WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressmen Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA) and Mike Ezell (R-MS), co-chairs of the Bipartisan Congressional Flood Resilience Caucus, sent a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries urging immediate action that addresses the lapse in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The Members emphasized that NFIP is a lifeline for homeowners, small businesses, and entire communities who are vulnerable to flooding.

"In Louisiana and Mississippi, this isn't abstract, it's our constituents' daily lives. Our families live in coastal and river communities where flood insurance is not a luxury; it's a necessity. This lapse puts thousands of homebuyers, sellers, and small businesses in limbo. It slows down closings, reduces economic activity, and leaves families exposed," the Members wrote.

A lapse in the program's authorization means new policies cannot be issued, existing policies cannot be renewed, and real estate transactions in flood-prone areas may stall, leaving homeowners and businesses vulnerable.

"The lapse of the National Flood Insurance Program isn't a partisan problem - it's a people problem. Families in Louisiana and across the country are now caught in the middle of uncertainty they should never have had to face. Flood insurance is not a luxury; it's a lifeline for homeowners and businesses. I'm urging Congress to take swift action to restore the NFIP and provide the stability our constituents deserve. Every day of delay means more families and small businesses are left exposed - we must act now," said Rep. Carter.

"Every day that the National Flood Insurance Program remains lapsed, families on the Coast are left wondering if they'll be able to protect their homes," said Rep. Ezell. "I've seen what flooding can do to a community-it can wipe out decades of hard work in a single storm. We need to get this program back on track now so families and small businesses aren't left exposed."

Read the full letter here.

Background

The NFIP is a federal program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that provides flood insurance to homeowners and businesses, aiming to reduce the financial impact of flooding. The program is vital for Louisiana, a state with extensive low-lying areas and frequent exposure to hurricanes and heavy rainfall. The NFIP helps protect residents from devastating financial losses due to flood damage, encourages responsible development in flood-prone areas, and supports rebuilding efforts after disasters-making it a critical safety net for Louisiana's communities.

Over the last decade, Congress has passed 33 short-term NFIP authorization extensions, which have been attached to contentious government funding bills.

Reps. Carter and Ezell introduced H.R. 2822, the National Flood Insurance Program Authorization Extension Act, in April of this year to avoid a lapse in program authorization resulting from a government shutdown. This bill would extend the program through December 31, 2026.

He is joined on the Bipartisan Congressional Flood Resilience Caucus by Reps. Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX), Randy Weber (R-TX), and Congressman Mike Ezell (R-MS).

###