CONGRESSMAN CLEO FIELDS CALLS FOR LONG-TERM REAUTHORIZATION AND REFORM OF NFIP

The following information was released by the office of Louisiana Rep. Cleo Fields:

Congressman Fields (LA-06) joined colleagues in urging congressional leadership to take immediate action on long-term reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). In a letter to Chairman Hill and Ranking Member Waters of the House Financial Services Committee, Congressman Fields emphasized that NFIP is a lifeline for homeowners, small businesses, and entire communities across Louisiana and the nation who are vulnerable to flooding.

"Families depend on the NFIP to protect their homes and livelihoods," said Congressman Fields. "For Louisiana, where flooding is not a question of if but when, a stable and affordable NFIP is vital. We cannot continue the dangerous cycle of short-term extensions that create uncertainty for families, small businesses, and the housing market."

Congressman Fields and his colleagues highlighted the bipartisan National Flood Insurance Program Authorization Extension Act (H.R. 2822, S. 1015) as one option, which would extend the program through December 31, 2026, significantly longer than typical short-term extensions. At the same time, they called for reforms to strengthen the program's long-term stability, including better flood mapping, mitigation investments, and balancing affordability with fiscal soundness.

See the full letter below:

Dear Chairman Hill and Ranking Member Waters:

We write to express our strong support for the long-term reauthorization and responsible reform of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Across the nation, both inland and coastal, the NFIP is a lifeline for homeowners, small businesses, and entire communities vulnerable to the disaster of flooding.

Families depend on NFIP to protect their homes and to access affordable mortgage financing in federally designated flood zones. In the event of a flood, NFIP covers direct physical losses to structures and belongings, resulting in more efficient recovery. This coverage is vital to the American people and the economy, as nearly all communities face some level of flood risk. Flooding is the most common and the costliest natural disaster, and 90% of all presidentially declared U.S. natural disasters involve flooding. Since 1996, flood events have occurred in all 50 states and 99% of U.S. counties. Nearly one-third of NFIP flood insurance claims come from outside of high-risk flood areas. Poor drainage systems, summer storms, melting snow, neighborhood construction, and broken water mains can disrupt people's entire lives at any time.

Most homeowners' insurance policies do not cover flood damage, with flood insurance being the only remedy to cover the cost of rebuilding, underscoring the tremendous importance of NFIP. This program creates faster paths to recovery and provides peace of mind for homeowners across the nation, for a situation that could otherwise be life-ruining and involve financial devastation. A lapse in the program's authorization means new policies could not be issued, existing policies could not be renewed, and real estate transactions in flood-prone areas may stall, leaving homeowners and businesses vulnerable. This could ultimately result in housing market instability, jeopardizing the financial security of our constituents.

Over the last decade, Congress has passed 33 short-term NFIP authorization extensions, which have been attached to contentious government funding bills. Had Congress not been able to pass a government funding bill, not only would the government shut down, but the NFIP program's authorization would have also lapsed. Congress cannot continue this dangerous cycle.

We look to better understand the committee's efforts to potentially reform NFIP, giving it long-term financial stability. Actions such as investing in improved flood mapping, mitigation incentives, and prudent updates to the program's pricing and coverage structure are crucial. But finding the right balance between affordability and soundness is essential to the reform's success. A reformed flood insurance program must not only protect taxpayers but also preserve reasonably priced flood insurance for individuals in high-risk areas.

With this in mind, we urge Congress to act promptly to reauthorize the NFIP on a long-term basis, allowing for a reform discussion to begin. One potential option is the bipartisan and bicameral National Flood Insurance Program Authorization Extension Act (H.R. 2822, S. 1015), which would extend the program through December 31, 2026, significantly longer than the typical short-term extensions passed by Congress.

As flooding becomes more frequent and severe, we must protect families and businesses by keeping this program operational while we work to deliver lasting, comprehensive reforms to strengthen and modernize it. We look forward to working with you on this critical issue.