Cassidy Introduces Bill to Protect Flood Insurance Program

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) introduced legislation to protect the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) from lapsing during a government shutdown.

"Louisiana families have to be ready when floods hit," said Dr. Cassidy. "We're making sure they are covered, no matter what happens in Washington."

This legislation ensures the National Flood Insurance Program never shuts down again by automatically extending the program if Congress misses a deadline. By creating a built-in safety-net year of authority, we protect homeowners, lenders, and coastal economies from needless disruption during lapses in authorization.

Background:

Most recently, to help alleviate the pressure of the Schumer Shutdown, Cassidy and U.S. Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) introduced the NFIP Extension Act to reauthorize the NFIP until November 21, 2025. He also introduced a bill to reauthorize the NFIP for the remainder of FY2026. It would protect all policies that have lapsed during the shutdown.

Last week, Cassidy delivered a speech on the U.S. Senate floor outlining the harm the Schumer Shutdown is causing half a million Louisianans enrolled in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

In August, Cassidy delivered a speech on the U.S. Senate floor commemorating the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and emphasizing the significant progress made since the storm to rebuild and strengthen our infrastructure.

In June, Cassidy delivered a speech highlighting the need to end the Biden-era Risk Rating 2.0 policy and make NFIP affordable again.

Last year, the U.S. Senate Banking Committee held a hearing on NFIP at the request of Cassidy. The hearing highlighted the urgent need for Congress to act and featured a Louisiana witness. Cassidy also participated in a roundtable hosted by GNO, Inc. and the Coalition for Sustainable Flood Insurance to hear from community leaders and advocates on the issue.Cassidy traveled St. Bernard Parish in 2023 to talk with residents about their flood insurance premiums, recording the second episode of his Bill on the Hill series.

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