Palazzo on Passage of House Flood Insurance Bill

WASHINGTON, March 4 -- Rep. Steven Palazzo, R-Miss. (4th CD), issued the following news release:

Congressman Steven Palazzo, (MS-4), today praised House passage of H.R. 3370, The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act. The bill passed with overwhelming bipartisan support by a vote of 306-91.

In remarks (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMqG8Tog2HE&list=UUtPOy2vRbN2nD8dQPSOTXeA&feature=c4-overview) on the House floor, Palazzo stated:

"Our bill is the result of extensive bipartisan, bicameral work over the past year. This bill is both compassionate and fiscally responsible. From the start, my priority has been to ensure that flood insurance remains affordable and available - in Mississippi and across the country. Our bill meets those goals.

"Many of the people who are now facing unrealistic, overnight increases followed all the rules. They went to great effort and expense to build back to FEMA standards after storms like Hurricane Katrina.

"Congress never intended to punish responsible homeowners. Yet, that is exactly what FEMA is doing as it implements the law with flawed maps and procedures. These actions are threatening individuals and entire communities. I'm not talking about wealthy waterfront homeowners. In South Mississippi, I'm hearing from teachers, veterans, fishermen, people who work at the shipyards in support of our U.S. Navy. Many live 100 miles inland.

"Our bill holds FEMA accountable and provides real, responsible relief and lasting reforms. I urge my colleagues to join me in strong support of this bill."

The bill passed with wide bipartisan support following weeks of work by Palazzo and House leaders to craft a balanced package. In previous statements (http://palazzo.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=371537), Palazzo noted that H.R. 3370 "reflects South Mississippi concerns," and makes several key changes to the existing Biggert-Waters Act of 2012 without adding to the deficit.

It would repeal Section 207 of the law and restore grandfathered rates, making permanent Palazzo's delay that was recently signed into law as part of the omnibus budget bill. Under Biggert-Waters, homes lost grandfathered rates once a property was sold or maps were changed, resulting in drastic, overnight rate increases in some cases. The new legislation does away with home sale triggers, retroactively refunds home sale increases on pre-FIRM properties, and ties premiums to properties, not people. The House plan would also ensure that FEMA does not move the goal posts on those who built back to code after storms like Hurricane Katrina.

Palazzo pushed for inclusion of several other measures to hold FEMA accountable. Those measures include requirements that the agency certify its mapping methodology, expedite an affordability study, reimburse policyholders who successfully appeal FEMA maps, and establish a flood insurance advocate. Under Palazzo language submitted in 2011, the Technical Mapping Advisory Council, which would certify FEMA maps, must include adequate representation from the Gulf Coast. FEMA would also be required to notify communities of remapping as well as which models are being used in the mapping process. Further, FEMA will also be required to provide an affordability framework within 18 months after the affordability study is completed.

The new House bill would also push FEMA to restrict rates to equal no more than one percent of home values, with yearly increases for individuals capped at eighteen percent of the previous year's policy. The difference in rate calculations could mean thousands of dollars in annual relief for South Mississippi homeowners.

Senate flood insurance leaders, such as Senators David Vitter and Mary Landrieu, have also expressed support for the House bill.

Below is a list of local entities, industry experts, and national stakeholders that have endorsed the House bill:

Jack Norris, President, Gulf Coast Business Council: "H.R. 3370 provides long-term sustainability to the National Flood Insurance Program while balancing the need to provide certainty in the market place to continue to attract and grow businesses along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. ... We appreciate your focused efforts on this issue, and we look forward to the passage of H.R. 3370." Full statement can be found here (http://palazzo.house.gov/uploadedfiles/hr_3370.pdf).

Mayor Billy Hewes, City of Gulfport: "Passage of H.R. 3370 is critical to the City of Gulfport and other shoreline communities across the country. Coastal communities are the economic engines of the country, and certainly in the State of Mississippi, contributing an estimated $6.6 trillion to the nation's gross domestic product. I applaud your exhaustive efforts and leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives as well as the work of Senator Cochran and Senator Wicker in the U.S. Senate to pass relief measures." Full statement can be found here (http://palazzo.house.gov/UploadedFiles/Gulfport_HR3370.pdf).

Marty Milstead, Executive Vice President, Home Builders Association of Mississippi (excerpted): "You are to be commended on your efforts to get this critical legislation to the House floor for a vote. H.R. 3370 will provide much needed relief to homeowners, real estate professionals, and our communities, and we appreciate your role in ensuring Mississippi priorities were included in the final version of the bill." Full statement can be found here (http://palazzo.house.gov/uploadedfiles/home_builders_association_of_ms.pdf).

Janice Shows, President, Mississippi Association of REALTORS (excerpted): "In just the short time since its enactment, the Biggert-Waters Act has led to numerous failed real estate closings and threatened to freeze the real estate markets across Mississippi and the rest of the nation. H.R. 3370 reverses these devastating effects and serves as a lifeline to homeowners...Again, we offer our gratitude for your tireless work toward flood insurance reform over the last year." Full statement can be found here (http://palazzo.house.gov/uploadedfiles/msrealtorshr3370.pdf).

James Ballentine, Executive Vice President for Congressional Relations and Political Affairs, and J. Kevin A. McKechnie, Senior Vice President and Director, Office of Insurance Advocacy, American Bankers Association (excerpted): "The American Bankers Association and the American Bankers Insurance Association strongly supports H.R. 3370, the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act being taken up by the House of Representatives this week. This important bill addresses National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) affordability issues and corrects other unintended consequences resulting from earlier reform efforts." Full statement can be found here (http://aba.com/Advocacy/LetterstoCongress/Documents/HouseMemoreFloodInsurance022414.pdf).

National Association of Federal Credit Unions "Thank you for scheduling a vote on the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014 (H.R. 3370). We are already hearing reports from our member credit unions that sharp rises in premium increases are materializing and time is of the essence in addressing this issue." Full statement can be found here (http://cuinsight.com/press-release/nafcu-letter-urging-support-for-h-r-3370-the-homeowner-flood-insurance-affordability-act-of-2014).

Mr. James Tobin, III, Senior Vice President and Chief Lobbyist, National Association of Home Builders (excerpted): "We are especially concerned about unaffordable premiums and inaccuracies in FEMA's new flood maps. These issues are seriously impacting the construction, remodeling and sale of homes throughout the country at a time when the housing industry is beginning to recover. The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act as amended, resolves these issues by providing a more affordable rate structure for policyholders, and repeals point-of-sale rate increases... These provisions will help prevent undue hardship on the recovering housing market, protect home values and increase the viability of the NFIP."Full statement can be found here (http://nahb.org/news_details.aspx?newsID=16694).

Mr. Steve Brown, 2014 President, National Association of REALTORS(TM) (excerpted): "On behalf of over 1 million members, the National Association of REALTORS(TM) strongly urges you to vote for H.R. 3370, the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act with an amendment. The bill as amended would resolve most of the unintended consequences and uncertainties created by implementation of the Biggert- Waters law and still raise revenue. It would correct the unintended consequences by repealing key provisions that are driving the most excessive and inaccurate rate increases imposed on recent home purchases. It would also require that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) refund excessive premiums to those who already bought a home but were not warned by FEMA of the increase before purchasing the property." Full statement can be found here (http://ksefocus.com/billdatabase/clientfiles/172/2/1951.pdf).

Mr. Michael Hecht, President and CEO of Greater New Orleans, Inc., on behalf of the Coalition for Sustainable Flood Insurance: "The legislation proposed by the House of Representatives achieves many of our most important goals. The bill should both protect property owners who have played by the rules and settle real estate markets, while preserving the intent to offer flood insurance at true risk rates. Our coalition will work towards bi-partisan passage of this legislation: ensuring flood insurance remains affordable, while protecting the solvency of the NFIP." Full statement can be found here (http://gnoinc.org/news/publications/press-release/gno-inc-letter-of-support-for-h-r-3370/).

Mr. Camden Fine, President and CEO, Independent Community Bankers of America (excerpted): "On behalf of the 7,000 community banks represented by ICBA, I write to express our support for the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014 (H.R. 3370), introduced by Rep. Michael Grimm, which would provide relief from flood insurance premium 'shock' that is depressing home values and freezing the market in certain communities. Importantly, H.R. 3370 will provide this relief while ensuring the actuarial soundness of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)." Full statement can be found here (http://icba.org/files/ICBASites/PDFs/ltr022414a.pdf).

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