The Government Accountability Office put a damper on a House proposal to add wind damage to the National Flood Insurance Program, warning Congress such an expansion of coverage could break the NFIP financially and operationally, according to a report obtained by National Underwriter.

Language to add wind protection to NFIP is contained in a House flood insurance reform bill, H.R. 3121, which passed last Sept. 27. The Senate approved a different measure this week to renew and reform the flood program that does not include the wind coverage provision.

“To implement a combined federal flood and wind insurance program, [the Federal Emergency Management Agency] would need to complete a number of steps, similar to those undertaken to establish the NFIP, which would require the agency to address several challenges,” the GAO said in its report, warning that underwriting wind damage could strain the agency financially.