REP. CARTER INTRODUCES BILL TO RETROACTIVELY RESTORE FLOOD INSURANCE COVERAGE AND RETAIN CURRENT RATES FOR POLICYHOLDERS IMPACTED BY REPUBLICAN SHUTDOWN

The following information was released by the office of Louisiana Rep. Troy A. Carter, Sr.:

Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA) and Congressman Mike Ezell (R-MS), introduced H.R. 5848, the NFIP Retroactive Renewal and Reauthorization Act, legislation to backdate reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to September 30, 2025, while extending the program's authorization until December 31, 2026. This bill ensures that policyholders who plan to renew are not punished due to the lapse in NFIP reauthorization due to the Republican government shutdown.

Due to the ongoing shutdown, NFIP's congressional authorization has lapsed therefore no new flood insurance policies can be issued or renewed. Now that the 30-day grace period to renew policies has expired for some policyholders, they could face partial-risk assessments and higher rates unless Congress passes a retroactive extension.

"The lapse of the National Flood Insurance Program isn't a partisan problem it's a people problem. Families shouldn't lose their coverage or face higher premiums because of political gridlock," said Rep. Carter."The NFIP Retroactive Renewal and Reauthorization Act is about fairness and stability. No family should lose coverageor be forced to pay higher premiumsbecause of a political stalemate in Washington. My bill restores flood insurance retroactively and ensures homeowners and businesses have protection when they need it most."

This lapse threatens countless Louisiana families, delays home closings, and leaves homeowners uninsured in the middle of hurricane season. It also punishes families already struggling with rising premiums, potentially wiping out years of progress toward affordable coverage.

If Congress does not enact a retroactive reauthorization, any new or renewed policies will only take effect on or after the date the program is reinstated. This means policyholders could experience a lapse in coverage, leaving flood losses during that period uninsured.

Additionally, without retroactive authority, many policyholders will face significant premium increases. Under FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0, existing policyholders transition gradually to full-risk rates, but lapsed policies must pay those rates immediately upon reauthorization. This lapse therefore threatens both the affordability and stability of flood insurance for Louisiana families.

This also comes at a time when insurance rates are already causing housing affordability issues in Louisiana.

"As evidenced by the ongoing lapse of NFIP, a long-term reauthorization is necessary for sustainability of the program and affordability for its policyholders. This lapse now threatens the premium increase glidepath guaranteed to legacy NFIP policyholders who have played by the rules. Our analysis of FEMA data shows that NFIP premiums under Risk Rating 2.0 are rising by over 100% on average and by at least 50% in 41 states. Reauthorizing NFIP retroactively ensures that these glidepaths are retained, thus encouraging cost-burdened Americans to maintain coverage and mitigate our nation's risk," said Michael Hecht, President and CEO of Greater New Orleans, Inc., on behalf of the Coalition for Sustainable Flood Insurance (CSFI).

"As CEO of the Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans, I cannot overstate the urgency of extending the National Flood Insurance Program. Right now, thousands of families in Southeast Louisiana are on the brink of losing affordable flood coverage due to the government shutdown and the harsh realities of Risk Rating 2.0. If Congress does not act immediately, homeowners and small businesses will be forced into unaffordable premiums, putting their homes, livelihoods, and our entire region at risk. This bill is not just necessaryit is critical to prevent a wave of financial devastation and to preserve the resilience of our communities. We urge swift passage to protect Louisiana families before it's too late," said Dan Mills, CEO of Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans.

"The National Flood Insurance Program is a critical lifeline for American households to avoid economic ruin from flooding disasters. The private flood insurance industry may hold promise, but it is nowhere near ready to come close to providing the level of security the NFIP provides. It is imperative that the program be re-authorized and retroactively available to those whose policies lapsed during the shutdown so they don't end up re-rated and priced out of this important protection," said Amy Bach, Executive Director, United Policyholders.

"The federal government shut down has stopped purchases and renewals of all flood insurance policies through the NFIP. This has a far-reaching impact on many facets of the American economy, not just compromising the safety net of flood insurance, but also impacting real estate closings and risk management strategies. Now more than ever, American families are reliant on the protection offered by a strong, resilient National Flood Insurance Program. The American Policyholder Association strongly encourages the passage of the NFIP Renewal and re-authorization Act," said DougQuinn, Executive Director, American Policyholder Association.

Background:

The NFIP is a federal program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that provides flood insurance to homeowners and businesses, aiming to reduce the financial impact of flooding. The program is vital for Louisiana, a state with extensive low-lying areas and frequent exposure to hurricanes and heavy rainfall. The NFIP helps protect residents from devastating financial losses due to flood damage, encourages responsible development in flood-prone areas, and supports rebuilding efforts after disastersmaking it a critical safety net for Louisiana's communities. Over the last decade, Congress has passed 33 short-term NFIP authorization extensions, which have been attached to contentious government funding bills.

Across the country, FEMA is barred from processing renewals or issuing new NFIP policies until the government reopens. The NFIP Retroactive Renewal and Reauthorization Actwould reauthorize the NFIP through December 31, 2026, and include a retroactive renewal periodto ensure families whose coverage expired during the shutdown can renew without penalty once the government reopens. The legislation also renews the program through 2026 to provide long-term stability and ensure continued congressional oversight of FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0 system.

Reps. Carter and Ezell also introduced H.R. 2822, the National Flood Insurance Program Authorization Extension Act, in April of this year to avoid a lapse in program authorization resulting from a government shutdown. This bill would have extended the program through December 31, 2026.

Rep. Carter serves as Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Congressional Flood Resilience Caucusand the BipartisanCongressional Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Caucus. Hecontinues to advocate for common-sense, bipartisan reforms to strengthen and sustain the NFIP for Louisiana and other flood-prone communities.