DeLauro Announces Support for Flood Insurance Legislation Up For a Vote before House of Representatives

WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) released the following statement today announcing her support for the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act, which is scheduled for a vote before the House of Representatives tonight. Last month DeLauro met with Connecticut homeowners who were suffering from onerous flood insurance premiums.

“Congress never intended to impose the punitive and unaffordable flood insurance premiums FEMA is imposing on some homeowners. I have heard from constituents who were expecting to pay rates as much as 5,000 percent higher than they were paying. This bill would provide relief from such flood insurance premium ‘shock’ that is hurting homeowners and depressing home values. And this bill restores rates for those who previously built their properties according to code and will not have to worry about catastrophic rate increases as a result of remapping. Additionally, the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act provides that a new flood insurance policy or the transfer of a home to the new owner will not trigger a premium increase. Finally, it requires FEMA to provide Congress with the affordability study that was supposed to be finished nearly a year ago.

“I am pleased that Congress was able to reach a bipartisan agreement that will be better for families hit by unaffordable premium increases.”