WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 30, 2021— The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I") thanks the U.S. Senate for passing a measure to extend the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through Dec. 3, 2021 as part of government funding legislation.
“The Big 'I' thanks the Senate for voting to extend the NFIP through Dec. 3 to avoid a lapse in this critical program," says Charles Symington, Big “I" senior vice president of external, industry & government affairs. “With the program now extended by only a matter of weeks through early December, the Big 'I' will continue to call for a longer extension of the program to provide the certainty that both policyholders and the insurance marketplace need."
Congress must periodically reauthorize the NFIP, which is currently set to expire Sept. 30. However, Congress has yet to pass a long-term extension of the NFIP, as debate continues regarding options for reforming the program. This has resulted in a series of stop-gap extensions and even a few brief lapses in 2017 and 2018. The current Senate-passed measure would extend the program for two months, but the House must also act for the program to continue operation after Sept. 30.
“Following the Senate vote, the Big 'I' urges prompt action in the House of Representatives to extend the NFIP before the Sept. 30 deadline," says Wyatt Stewart, Big “I" assistant vice president of federal government affairs. “A lapse in the NFIP could impact the ability of the program to promptly pay claims if there is a major flooding event, delay recovery efforts related to catastrophic storms, and disrupt real estate markets across the country. While we appreciate that this legislation provides short term certainty, it is imperative that Congress finally pass a longer-term extension of a modernized NFIP in the coming year."
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.