[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 114 (Thursday, July 14, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H4975]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              COBRA ZONES

  (Mr. YOHO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. YOHO. Mr. Speaker, in 2012, constituents of mine, the Welberrys, 
purchased a home in Cedar Key, Florida. Two years later, their Federal 
flood insurance was canceled retroactively due to a determination that 
the property was partially located within a COBRA zone. For over 12 
years, this property was zoned outside of the adjacent COBRA zone, and, 
for 12 years, it was covered by the Federal flood insurance.
  Yet, as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife updates its maps, the Welberrys' 
entire retirement investment is threatened due to the government's 
inconsistency. The Welberrys' home did not move--just the map of the 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife.
  Mrs. Welberry pleaded: The government cannot be allowed to erase our 
life savings like this.
  If you want to talk about covering preexisting conditions, how many 
constituents are going through this nightmare?
  Congress needs to know. Chairman Calvert and the Appropriations 
Committee agree; and our amendment, which requires the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife to conduct a study on how COBRA zones affect private property, 
was accepted last night. Congress needs to know.

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