Washington, D.C. – September 30, 2020 — Today, the SmarterSafer Coalition released the following statement in response to Congress’s 16th consecutive short-term extension of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP):
“We are pleased that Congress has avoided expiration of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), maintaining coverage for millions of people living and working in floodplains across the nation.
Unfortunately, Congress has chosen yet again to provide another short-term fix for a long-term problem. Congress has not meaningfully reformed the NFIP in nearly a decade. The result of this inaction has left individuals, communities, the environment, and taxpayers at risk. Longer, more active storm seasons, rising sea levels, and outdated infrastructure and building requirements pose unprecedented risks to the health of the NFIP and the nation. We urge Congress to use the next year to commit to meaningful reform and prioritize policy solutions that address the growing climate-related
Earlier this year, the SmarterSafer Coalition released a climate policy paper, Policy Solutions for a Changing Climate: Adaptation Measures to Protect Communities and Taxpayers. The paper details policy recommendations regarding flooding, infrastructure, housing, pre-disaster mitigation, and taxpayer protection and risk transfer. Read the full paper here.
SmarterSafer is a national coalition made up of a diverse chorus of voices united in favor of environmentally responsible, fiscally sound approaches to natural catastrophe policy that promote public safety. SmarterSafer members include taxpayer advocates, environmental groups, insurance interests, housing organizations, and mitigation advocates.
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