{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://marino.house.gov/press-release/marino-encourages-governor-corbett-state-legislature-act-rising-flood-insurance", "Marino encourages Governor Corbett, state legislature to act on rising flood insurance premiums", "2013-12-20", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Tom Marino", "M001179", "marino.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Representative Tom Marino (R-PA) heard firsthand from dozens of residents across Lycoming County over the past week about the negative effects of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act.\nToday, Marino sent a letter to Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett and Pennsylvania General Assembly leadership members, encouraging them to take action.\n\u201cUnfortunately, Congress has neglected to delay, reform, or repeal Biggert-Waters prior to the end of year looming deadline,\u201d Marino said in the letter.\u00a0 \u201cConsequently, insurance premiums are set to dramatically increase in less than two weeks time \u2013 causing families and small businesses to decide between wiping out their bank accounts to purchase the federally mandated plans, or facing foreclosure proceedings.\u00a0 Although I supported the original intention of Biggert-Waters to make the flood insurance program once again solvent, it has clearly proven to have drastic unforeseen consequences with new skyrocketing insurance premiums.\u201d\nMarino went on to request that members of the General Assembly come together to mitigate the unintended effects this law is having on low- and middle-income families across Pennsylvania.\u00a0 Specifically, he referenced a Mississippi lawsuit that challenges the Federal Emergency Management Agency\u2019s failure to complete an affordability study before increasing insurance rates, as required by Biggert-Waters.\n\u201cThese premiums threaten the vibrancy and very existence of these towns as property values plummet, the real estate market dries up, and strong local tax bases vanish.\u201d\nWhile thousands of homes, businesses and properties across the 10th Congressional District are facing dramatic increases in their flood insurance premiums, the effects of this legislation have been felt nation-wide.\n\u201cThe issue at hand was undoubtedly created at the federal level and should be fixed at the federal level as well,\u201d Marino added.\u00a0 \u201cAs I continue to put pressure on my leadership and colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to bring legislation to the House Floor, it is my sincere hope that innovative legal or legislative initiatives at the state level can also assist in mitigating the costs of flood insurance for Pennsylvanians.\"\nMarino sent a letter to House Speaker John Boehner and other members of House leadership earlier this week, urging that legislation related to the increases in flood insurance premiums be brought to the House floor for consideration as soon as possible.\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://marino.house.gov/press-release/marino-encourages-governor-corbett-state-legislature-act-rising-flood-insurance"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7748340722173452, "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"}