Washington, DC – July 16, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) — The US House passed H.R. 5114, the Flood Insurance Reform Priorities Act of 2010. H.R. 5114 will reauthorize and improve the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which is the primary source of reliable, affordable flood insurance coverage for millions of American homes and businesses. The bill includes an amendment by Congressman Scott to allow NFIP premiums to be paid in installments.
My amendment addresses the financial barriers that many homeowners encounter when procuring mandatory flood insurance for their property, namely the lump-sum payment of a policy premium,” Congressman Scott said. “After the flood, several constituents contacted my office to share their concerns about the burden of paying flood insurance premiums. While the deluge may have gone, we must make sure that these hard-working homeowners do not drown in the financial aftermath. My amendment will allow these homeowners to pay their premiums in installments and make insurance more affordable.”
Currently, NFIP has been operating under short term extensions. This creates uncertainty and hardships for homeowners who need flood insurance to secure low-interest SBA loans and other assistance to rebuild. H.R. 5114 provides a long-term extension of NFIP in order to provide dependable assistance for homeowners. Several constituents contacted Congressman Scott’s office about the requirement for a lump-sum payment of a policy premium being difficult to fulfill in times of fiscal strain. Congressman Scott’s amendment, which was added in committee, allows homeowners to submit their premium through monthly installments.
Congressman Scott has also requested that FEMA and Army Corps of Engineer officials review flood maps in Georgia to ensure that the maps are accurate. In addition, Congressman Scott has voted for additional FEMA funding for buyouts of nearly 110 properties in Cobb and Douglas Counties. That funding is attached to the Supplemental Appropriations bill, which is held up in the Senate.
Congressman Scott is a member of the Committee on Financial Services, which has oversight of flood insurance programs. For more information about flood assistance, visit:
FEMA website: http://www.fema.gov/
SBA website: http://www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance/index.html
