Rep. Higgins Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Reform the National Flood Insurance Program

WASHINGTON, Nov. 3 -- Rep. Clay Higgins, R-Louisiana, issued the following news release:

Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) joined Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ) to introduce the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2021. The bill reauthorizes the NFIP for five years and implements critical reforms to improve the program.

The NFIP Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2021 would take concrete steps to improve affordability, transparency, accountability, and the long-term sustainability of the NFIP by:

* Reauthorizing NFIP for five years and extending the program until September 30, 2026.

* Ending runaway premium hikes by capping annual rate increases to 9 percent. Currently, premiums can increase by up to 25 percent a year -- which has an adverse effect on property values, creates affordability challenges, and discourages participation in the program. This will put guardrails on FEMA's new rating methodology, known as Risk Rating 2.0, and prevent a rate shock that would undermine and weaken the flood insurance program and put taxpayers on the hook for even more disaster assistance grants.

* Instituting a significant number of policyholder protection and fairness provisions to ensure homeowners who faithfully paid their premiums are treated fairly during the claims process.

A section-by-section overview of the bill is available here: https://clayhiggins.house.gov/sites/clayhiggins.house.gov/files/NFIP%20Reauthorization%20Sec%20by%20Sec%202021.pdf

Congressman Higgins issued the following statement:

"We need a long-term reauthorization of the NFIP, including reforms to improve the program. Our bill provides that while protecting Louisiana home and business owners from unaffordable rate hikes. These are much-needed reforms to improve affordability, ensure fairness in the insurance claims process, and provide certainty for Louisiana families that hold NFIP policies."