Waters Calls for Immediate Passage of Legislation to Delay Flood Insurance Rate Hikes

Today, House Republicans rejected a Democratic procedural motion to bring bipartisan legislation that would delay the implementation of flood insurance increases up for a vote.

Using a parliamentary procedure called the "previous question," House Republicans blocked an effort to bring H.R. 3370, the bipartisan Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act, to the House floor. This legislation, which has 182 cosponsors from both sides of the aisle, recently passed the U.S. Senate by an overwhelming majority of 67-32.

 Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), who has led the effort to fix these unintended consequences, released the following statement.

“I am extremely disappointed that nearly every House Republican voted to block consideration of bipartisan legislation that would delay increases in flood insurance premiums.  However, I am more concerned for the hundreds of thousands of middle class families who are struggling to figure out how they will afford flood insurance costs that have increased by, in some cases, tens of thousands of dollars. Thanks to today’s obstruction, their pain will be prolonged.

Our bill is a bipartisan, common sense way to address the unintended consequences that have arisen as a result of FEMA’s botched implementation of changes to the National Flood Insurance Program. I urge Republican leadership to take up this bipartisan solution, which was recently passed by the U.S. Senate, without delay. Each day we do not act is one day longer middle class families continue to suffer from increased premiums, depressed home prices, or the inability to buy or sell their home.”

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