Washington, D.C., October 1 – The SmarterSafer Coalition, a diverse chorus of voices that includes environmental groups, taxpayer advocates, insurance interests, housing organizations and mitigation advocates united behind proactive natural disaster mitigation policy, issued the following statement on lawmakers’ passage of a short-term reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP):
“This recent action by Congress means that the NFIP will now be operating under its 26th short-term reauthorization. This short-term extension of the NFIP is critical to prevent an immediate lapse in flood insurance coverage that would expose millions of Americans to severe financial risks. That said, it’s also past time for lawmakers to enact meaningful reforms to this program.
We encourage Congress to consider policy solutions to revitalize the NFIP, such as incentivizing floodplain management, focusing on nature-based mitigation solutions, and implementing risk-based pricing that accurately reflects flood risks associated with properties, and to more actively consider public/private partnerships to offset risk to taxpayers.
The increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters makes the need for a reliable flood insurance program more essential than ever. Our coalition is committed to continue working with lawmakers to enact smarter, safer approaches to enhance the NFIP for all Americans.”
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