MacArthur’s Bill to Reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program Passes House

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House passed Congressman Tom MacArthur’s bill, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Extension Act of 2018. While the Senate has failed to consider the House’s five-year NFIP reauthorization, MacArthur championed this legislation which guarantees flood insurance coverage for Ocean County residents and millions of Americans through the end of this year’s hurricane season.

“The Jersey Shore knows all too well the critical need for the National Flood Insurance Program. Superstorm Sandy, which devastated our community, left hundreds of thousands of homes damaged or destroyed and resulted in more than $30 billion in losses. While our region is still recovering from Sandy, we cannot enter another hurricane season allowing a lapse in the National Flood Insurance Program. Without flood insurance, homes cannot be bought or sold and mortgages cannot be acquired. That would devastate our local economy,” said Congressman MacArthur. “Although many leaders in my own party worked against this effort, I brought people together in the midst of Washington dysfunction to pass this bill, because this is what’s best for my district. Now, the Senate needs to act and put this bill on the President’s desk. I will continue working with my colleagues from both parties and in both chambers of Congress to find a long-term solution that increases investment in mitigation, holds FEMA accountable, and provides affordable coverage.”

“Families in Louisiana and all across the country rely on the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) year-round to ensure their homes are protected, but NFIP is especially critical during hurricane season when the threat of flooding is at its peak,” said House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.). “I thank my colleague, Tom MacArthur, for leading the charge on this legislation to give families peace of mind that the NFIP won’t lapse when people need it most. While more work remains to find a path forward on a long-term reauthorization of NFIP, it is important that Congress doesn’t allow this program to lapse. I look forward to the Senate moving quickly in the next few days to pass this extension before the program expires on July 31.”