Rep. LaMalfa Issues Statement on Disaster Tax Relief, Airport, Airway Extension Act

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 -- Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., issued the following statement after the House passed the Disaster Tax Relief and Airport and Airway Extension Act (H.R. 3823). This bill reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration and the Teaching Health Centers program, as well as provides disaster relief for victims of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria:

"With funding expiring on September 30th, it was important to extend authorization for the FAA and prevent nationwide employee furloughs and project halts. In addition, contained in the bill is reauthorization for the Teaching Health Centers program which is particularly important in rural areas, like Northern California, where doctor shortages are a real problem. This program has been an effective tool to address that.

"This legislation also increases availability of flood insurance in high risk areas and provides a tax break to our neighbors in the South, who have been severely impacted by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria in recent months.

"This is a timely and important bill, and I hope the Senate will put it on the President's desk as quickly as possible."

H.R. 3823, the Disaster Tax Relief and Airport and Airway Extension Act does the following:

* Reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration and several aviation programs through March 31, 2018.

* Reauthorizes Teaching Health Centers and Graduate Medical Education program through March 31, 2018.

* Allows for emergency tax relief for victims of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.

* Requires that federally-backed mortgages must have flood insurance if they are in flood hazard areas and reinforces that private flood insurance counts as valid flood insurance as long as that policy is state-approved.

Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California's First Congressional District, including Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou and Tehama Counties.