Cornyn Calls On Senate Democrats To Stop Playing Partisan Politics With Flood Insurance

Statement

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, today issued the following statement after Senate Democrats blocked the extension of the National Flood Insurance Program. Sen. Cornyn calls on Senate Democrats to put politics aside and immediately allow the extension of the program, which expired in May, to move forward in the Senate. Last week, Senate Democrats placed a secret hold on legislation to extend the National Flood Insurance Program, and today, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., objected on behalf of his Democrat colleagues to legislation offered by Sen. David Vitter, R-La., to extend the program.

"Now a month into the hurricane season, with a potential category 2 hurricane bearing down on the southern coast of Texas, it's unacceptable that Democrat leaders in the Senate continue to block the extension of the National Flood Insurance Program. They've killed several attempts to pass this extension, including placing a "secret' hold on the bill that prevents it from moving forward.

"I call on my Democrat colleagues in the Senate to immediately remove this "secret' hold and stop playing partisan politics with a program that thousands of households rely on to protect their homes against flood losses. There is no excuse for this program lapsing four times in the past year, and especially as a major storm sets its sights on our Gulf Coast."

Background:

"Texans have 688,000 flood insurance policies in effect. Many of these policies are up for renewal while others are seeking new policies in anticipation of the hurricane season. The storm surge from Hurricane Ike resulted in 44,000 flood insurance claims. The Lower Rio Grande Valley was struck by Hurricane Dolly just two years ago resulting in $500 million in insured losses. Hurricane Dolly caused most of its damage to South Padre Island before coming ashore causing additional wind and flood damage on July 23, 2008." -- Insurance Journal: As Alex Looms, Texans Wait for Decision on Flood Insurance

In 2008, Sen. Cornyn supported a long-term extension of the NFIP (Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act of 2007), which passed the Senate. Because differences between the Senate and House versions of this legislation were never ironed out, the bill was not signed into law. Since then, Congress has been going through the exercise of passing short-term extensions.

The latest extension is included in a bill that also would increased the deficit and raised taxes on small businesses and entrepreneurs. Last week, Sen. Cornyn cosponsored an alternative proposal, which would have extended the NFIP without adding a dime to the $1.4 trillion deficit and would not have raised taxes. This was defeated by Senate Democrats. In addition, Sen. Cornyn supported efforts by Sen. David Vitter, R-La, and others to pass a stand-alone measure extending the NFIP, but Senate Democrats thwarted each attempt.

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