At press time, the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to try to pass a two-week extension of the NFIP, which is currently scheduled to expire at midnight tomorrow, May 31.

Previously, both chambers of Congress passed an NFIP extension in their disaster supplemental bills. The House also passed a bipartisan standalone bill that would extend the NFIP until Sept. 30. Similarly, in addition to its own disaster supplemental, the U.S. Senate passed a standalone two-week extension of the NFIP in an effort to ensure the program would not lapse prior to enactment of the disaster supplemental legislation.

Congress left town for Memorial Day recess with the expectation that the House would pass the Senate version of the disaster supplemental, or at least the two-week flood extension, by unanimous consent. However, a handful of members of Congress have objected to both bills, blocking their passage by unanimous consent.

The House must now attempt to pass both bills one more time this afternoon, with the expectation that at least one member of Congress will block the disaster supplemental with the four-month NFIP extension. At press time, it was unclear if any member would object to the stand-alone two-week flood extension. The Big “I” has been reaching out to targeted offices and is hopeful that no one will object to the shorter extension of the NFIP but it only takes one member to derail the legislation.

Yesterday, the Big “I” joined several organizations in sending a letter urging Congress to reauthorize the program. The association is strongly advocating for members of Congress to reauthorize the program before the May 31 deadline.

Wyatt Stewart is Big “I” senior director of federal government affairs.