NU Online News Service, July 16, 2:15 p.m. EDT
WASHINGTON–Yesterday's passage of the National Flood Insurance Program was not without some fireworks on the House floor, as a House Republican tried to delay passage of the bill.
A spending provision in the flood program extension bill passed by the House yesterday generated arguments about fiscal restraint and a party-line vote that defeated an effort to remove the provision.
The provision would authorize the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which administers the National Flood Insurance Program, to spend up to $250 million annually to respond to consumer requests for information about their status in the program such as whether they are subject to higher rates through remapping.
The bill, H.R. 5114, () the "Flood Insurance Reform and Priorities Act of 2010," passed the House by a vote of 329-90.
Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, submitted a motion to send the bill back to the House Financial Services Committee to remove the $250 million reauthorization because it was an unnecessary expense.
The motion drew an angry outburst from Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., chairman of the Financial Services Committee, the panel that reported out the bill in May.
Rep. Frank's criticism of the motion was joined by Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., the bill's sponsor. Rep. Waters argued that members of Congress had already had a number of opportunities to file objections to the bill in committee and returning it to the committee was unwarranted.
In his motion, Rep. Hensarling called the proposal for an outreach program "yet another new government spending program, this one, a quarter of a billion dollars new FEMA outreach program on top of the FEMA outreach program that is already in place."
He explained that the NFIP is in trouble "just like almost every other federally administered insurance program. Now Social Security has a long-term deficit of $15.1 trillion. The Federal Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation has a debt of $22 billion. The Federal Crop Insurance Program, Medicaid, and the list goes on and on."
He noted that the NFIP has more than $18 billion deficit and asked why legislators should add to the burden.
Rep. Hensarling's motion was defeated in a party-line vote 191-229.
Reacting to the passage of the bill, the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents applauded passage, saying "The overwhelming margin of approval demonstrates that there is very broad support for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and for common-sense reforms to make it better. The five year reauthorization included in the bill will provide the certainty needed to ensure that the flood insurance program continues to provide affordable protection to homeowners and business owners without needless interruptions. We urge the Senate to follow suit and approve H.R. 5114."
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