{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://letlow.house.gov/media/press-releases/letlow-colleagues-introduce-automatic-flood-insurance-extension", "Letlow, Colleagues Introduce Automatic Flood Insurance Extension", "2025-12-11", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Julia Letlow", "L000595", "letlow.house.gov", "letlow", "https://letlow.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today Congresswoman Julia Letlow joined Reps. Troy A. Carter, Sr., Cleo Fields, Clay Higgins, Mike Ezell, and Lizzie Fletcher in introducing the National Flood Insurance Program Automatic Extension Act of 2025. The bill ensures that the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) automatically continues its core operations even if Congress misses a scheduled reauthorization deadline.\n\n\u201cLouisianans know all too well the toll that dangerous flooding can take on homes, families, and communities. During the recent government shutdown, families were unable to renew or access new flood insurance policies - removing a valuable lifeline for so many people. Through the NFIP Automatic Extension Act, Congress can ensure that Washington drama doesn\u2019t have real world consequences for flood-prone communities in South Louisiana,\u201d said Rep. Letlow.\n\n\u201cThe lapse of the National Flood Insurance Program isn\u2019t a partisan problem \u2014 it\u2019s a people problem. Families shouldn\u2019t lose their coverage or face higher premiums because of political gridlock,\u201d said Rep. Carter. \u201cOur bipartisan bill is about fairness and stability. No family should lose coverage because of a political stalemate in Washington. This bill ensures homeowners and businesses have protection when they need it most.\u201d\n\nThis legislation ensures that the NFIP can continue issuing and renewing flood-insurance policies, servicing policies, paying claims, and carrying out administrative functions despite political dysfunction in Washington. Specifically, the program\u2019s Congressional authorization would automatically extend through the end of the federal fiscal year following the \u201cterminal fiscal year,\u201d unless Congress reauthorizes it for a later date.\n\nBackground:\n\nThe NFIP is a federal program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that provides flood insurance to homeowners and businesses, aiming to reduce the financial impact of flooding. The program is vital for Louisiana, a state with extensive low-lying areas and frequent exposure to hurricanes and heavy rainfall. The NFIP helps protect residents from devastating financial losses due to flood damage, encourages responsible development in flood-prone areas, and supports rebuilding efforts after disasters\u2014making it a critical safety net for Louisiana\u2019s communities. Over the last decade, Congress has passed 34 short-term NFIP authorization extensions, which have been attached to contentious government funding bills.\n\nThe National Flood Insurance Program Automatic Extension Act of 2025 was filed in response to recurring lapses and near-lapses in NFIP authorization, which have created uncertainty for homeowners, homebuyers, insurers, and lenders. Without a valid NFIP authorization, no new or renewal flood insurance policies could be issued, which could stall real-estate transactions, leave properties in flood-prone areas uninsured, and slow down housing markets, especially in areas prone to flooding.\n\nBy guaranteeing that flood insurance remains available even during legislative delays, the National Flood Insurance Program Automatic Extension Act aims to provide stability and continuity in flood-risk protection. That continuity benefits homeowners and businesses by preserving coverage and claim protections and supports the broader real estate market by reducing the risk that home closings or refinancing deals are derailed because flood insurance is unavailable when required.\n\nRead the full bill text here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://letlow.house.gov/media/press-releases/letlow-colleagues-introduce-automatic-flood-insurance-extension"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.760003924369812, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}