In response to reports on the Trump Administration’s plans to tax National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policyholders and cut 11% from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in order to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Committee on Financial Services, released the following statement:

“This is purely outrageous and unconscionable. National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policyholders continue to struggle with unaffordable flood insurance premiums and yet, Donald Trump is proposing to make it even harder for these policyholders to make ends meet.

“What’s more, cuts to funding for disaster preparation for local and state governments will leave our communities more vulnerable in the face of catastrophe.

“It appears as if this Administration doesn’t want to protect hardworking Americans whose livelihoods were swept away by Superstorm Sandy or Hurricane Katrina. In addition, it’s equally concerning that Trump’s budget plan doesn’t seem to take into account how harmful taxes will be on flood insurance policyholders.

“It is shameful that Trump would rather put hardworking Americans in harm’s way by neglecting what really matters.”

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