Bilirakis Supports Inclusion of Wind Coverage in Flood Insurance Bill |
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WASHINGTON (Sept. 27) --
U.S. Rep. Gus M. Bilirakis (R-Fla.) supported the passage of a bill on
Thursday that would expand the federal flood-insurance program to
include windstorm damage.
The Flood Insurance Reform and
Modernization Act of 2007, H.R. 3121, reauthorizes the National Flood
Insurance Program (NFIP) for an additional five years. The bill
includes a number of important reforms incorporated into the bipartisan
bill that passed the Republican-led House last Congress (H.R. 4973). It
also expands NFIP to include windstorm coverage.
Following the
vote, Bilirakis said it was only common sense to offer a federal
program covering flood damage from storms to also cover wind damage.
"Expanding
the federal flood-insurance program to include wind damage simply makes
sense. Those who have their homes flooded are often in the path of
destructive storms that wield powerful winds," said Bilirakis. "Common
sense would dictate that if we are seeking to help protect homeowners
from the liability that comes from destructive natural disasters like
hurricanes, we would consider all of the forces of nature associated
with these storms."
Despite Republican opposition and a veto
threat from the White House, Congressman Bilirakis was keen to point
out that the cost of reauthorizing the flood insurance program with
wind protection would be much less than maintaining the status quo.
"While
I understand the costs associated with this bill are an issue with some
of my colleagues, the cost of doing nothing is much greater," said
Bilirakis. "Many of the homeowners in my District, in the State of
Florida, and in disaster-prone areas throughout the United States spend
each day staring down the barrel of a gun - waiting for the storm to
hit that will put them and their families on a path to financial ruin."
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