House Financial Services Committee Advances Two Flood Insurance Measures, Delays Action on Other Bills

Federal Issues House Financial Services Committee National Flood Insurance Program

On June 15, the House Financial Services Committee announced it had passed two flood insurance measures during a meeting to consider several bills to reform and reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

The Committee approved the 21^st Century Flood Reform Act of 2017 (H.R. 2874) by a vote of 30-26. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wis.), is designed to (i) improve the financial stability of the NFIP; (ii) improve the development of more accurate flood risk estimates through new technology and better maps; (iii) “increase the role of private markets in the management of flood insurance risks”; and (iv) “provide for alternative methods to insure against flood peril.”

Also approved by a vote of 53-0 was the National Flood Insurance Program Policyholder Protection Act of 2017 (H.R. 2868). The bill, sponsored by Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.), is designed to protect NFIP policyholders from “unreasonable premium rates” and require FEMA to analyze “the unique characteristics of flood insurance coverage of urban properties” such as cooperative housing projects.

The Committee will consider additional measures the week of June 19.