[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 8, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E49]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   H.R. 11, THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION ACT

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                            HON. GENE GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 8, 2003

  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in today in support of H.R. 
11, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Reauthorization Act, 
which we are considering today under suspension of the rules.
  It is a shame that Congressional leadership allowed any lapse in the 
authority to write new flood insurance policies by the Federal 
Insurance and Mitigation Administration (FIMA) under the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). However, I am relieved that the 
lapse in authority, which began December 31, 2002, is shortly coming to 
an end. Thousands of my constituents are mandatory and voluntary 
participants in the NFIP, and they deserve the convenience of renewing 
and beginning new policies without interference from Congressional 
inaction.
  I would like to commend FEMA and the underwriters for the efforts 
that they have made to reach out to homeowners and warn them of the 
problem and lead them to solutions. Hopefully, the Senate will take up 
this legislation immediately and send it to the President, and Congress 
will not allow this situation to occur again. The NFIP is an absolutely 
critical program for my constituents and millions of other homeowners, 
with flooding causing billions of dollars of damage nationwide every 
year. Since affordable flood insurance is not a sustainable business 
for the private insurance industry, it is essential that Congress 
support the NFIP.
  Mr. Speaker, we need to come together and take care of business for 
the millions of Americans who live in the floodplain or other flood 
hazard areas. It is our duty to ensure the smooth operation of the 
National Flood Insurance Program, and we have already delayed too long. 
I urge my colleagues to suspend the rules and approve H.R. 11, the 
National Flood Insurance Program Reauthorization Act.

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