Rep. Scalise Statement on FEMA Implementing Risk Rating 2.0

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Louisiana, issued the following statement:

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House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) released the following statement after the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) went forward with its rollout of Risk Rating 2.0 for existing policyholders despite an extreme lack of transparency on the new flood insurance rating system's methodology and implementation. Whip Scalise has called on FEMA multiple times to explain Risk Rating 2.0 methodology as thousands of Louisiana families are expected to face premium increases over the next several years, potentially jeopardizing their ability to afford flood insurance altogether.

"I am extremely disappointed to see FEMA move forward with implementing Risk Rating 2.0 for existing policyholders despite serious transparency concerns that I and others have raised surrounding the new premium rate system and its methodology. I've reached out to FEMA multiple times seeking clarity for this new rating system, but our concerns have gone unanswered.

"With 80 percent of Louisiana policyholders and 77 percent of NFIP policyholders nationwide facing premium increases under Risk Rating 2.0, it's unacceptable for FEMA to move forward without providing comprehensive information on how flood protection and other mitigation efforts are considered when setting individual rates.

"Any failure to consider mitigation efforts in setting rates is especially concerning due to the estimates that thousands of Louisiana families will face NFIP rate increases for years to come, potentially making the cost of flood insurance unaffordable for some policyholders. Louisiana families and families across our nation should not be left holding the bill for FEMA's inability to be transparent about the significant changes it's implementing."