This week, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., and U.S. Rep. Anna Paulia Luna, R-Fla., championed a proposal “which would require the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to offer Floridians an option to pay their flood insurance premiums monthly, rather than in a larger lump sum once a year.”
Scott introduced the “Flood Insurance Affordability Act” in the U.S. Senate, which Luna brought out in the U.S. House at the end of July.
“I’m fighting tooth and nail in Washington to fix the broken National Flood Insurance Program, and while this work continues, we need to make sure families have access to affordable coverage. The Flood Insurance Affordability Act will make a commonsense fix to help families retain their current coverage and help others purchase flood insurance policies without breaking the bank. Allowing Floridians to make monthly payments for flood insurance, instead of being billed in one lump sum, is good, commonsense policy. I’m glad to join Congresswoman Luna in fighting for this change and urge our colleagues to support the quick passage of this good bill,” said Scott.
“I’m proud to see that Senator Scott has introduced the Senate companion to my bill, the Flood Insurance Affordability Act, when it’s needed most. Following Hurricane Idalia, relieving the burden of expensive flood insurance costs became an immediate priority as I watched our homes and beaches in Pinellas County flood, leaving countless families faced with rebuilding their lives. FEMA needs to follow the law so that those impacted don’t have to wipe out their savings accounts and have more flexibility in an economy that’s already rocked by high prices,” said Luna.
Scott’s bill was sent to the U.S. Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee.
A dozen members of the House are co-sponsoring Luna’s bill, including Florida Republican U.S. Reps. Aaron Bean, Gus Bilirakis, Vern Buchanan, Byron Donalds, Neal Dunn, Matt Gaetz, Cory Mills, Bill Posey, Maria Elvira Salazar and Dan Webster. The bill is before the U.S. House Financial Services Committee.
