Rep. Rooney Issues Statement on National Flood Insurance Program

WASHINGTON, July 25 -- Rep. Thomas J. Rooney, R-Florida, issued the following statement in response to the House's temporary extension to the National Flood Insurance Program:

"The current National Flood Insurance Program is set to expire on July 31 - right in the middle of this year's hurricane season. All Floridians know very well how flooding can dramatically impact our communities," Rooney said. "That is why I supported the extension of this important program today in the House."

The National Flood Insurance Program aims to reduce the impact of flooding on private and public structures by providing affordable insurance to property owners, renters and businesses. The program also encourages communities to adopt and enforce floodplain management regulations.

Flooding continues to be one of the most common and costliest natural disasters in the U.S., affecting areas nationwide. Coastal flooding in the United States set records in 2017 and experts anticipate 2018 flooding levels will be similar, if not worse. The temporary extension ensures that the NFIP and coverage offered to home owners and business owners will not lapse.

The current NFIP program is set to expire on July 31. The bill passed in the House of Representatives today will reauthorize the NFIP through Nov. 30, 2018, the official end of the Atlantic Hurricane Season.

"I'll continue to work with my colleagues in the House on a long-term reauthorization of the NFIP but in the meantime, the program must be reauthorized temporarily," Rooney said. "I believe my colleagues in the Senate take flooding just as seriously as it is a problem affecting all of our constituents - and I hope they will also pass this measure," Rooney said. "Thousands of Floridians in our communities are counting on it."