Louisiana Leaders Back Cassidy’s Flood Insurance Amendment

WASHINGTON - Today, elected officials and community leaders in south Louisiana endorsed Congressman Bill Cassidy's amendment to keep flood insurance rates low on the FY 2014 Homeland Security appropriations bill. That bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives early this morning. Statements from elected officials and local leaders are as follows:

Hon. Pat Brister, St. Tammany Parish President: "With the passage of Rep. Bill Cassidy's amendment to the Homeland Security Bill last night, we are beginning to see our work to modify the Biggert-Waters Act of 2012 pay off. The potentially crippling impact to homeowners across the country should be corrected, and this amendment is the first step in accomplishing this. We all understand the need to reform a broken program, but not at the cost of families losing their homes and banks going into default.

"Parish leaders here in Louisiana, and county leaders from throughout the nation, should urge the U.S. Senate to pass this legislation, which passed in the House by a 2 to 1 margin, to prevent what could be a second housing and banking crisis. Without this modification to the Act, we could see flood insurance rates so high, home ownership would be out of reach for everyday Americans."

Hon. John Young, Jefferson Parish President: "The Cassidy Amendment marks an important victory for our citizens in Jefferson Parish, all of South Louisiana, and for many more citizens, particularly those in coastal communities, across the nation. This will give us more time to further explore and advocate for reasonable, affordable changes to the flood insurance program which should protect, not punish, our citizens in their hour of need."

Hon. Michel Claudet, Terrebonne Parish President: "The passage of this amendment is part of our broader goal to provide an affordable and fiscally sound flood insurance program for the hard working people who live along the coast of the United States. We will continue our efforts to educate national leaders of the deep and lasting impacts of the changes to the National Flood Insurance Program."

Hon. Charlotte Randolph, Lafourche Parish President: "This amendment begins to correct the negative effects of the Biggert-Waters Act. We will continue to work with the delegation to find a permanent solution to the act while continuing our appeals of the FEMA Flood Maps. I would like to thank the members of our delegation that worked hard to begin to fix this problem and the rest of the Members of Congress from other states who signed on to assist as well."

Hon. V.J. St. Pierre, St. Charles Parish President: "St. Charles Parish is one of the areas most affected by Biggert-Waters, so I am glad to see that this amendment will give our coalition the time it needs to encourage a comprehensive solution for property owners in my parish and around the country who are negatively affected by the proposed astronomical insurance rates. Now we must focus on the Senate passing a similar amendment to ensure this legislation becomes law. Ultimately, we must pass a permanent fix to Biggert-Waters that will allow our residents to continue to live in their communities and hold onto their investments."

Hon. Billy Nungesser, Jr., Plaquemines Parish President: "Dr. Cassidy proved he's the real leader on flood insurance with the passage of the Cassidy Amendment. I'm glad Dr. Cassidy took action and moved the ball forward on protecting Louisiana homeowners from NFIP rate hikes. The Cassidy Amendment is a real bi-partisan success."

Louisiana Bankers Association: "Today, Robert Taylor, Louisiana Bankers Association CEO, thanked Congressman Cassidy for his work in the House in successfully passing an amendment that will give relief to Louisiana citizens from the draconian flood insurance rate increases. Having a delay and time to study the impact on Louisiana homeowners and small businesses is essential to continued economic recovery."

Mr. Windell Curole, Director, South Lafourche Levee District: "The people of Louisiana survived challenges of Katrina, Rita, Isaac, and the Deepwater Horizon spill, but now face the loss of their homes as a result of a totally man-made problem. Congressman Cassidy's amendment is a critical first step in preventing flood insurance premium hikes that would cripple our community."

Ms. Kathy Benoit, President and CEO, Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce: "The potential flood insurance rate increases are so high and so sudden, that they could destroy communities and the very people the program was designed to protect. Congressman Cassidy's leadership in passing his amendment preventing FEMA from phasing out grandfathered NFIP rates is a critical victory in the fight to restore an affordable and solvent flood insurance program."

Mr. Jerry P. Ledet, Jr., President and CEO, Synergy Bank: "As a local bank, the blocking of Section 207 in the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act is a positive step in protecting our community's homeowners. While a self-sufficient flood insurance program is essential, we need to seek options that will not devastate our community with exorbitant flood insurance costs."

Read this original document at: http://cassidy.house.gov/press-release/louisiana-leaders-back-cassidys-flood-insurance-amendment