The NFIP is set to expire tomorrow, Friday, Dec. 22, unless Congress passes a continuing resolution to fund the government into early next year.
At press time, a plan is emerging in the U.S. House of Representatives to hold votes on three separate items: a continuing resolution that would fund the government through January; another round of disaster funding; and extended authorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which provides certain authority to American intelligence agencies.
While that plan will likely comfortably pass the House, the U.S. Senate could also add Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace stabilization measures—publicly promised to Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) by Republican leaders as part of consideration of the tax bill—which House conservatives strongly oppose. At this point, it is unclear how the House may vote on some combination of these items.
As previously reported in News & Views, the House passed H.R. 2874, “The 21st Century Flood Reform Act” by Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wisconsin), in early November. The product of negotiations between House Financial Services Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) and Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana), this bill reauthorizes the NFIP for five years and makes several reforms to the program.
The Senate, however, has not made much progress on a long-term reauthorization bill. The Senate Banking Committee released a legislative framework for an NFIP reauthorization bill earlier this year, but it has not been able to reach a consensus on long-term program reforms. Until agreement is reached in the Senate on broader reform, continued short-term extensions of the NFIP are expected to remain part of the federal government funding debate.
Jen McPhillips is Big “I” vice president of federal government affairs.
