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Senator urges long-term reauthorization of National Flood Insurance Program after Hurricane Francine
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Summary
A senator told the chamber that Hurricane Francine caused more than $1.5 billion in damage in Louisiana and warned that a lapse in the National Flood Insurance Program would leave hundreds of thousands without coverage; he urged Congress to pass a long-term reauthorization and highlighted federal mitigation grants.
A senator addressed the chamber about Hurricane Francine’s damage in Louisiana and urged Congress to reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program so policyholders will not lose coverage during hurricane season.
The senator said Francine caused "more than $1,500,000,000 in damage across Louisiana" and listed heavily affected parishes including Ascension, Assumption, Lafourche, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Mary and Terrebonne. He said the state secured emergency supplies and stockpiled gasoline for generators as part of preparations.
Highlighting federal recovery aid, the senator said he worked over the past year "making sure that my state receives every federal resource possible," citing a $118,000,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for Francine relief. He also credited the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, saying "$1 invested in preventing flooding can save up to $6 in flood damage."
The senator said the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has provided over $10,000,000,000 for Louisiana, a substantial portion for flood mitigation, and announced a separate $206,000,000 grant for elevating flood-prone homes in Orleans, Calcasieu, East Baton Rouge and Lafayette Parishes. He also named $1,500,000 in emergency-protective-measures funding to the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and a second $1,500,000 award in May.
Warning of an immediate risk, the senator said the National Flood Insurance Program "has provided Americans with access to affordable flood insurance for the last 50 years" and that, if Congress does not fund the government, "the National Flood Insurance Program lapses, leaving the nearly 500,000 Louisianians and over 5,000,000 Americans without coverage." He urged that the program be reauthorized on a long-term basis instead of relying on repeated short extensions — "Congress has already passed 33 short term extensions in the last 10 years."
On funds pending release, the senator said that some mitigation money under the current administration "has been held up" but that the Office of Management and Budget director Russ Vought assured him the funds would be released. The senator framed flooding as a national problem with recurring, costly claims and said the policy should provide stability rather than be threatened by short-term funding battles.
"Let's keep the national flood insurance program alive and then let's keep it strong, reliable, and worthy of the trust that millions of American families place in it every day," the senator said. He concluded by urging immediate congressional action to ensure NFIP survives through September and by calling for a durable, long-term reauthorization so families can rely on the program when the next storm comes. The senator yielded.
