Flood Insurance Reform Bill Passes House

Washington, D.C. Congressman Sanford Bishop, Representative of Georgia’s Second Congressional District, today announced that the full House of Representatives passed the Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act of 2007. The legislation aims to help communities better prepare for and mitigate the effects of catastrophic flooding.

“Communities in Southwest Georgia are well aware of the hardship imposed by catastrophic flooding. The Summer of 1994 remains fresh in the minds of many, and I am pleased to have been able to support legislation that will have a significant and positive impact should we be confronted with such a disaster in the future,” said Congressman Bishop.

In addition to encouraging broader participation in flood insurance programs, the bill requires FEMA to conduct a thorough review of the nation’s flood maps, updates maximum insurance coverage limits for residential and nonresidential properties, and includes provisions to responsibly expand the National Flood Insurance Program to provide for an optional multiple peril policy – that is, to allow property owners to purchase wind and flood coverage in a single policy.

The bill now must be taken up by the Senate.