Senate Subcommittee Adopts Cassidy Flood Insurance Amendment

Press Release

Today, Congressman Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) released the following statement regarding the inclusion of the Cassidy Amendment in the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations:

"Everyone in Louisiana shares the same goal -- making flood insurance accessible and affordable. Biggert-Waters made it accessible, yet FEMA's implementation has created affordability issues. Fortunately, the House passed the Cassidy Amendment to delay flood insurance hikes from going into effect until Congress has time to address the problem. I'm glad the Senate included my amendment in the Homeland Security Appropriations subcommittee. This is a good first step but I encourage Senate leadership to move swiftly and pass these provisions before the full U.S. Senate. Louisianans need certainty, not partisanship."

Also, below is a summary of some of Congressman Cassidy's actions to prevent flood insurance rate spikes for Louisianans:

1. Sent a letter on April 25, 2013 to FEMA Administrator Fugate demanding that FEMA work with local stakeholders and the CPRA on (1) accuracy of flood maps and (2) accuracy of risk by taking into account planned projects outlined in the CPRA Master Plan.

2. Congressman Cassidy created the Congressional Home Protection Caucus as part of an effort to educate Members of Congress on the affordability challenges surrounding FEMA's implementation of Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012.

3. Successfully passed the Cassidy Amendment to the Fiscal Year 2014 Homeland Security Appropriations bill that blocks increases to grandfathered NFIP rates for existing policy holders who, through no fault of their own, find themselves below "Base Flood Elevation" requirements of Flood Insurance Rate Maps issued after their compliance with previous FEMA issued Flood Insurance Rate Maps.

4. Led a bi-partisan group of U.S. Representatives in urging the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations to block FEMA's implementation of projected flood insurance rate spikes caused by the Biggert-Waters Act of 2012.

5. Built a coalition of Parish Leaders to urge the Senate to pass the Cassidy Amendment that delays planned increases of grandfathered flood insurance rates.

6. Successfully passed two critical coastal restoration amendments helping expedite and enhance funding for coastal restoration projects that mitigate flood risk.

7. Worked with 26 U.S. Representatives, both Democrats and Republicans, in calling on FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate to administratively take action on projected flood insurance rates spikes caused by the Biggert-Waters Act of 2012.

8. Called on the House Financial Services Committee to hold a hearing on the affordability challenges associated with FEMA's implementation of Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012.

9. Called on FEMA's chief actuary to visit those facing flood insurance rate hikes.

10. Led a delegation effort demanding FEMA to: (1) stop issuing flawed Flood Insurance Rate Maps, (2) account for, though its Levee Analysis and Mapping Procedure (LAMP), all flood protections, including pumping stations, decertified levees, nonfederal and nonstructural flood protection features, in addition to non-accredited levees when calculating actuarial risk in FEMA maps, and (3) provide more transparency in FEMA rate setting guidelines.

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