[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 5, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H1599]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               FAIR AND REASONABLE FLOOD INSURANCE RATES

  (Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, my home State of Florida has been an 
overly responsible--and even generous--partner in the National Flood 
Insurance Program.
  In the last 20 years, Floridians have paid four times in premiums 
than we have seen returned in claims. Yet FEMA is raising thousands 
upon thousands of policy premiums to absurd levels, easily doubling, 
tripling, or quadrupling them, and in some cases far higher.
  These radical changes are counterintuitive and are forcing hard-
working, diligent, and responsible families from their homes. It is 
time to take a step back and rein in this agency and its harmful belief 
that this is a potential path forward.
  Families in our communities need and deserve relief from these 
ridiculously high premiums. I will continue to work with my colleagues 
on trying to find a reasonable solution to this crisis, one that will 
address the immediate needs of local homeowners.

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