The U.S. House today passed by unanimous consent S. 1693, a bill to extend the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for a two-week period ending on June 14. The NFIP is currently scheduled to expire at midnight tomorrow, May 31. President Trump is expected to sign the legislation. See our press release here.

This was the House’s second attempt this week to pass an extension of the NFIP. On Tuesday, May 28, the two-week extension was blocked by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), who demanded a recorded vote. The House is currently out of session, but it can pass legislation in pro forma session using unanimous consent, if no members object. A recorded vote cannot take place until the House returns next week. After the bill was blocked earlier this week, PIA National advocated for Congress to allow the NFIP extension to go through.

When the House returns to Washington, DC next week, its first order of business should be passing the larger disaster relief legislation (H.R. 2157) that was prevented from being passed during this week’s recess due to a demand for a recorded vote. H.R. 2157 includes a 4-month extension of the NFIP, reauthorizing the program until September 30, 2019. This extension is critical to allowing Congress the time it needs to develop a long-term reauthorization of the NFIP that would include needed reforms.