{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=7c2807cf-3cad-4293-bd5b-dc5c9c98a4c5", "Menendez, Isakson Lead Bipartisan Coalition to Protect Homeowners From Flood Insurance Rate Spike", "2013-10-29", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Johnny Isakson", "I000055", "www.isakson.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\u00a0\u2013 On the one year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, U.S. Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) today led a bipartisan coalition of members to introduce the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act which will protect millions of homeowners from facing huge flood insurance premium rate hikes and require FEMA to complete an affordability study and propose real solutions to address affordability issues before any flood insurance premiums can be raised in the future. \u00a0\r\nThe bill is co-sponsored by Senators Mary Landrieu (D-AR), David Vitter (R-LA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), John Hoeven (R-ND), Al Franken (D-MN), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) and Ed Markey\u00a0(D-MA).\u00a0 Congresswoman Maxine Waters, along with Congressmen Michael Grimm, Cedric Richmond and 34 others are introducing a companion bill in the House of Representatives.\r\nThe Menendez-Isakson \u201cHomeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act\u201d will:\r\n\u00a0\r\nSECTION 1. DELAYED IMPLEMENTATION OF FLOODINSURANCE RATE INCREASES\r\nDelays the implementation of rate increases on the following three types of properties  until FEMA meets two requirements:\u00a01) completes the affordability study mandated by Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012, proposes a draft affordability framework for Congressional review, and Congress has a chance to give FEMA affordability authority; and\u00a02) the FEMA Administrator certifies that the agency has implemented a flood mapping approach that utilizes sound scientific and engineering methodologies to determine varying levels of flood risk in all areas participating in the National Flood Insurance Program:\r\n \r\nAll homes and businesses that are currently \u201cgrandfathered.\u201d\u00a0These are properties that were built to code and later remapped into a higher risk area.\u00a0 Prior to Biggert-Waters, these policyholders were not penalized for relying on inaccurate FEMA flood maps.\r\nAll properties that purchased a new policy after July 6, 2012, before they werelegally required to purchase insurance.\r\nAll properties sold after July 6, 2012.\u00a0New homeowners and business ownerswill continue to receive the same treatment as the previous owner unless theytrigger another provision in Biggert-Waters such as Severe Repetitive Loss,\u00a0\u00a0 non-primary residence, substantial damage, etc.\r\n \r\nThe measure requires FEMA to propose a draft regulatory framework to address any  affordability issues identified by the study within 18 months after the completion of the study and establishes a six month period thereafter to provide for Congressional review.\u00a0The House and Senate would then hold up or down votes through a privileged motion on giving FEMA the authority to promulgate affordability regulations.\u00a0If Congress approves this authority, the targeted freeze set forth by this bill would continue until regulations are finalized.\u00a0If not, the freezes would be lifted absent other Congressional action.\r\n\u00a0\r\nSECTION 2. AFFORDABILITY STUDY FUNDING\r\nSection 100236 of Biggert-Waters required FEMA to produce a study that considered the effects the Bill will have on affordability.\u00a0Strikes the arbitrary dollar amount on the affordability study to ensure FEMA has the funding required to complete it within two years of the date of enactment.\r\n\u00a0\r\nSECTION 3. FUNDS TO REIMBURSE HOMEOWNERS FORSUCCESSFUL MAP APPEALS\r\nAllows FEMA to utilize the National Flood Insurance Fund (NFIF)\u00a0to reimburse  policyholders who successfully appeal a map determination.\u00a0FEMA currently has the authority to reimburse homeowners for successful appeals of map findings, but Congress has never appropriated funding for this purpose.\u00a0Making appeal reimbursement an eligible expense of the NFIF would give FEMA the incentive to \u201cget it right the first time\u201d and repay homeowners for contributing to the flood risk body of knowledge.\u00a0Unsuccessful appeals would not be reimbursed in any way.\r\n\u00a0\r\nSECTION 4. ELIMINATE PENALTY ON COMMUNITIESSELF-FINANCING FLOOD PROTECTION\r\nFEMA\u2019s AR and A99 flood zone categories provide more affordable flood insurance to  qualifying communities that are in the process of levee construction, reconstruction, and improvements.\u00a0Current regulations require a certain level of federal participation to qualify for either an A99 or an AR designation, and therefore prevent FEMA from giving communities fair credit for improvements made to existing flood control systems. Proactive communities that invest in mitigation should not be penalized for  self-financing flood protection projects.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\nSECTION 5. TREATMENT OF BASEMENT AREAS WHENCALCULATING BASE FLOOD ELEVATIONS\r\nPreserves the pre-Biggert-Waters basement exception allowing the lowest flood-proofed  opening in a home to be used for determining flood insurance rates.\u00a0This affects 54 communities nation-wide where basements are necessary to protect homeowners and businesses from extreme weather.\u00a0Basements that have not been flood-proofed would remain subject to the effects of Biggert-Waters.\r\n\u00a0\r\nSECTION 6. DESIGNATION OF FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP ADVOCATE\r\nEstablishes a Flood Insurance Rate Map Advocate within FEMA to answer current and  prospective policyholder questions about the flood mapping process.\u00a0The Rate Map Advocate will be responsible for educating policyholders about their individual flood risks, their options in choosing a policy, assisting property owners through the map appeals process, and improve outreach and coordination with local officials, community leaders, and Congress.\r\nHomeowners with mortgages living in flood zones are required to have flood insurance,  which for about 20 percent of properties has traditionally been subsidized or grandfathered at a lower rate by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).  Before Superstorm Sandy struck, a federal flood insurance reform bill, the Biggert-Waters Act, was passed as part of a larger legislative package. The Biggert-Waters Act was aimed at reducing, or phasing out, the federal NFIP subsidy at up to 25 percent a year, which would dramatically increase premiums for homeowners and businesses.\r\nWhat Members are saying: \u00a0\r\nSen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) said: \r\n\u201cAs we continue to recover from the worst natural disaster in our state\u2019s history, a  manmade disaster is looming, jeopardizing that recovery. The combination of new flood maps and phase out of premium subsidies for the National Flood Insurance Program threatens to force victims out of their homes and to destroy entire communities.\u00a0Many homeowners will have to pay premiums they simply cannot afford, forcing them to either sell or abandon their homes.\u00a0These are hardworking middle class families, who played by the rules, purchased flood insurance responsibly, and are now being priced out of their own home. We must stop this manmade disaster from doing more damage, take a time-out and assess the impact these premium hikes will have on homeowners and the communities they live in.\u201d\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\nSen.Johnny Isakson (R-GA) said: \r\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to join my colleagues in a bipartisan effort today to protect Americans  from sudden, steep increases in their annual flood insurance premiums as a result of the Biggert-Waters law. Without action, many homeowners in costal and flood plain areas in Georgia and elsewhere will experience unaffordable premiums that will cause some owners to lose their homes. Also, this law has the unintended consequence of causing the value of homes for sale in these areas to drop. I\u2019m pleased that our bill also requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency to complete an affordability study using the latest technology to ensure that flood insurance is affordable for homeowners and the program is self-sustainable going forward.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\r\nSen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) said: \r\n\"One year ago today Sandy hit the east coast, ravaging homes, businesses and  communities. Today, a bipartisan coalition is here to tell the 5.5 million policy holders across the country and nearly 500,000 in Louisiana that we have a solution. The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act delays the most dangerous rate increases under Biggert-Waters until FEMA proves its flood maps are accurate and understands the impacts these drastic rate increases will have on individual policy holders and the program at large.\u00a0This legislation is about fairness and building a future our communities can count on. Our coalition of business groups, non-profits, local leaders and bipartisan members of congress continues to grow every day and we will keep pushing until this bill becomes law.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\r\nSen. David Vitter (R-LA) said: \r\n\u201cWithout a change, flood insurance is simply going to be unaffordable for middle class  families,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cHomeowners will literally have to turn in their keys and in some cases walk away from their homes. In coastal Louisiana, we\u2019re on the tip of the spear and we\u2019re experiencing this first. But this is not just a Louisiana issue \u2013 it\u2019s going to affect folks across the country.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\r\nSen. John Hoeven (R-ND) said:\r\n\u201cNorth Dakotans and people across the country need fair and affordable flood insurance rates,\u201d said Senator Hoeven. \u201cThis bipartisan legislation ensures that FEMA completes an affordability study before raising flood insurance rates for Americans. It also includes an important provision that ensures communities in North Dakota and across the country are able to continue using floodproofed basement credits when determining premiums. We need to make certain that Americans have affordable flood insurance that works for our communities.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\r\nSen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND)\r\n\u201cFlooding is too often a reality for so many North Dakotans and earlier this month, flood  insurance rates went up for millions of families, putting them at risk if they aren\u2019t able to pay the higher cost,\u201d said Senator Heitkamp.\u00a0\u201cToday\u2019s bipartisan bill would reverse this course and make sure that homeowners are able to get the affordable flood insurance they deserve to protect them and their families.\u00a0It also includes a crucial provision that impacts many North Dakotans who have proactively flood proofed their basements.\u00a0The bill makes sure these homeowners won\u2019t see their flood insurance rates spike to unaffordable levels when they have already gone above and beyond to mitigate their flood risk.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\r\nRep. Maxine Waters (CA-43) said: \r\n\u201cThe Biggert-Waters legislation was designed to address a $24 billion deficit and  ensure millions of American homeowners could continue to purchase flood insurance. But FEMA\u2019s poor implementation, inaccurate mapping and incomplete data has led to unreasonable and unimaginable increases in premiums. From the moment I learned of the unintended consequences of the Biggert-Waters legislation, I have made clear that I would lead the effort to resolve the problems that have resulted,\u201d said Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee.\r\n\u201cToday we have reached bipartisan, bicameral agreement on the best way to repair the National Flood Insurance Program. This legislation would ensure FEMA undertakes program changes in a way that will not cause harm, by delaying implementation until it provides Congress the facts on how rate increases will affect homeowners. It will also give us the information we need to go through the program piece-by-piece and fix any outstanding affordability issues.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\r\nRep. Cedric Richmond (LA-02)\r\n\u201cToday, I join my House and Senate colleagues to continue the fight to make flood  insurance affordable. We cannot allow Louisiana\u2019s homeowners to face these massive, unaffordable increases alone,\u201d Congressman Richmond said. \u201cFlood insurance increases have sent shockwaves up and down the coastal regions and through the heartland of our country. I\u2019m happy to join my colleagues in drafting this legislation that will provide a sustainable, long-term solution that will allow people to buy and sell homes without penalty. This effort transcends party affiliation and reaches down to the core of our purpose in Congress, which is to draft legislation that protects our constituents. For Louisiana\u2019s communities bearing the brunt of these insurance hikes, today is a big step  toward a solution.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\r\nRep. Michael Grimm (NY-11)\r\n\"Homeowners across the nation have been hit with skyrocketing flood insurance rates, which they simply cannot afford,\u201d said. Rep. Grimm. \u201cOn Staten Island, this is an unbearable blow that further victimizes those who are still struggling to recover from Superstorm Sandy.\u00a0I am proud to be part of bipartisan, bicameral solution to delay the rate hikes, while improving the Biggert-Waters Act in ways that protect homeowners from financial burdens and maintain the solvency of the National Flood Insurance Program.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "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://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=7c2807cf-3cad-4293-bd5b-dc5c9c98a4c5"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.4853219036012888, "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"}