{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363491", "Hastings and Buchanan Support Legal Action to Stop Flood Insurance Hikes", "2013-12-05", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Alcee Hastings", "H000324", "alceehastings.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Representatives Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) and Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Co-Chairs of the Florida Delegation, sent a letter to Governors Phil Bryant of Mississippi, Rick Scott of Florida, Robert J. Bentley of Alabama, Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, Nikki Haley of\u00a0 South Carolina, and Deval Patrick of Massachusetts, expressing support for their federal lawsuit challenging the Federal Emergency Management Agency\u2019s (FEMA) decision to unilaterally raise flood insurance premiums before completing an affordability study as mandated by law. (Please see below and attached a copy of the letter).\r\nDecember 5, 2013\r\nThe Honorable Phil Bryant   \r\nGovernor of Mississippi  \r\nOffice of the Governor  \r\nP.O. Box 139  \r\nJackson, MS 39205 \r\nDear Governor Bryant:\r\nAs co-chairs of Florida\u2019s U.S. Congressional delegation, we are writing to express our strong support for your federal lawsuit challenging the Federal Emergency Management Agency\u2019s (FEMA) decision to unilaterally raise flood insurance premiums before completing an affordability study as mandated by law.\u00a0 We stand ready to assist your request for an injunction overturning FEMA\u2019s action.\r\nHundreds of thousands of Floridians and millions more nationwide are experiencing untenable rate hikes that, if left unchecked, threaten to wash away property values and push people out of their homes.\r\nSection 100236 of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act, passed into law on July 6, 2012, explicitly instructed FEMA\u2019s administrator to submit an affordability study to Congress \u201cnot later than 270 days of enactment of this Act.\u201d\u00a0 Today marks day 518 and FEMA Director Craig Fugate has yet to deliver an economic analysis of the new rate changes for congressional review.\u00a0 While Biggert-Waters was designed to bring financial stability to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), it was not the intent of Congress to do so in a manner that would force people from their homes and businesses.\u00a0 \r\nAs your lawsuit accurately states, FEMA\u2019s failure to conduct a study in the time mandated constitutes a blatant violation of the letter and spirit of the law.\u00a0 Common sense alone dictates that FEMA should complete the mandatory affordability study prior to implementing any rate increases. \r\nThe adverse effects of skyrocketing premium costs are especially felt in Florida which holds 40 percent of the nation\u2019s flood policies.\u00a0 Graham and Jill Edwards of Sarasota, for example, purchased a property less than one year ago with a flood insurance premium of $988 per year.\u00a0 Today, courtesy of the new rate hikes, they are now paying a $5,600 premium -- a 467 percent increase.\u00a0 This is unacceptable.\u00a0\u00a0 \r\nThere is no question that reforms are necessary to enhance the solvency of the NFIP, but it should not come at the economic expense of countless communities throughout our region.\u00a0 The federal government should be focused on getting Americans back to work, not making it more difficult for people to buy homes or meet their insurance payments.\r\nPlease let us know if we can be of any help in your legal challenge to FEMA\u2019s wrongful actions.\r\nSincerely,\r\nVern Buchanan  \r\nMember of Congress\r\nAlcee Hastings  \r\nMember of Congress\r\ncc: The Honorable Rick Scott, Governor of Florida  \r\nThe Honorable Robert J. Bentley, Governor of Alabama  \r\nThe Honorable Bobby Jindal, Governor of Louisiana  \r\nThe Honorable Nikki Haley, Governor of South Carolina  \r\nThe Honorable Deval Patrick, Governor of Massachusetts\r\n\r\nCongressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Senior Member of the House Rules Committee, Ranking Democratic Member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation.\r\n###", 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": ["http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363491"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.4649441000074148, "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"}