The U.S. Senate tonight failed to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed on H.R. 5305, the continuing resolution (CR) that would have funded the federal government until December 3, 2021. The bill passed the House last week by a vote of 220-211. In the Senate, however, a motion to invoke cloture, a procedure that requires 60 votes and is needed before the Senate can vote on the bill itself, was defeated on September 27 by 48-50.

Notably, the failed CR included an extension of the authorization for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) until that same date. Federal government funding and the NFIP’s operational authority are both set to expire on September 30 unless Congress acts. Senate GOP opposition to the one-year suspension of the federal debt limit prompted the Senate’s rejection of the CR.

PIA will continue to advocate for the extension of the NFIP beyond its September 30 expiration, as a standalone measure or part of a larger legislative package.  To that end, PIA has issued an action alert asking Congress to extend the NFIP before its authority expires at midnight on September 30. If you have not already done so, we encourage PIA members to make their voices heard by sending this urgent message to Congress today.