WASHINGTON, D.C., November 21, 2019— The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”) today released the following statement by Charles Symington, Big “I” senior vice president of external, industry and government affairs, on the Congressional reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). 

“Although it is unfortunate that we must continue to rely on short-term extensions of the NFIP, the Big ‘I’ thanks the Senate for passing the government funding legislation, which includes an extension of the NFIP through Dec. 20. The House had previously passed the same legislation, and we now urge President Trump to quickly sign it into law to avoid an expiration of the NFIP. A lapse in the NFIP would be devastating to the more than 5 million policyholders and countless others who depend on the program.  This short-term extension continues to give Congress additional time to build consensus on common-sense reforms to the NFIP and to consider policies to help more property owners obtain flood insurance coverage through the NFIP and the private market. The Big ‘I’ looks forward to continuing to work with Congress to enact a long-term NFIP reauthorization.”

Founded in 1896, the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”) is the nation’s oldest and largest national association of independent insurance agents and brokers, representing more than 25,000 agency locations united under the Trusted Choice brand. Trusted Choice independent agents offer consumers all types of insurance—property, casualty, life, health, employee benefit plans and retirement products—from a variety of insurance companies.