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Rep. Melancon Fights for Permanent Flood Insurance for Louisiana |
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Urges Permanent Extension of NFIP, Recognition for Local Levee
Systems
April 21, 2010
WASHINGTON D.C. - Today,
U.S. Congressman Charlie Melancon (LA-03) pushed for a permanent
extension of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) on behalf of
the 500,000 Louisianians who depend on the federal program to protect
their homes and businesses. Congressman Melancon submitted his
statement today at a House subcommittee hearing on proposals for
reforming the NFIP.
Click here to read more
Urges Permanent Extension of NFIP, Recognition for Local Levee Systems
April 21, 2010
WASHINGTON D.C. - Today, U.S. Congressman Charlie Melancon (LA-03) pushed for a permanent extension of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) on behalf of the 500,000 Louisianians who depend on the federal program to protect their homes and businesses. Congressman Melancon submitted his statement today at a House subcommittee hearing on proposals for reforming the NFIP.
In his statement, Congressman Melancon said, "Permanent reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program is critical for the hundreds of thousands of Louisiana families for whom flood risk is a part of daily life. After Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav, and Ike, the protection provided by the NFIP was crucial in helping Louisiana families and businesses to rebuild their homes and lives. Today, the program continues to provide peace of mind for families and businesses in high-risk areas."
Congressman Melancon continued, "While I am grateful for the short term extension under which the program is currently operating, I fear that partisan politics may once again prevent timely reauthorization, allowing for future gaps in coverage. For this reason, I urge my colleagues to support permanent reauthorization."
In urging a permanent extension of the flood insurance program, Congressman Melancon reminded the committee members of the vital role coastal Louisiana plays in the nation's economy.
Congressman Melancon noted, "[T]he preservation of these communities benefits not only coastal regions, but the entire nation. Within my state alone, NFIP policies protect an area of the country responsible for one-third of America's oil and natural gas production. Thirty percent of the seafood consumed in this country is harvested off of Louisiana's coast. And our ports provide a gateway for billions of dollars of economic activity for the United States. Without the labor force to maintain these operations, citizens across our districts would suffer. For these reasons, we need NFIP policies that support the success of these regions."
In his statement, Congressman Melancon also encouraged Congress to recognize hurricane protection systems already in place when setting flood insurance rates, noting the problems decertification of some existing levees have caused in Louisiana.
"Recent decertification of legitimate hurricane protection systems threatens the livelihood of many communities in my state and across the country. We must explore methods of ensuring that flood insurance rates accurately reflect risk factors on the ground, and that communities are credited for the hurricane protection systems they have worked so hard to maintain."
Click here to read Congressman Melancon's full statement.
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