Cassidy Highlights Flood Insurance Risks in Face of Government Shutdown

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) delivered a speech on the U.S. Senate floor outlining the harm the looming government shutdown would have on the 500,000 Louisianans, and millions more Americans, relying on the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Cassidy called on Democrats to join Republicans in keeping Congress working for the American people.

"If Democrats would stop trying to please the fringe of their party and start focusing on the real, immediate needs of the American people-like keeping the government open, maintaining flood insurance, and protecting access to rural health care-we could solve this today," said Dr. Cassidy.

Cassidy's remarks as prepared for delivery are below:

Mr. President,

Hurricane season ends November 30th-two months left to go.

Last week marked the first anniversary of Hurricane Helene-one of many storms so severe that Louisiana sent its own first responders to affected states to support emergency operations on the ground.

The weekend saw two Category 4 storms churning in the Western Atlantic.

Thankfully, it doesn't appear that they will hit our coast.

Still, these storms remind folks in Louisiana, and in other states, that flooding isn't a matter of if, but when.

Democrats are pushing us towards a government shutdown.

What does that mean for those on the National Flood Insurance Program?

Imagine you are about to close on a house. That house requires you to have flood insurance.

If you are in a special flood hazard area-by the way, over half of Louisiana is a special flood hazard area-and you're purchasing a house with help from a federally-backed loan, you may not be closing on that home.

Nor will you be able to renew your existing policy.

All because Democrats rejected a clean continuing resolution to keep the government open.

Let me repeat: they walked away from a bill that simply extended the existing budget for seven weeks to allow further negotiation.

Now, they demand a highly partisan bill which would add more than one TRILLION dollars to our national debt.

They want taxpayer-funded health care for illegal immigrants.

Transgender surgery for minors.

And to cut the $50 billion Rural Hospital Fund Republicans created as part of our Working Families Tax Cuts bill.

Americans are left wondering how a shutdown will affect their flood insurance, while Democrats are writing checks to appease the far-Left.

I'll tell you what the American people care about.

They want the government to do its job.

They want disaster recovery when it's needed.

They want flood insurance that works.

They want rural hospitals to stay open.

They want energy security and a balanced budget-not trillion-dollar add-ons that only serve a political agenda.

Mr. President, the American people deserve accountability. And they expect Congress to put their needs before partisan politics.

If this shutdown happens, it will mean that the National Flood Insurance Program can't renew policies.

That's 500,000 Louisianans, and millions more across the country, unable to renew their policies while we are still in hurricane season.

It will mean delays in disaster aid and emergency response coordination. It will mean uncertainty for families still recovering from past storms.

This is personal for families in Louisiana.

If Democrats would stop trying to please the fringe of their party and start focusing on the real, immediate needs of the American people-like keeping the government open, maintaining flood insurance, and protecting access to rural health care-we could solve this today.

So I ask them: Who are you working for?

Are you working for the American families watching the weather, hoping the next storm doesn't wipe out everything they've built?

Are you working for the veterans waiting on care, the seniors relying on their Social Security checks, or the communities who count on rural hospitals to be there in a crisis?

Or are you working for political activists and special interest groups that have nothing to do with the lives of the people you were elected to serve?

Mr. President, the path forward is simple: pass a clean bill to keep the government open.

Background

Earlier this month, Cassidy delivered a floor speech warning of the consequences if the National Flood insurance Program lapses.

###