans living behind flood-control structures will not face mandatory purchase requirements and land-use restrictions. I supported a compromise orchestrated by Senator Cochran to make significant progress with this result, and I am pleased that the final agreement will not unfairly punish those communities who leverage their resources to mitigate their flood risk."

TNS RadHar67-120630-JF78-3934703 StaffFurigay