Rep. Smith: Flood Insurance Should Pay For Flood Protection, Not a DHS Slush Fund

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., issued the following news release:

During a series of meetings held over the past several days, Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) expressed his deep concern with the Office of Management and Budget's proposed 2018 Budget Blueprint to Majority Whip Steve Scalise (LA-01), who also represents a district recently ravaged by floods, and Rep. Sean Duffy (WI-07). Smith, who stressed the importance of a fully funded National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) during the meetings, said he appreciated the opportunity to come together and discuss this topic with Scalise and Duffy and that he looks forward to working together as the NFIP reauthorization moves through Committee.

"This Blueprint proposes to strip federal funding from NFIP and increase the costs on vulnerable families and businesses, whose flood insurance premiums are already skyrocketing," said Smith in a letter handed to the Majority Whip during a meeting. "The Budget proposes eliminating the discretionary appropriation for the NFIP's Flood Hazard Mapping Program, a cut of $190 million. With National Flood Insurance Policy holders in all 50 states as well as 5 territories and the District of Columbia, this issue truly has a national impact." Click Here to Read the Letter.

Nationwide, there are over 5 million NFIP policies, 231,000 of which are held by families and businesses in New Jersey. According to FEMA, the average policy holder will pay $878 for flood insurance--costs that are in addition to their standard home owner's insurance premiums--in 2017, a total that rises to over $1,000 once fees and surcharges included. These rates represent a 9% increase over 2016 rates.

"These rate increases are burdens placed on homeowners above and beyond current premiums and the out-of-pocket amounts that homeowners affected by Superstorm Sandy here in New Jersey, and the '1000-year rain' that took place last year in Louisiana, are still paying," said Smith, who has been joined by other House Members from the New Jersey delegation in this fight.

Smith also discussed his legislation, the Federal Disaster Assistance Nonprofit Fairness Act, which would help Houses of Worship recover from natural disasters such as floods. FEMA has argued that Houses of Worship are precluded by law from being interpreted as facilities that provide essential services of a governmental nature--a prohibition that does not align with facts on the ground.

"Houses of Worship are usually the first to open their doors to victims of these disasters and the last to turn the lights off during the cleanup efforts," said Smith. "It is unconscionable that foundational pillars of our communities have been categorically denied access to these otherwise generally-available funds."

Smith's bill, originally co-Sponsored by Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06) and Rep. Pete King (NY-02), has previously passed the house 354-72, however was not taken up before the Senate. Smith plans on reintroducing this legislation later this congress.

07M-Vitin-5810832 07M-Vitin