Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act of 2007

FLOOD INSURANCE REFORM AND MODERNIZATION ACT OF 2007 -- (House of Representatives - September 27, 2007)

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Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 3121. This bill, the Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act, takes important steps towards bolstering the protection provided to homeowners in disaster-prone

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areas who face a constant threat of flood and windstorm damage.

Nearly all of my constituents and my fellow Floridians fall into this category. In Florida, especially, H.R. 3121 will help to ease the homeowners' insurance crisis that grows worse everyday.

Expanding the federal flood-insurance program to include wind damage simply makes sense. Those who have their homes flooded are often in the path of destructive storms that wield powerful winds.

Common sense would dictate that if we are seeking to help protect homeowners from the liability that comes from destructive natural disasters like hurricanes, we would consider all of the forces of nature associated with these storms.

Instead of arguing today why we should include wind damage into this program, the discussion should rather be about why we have gone for so long without it.

While I understand the costs associated with this bill are an issue with some of my colleagues, the cost of doing nothing is much greater.

Many of the homeowners in my District, in the State of Florida, and in disaster-prone areas throughout the United States spend each day staring down the barrel of a gun--waiting for the storm to hit that will put them and their families on a path to financial ruin.

We have a chance to do something about this today.

It is this body's responsibility to act in the interest and welfare of the American people. Vote YES on H.R. 3121, and vote yes to protect millions of homeowners and their families.

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