The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to consider a continuing resolution (CR) this week to fund the federal government until December 11. A vote could come as soon as today. Authority to fund the federal government runs out on Sept. 30, unless Congress acts. 

Notable for PIA members is the inclusion in the CR of a short-term extension of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).  PIA National has been working throughout the summer with policymakers on extending the NFIP for as long as possible. This is particularly important given that 2020 has been one of the busiest hurricane seasons on record.  We’re pleased that the House bill, if signed into law, would extend the NFIP until next year, with a new expiration date of Sept. 30, 2021.

The history of NFIP extensions has been messy. The program was extended 17 times between 2008 and 2012, when the previous five-year reauthorization was signed into law. Currently, the NFIP is on its 15th short-term extension since Sept. 2017. The NFIP lapsed briefly three times in 2018 alone; unfortunately, even short lapses can have a negative effect on consumers.

Next Steps

While the House is expected to pass the CR early this week, its final passage into law isn’t a done deal yet. There are some disagreements, unrelated to flood insurance, between Senate Republicans and House Democrats on provisions in the CR, so, while the House may pass this bill this week, it could be amended in the Senate, at which point the revised bill would need to be passed by the House again. Changes to the overall bill could affect the length of the NFIP extension. If the disagreements on the CR are not resolved, the NFIP could lapse next week, along with the funding for the rest of the federal government. 

PIA National is continuing to urge Congress to extend the NFIP for as long as possible beyond its current expiration date next week. PIA members can contact their members of Congress by sending an action alert here.