For the Second Time, House Republicans Block Consideration of Flood Insurance Relief

The Ranking Democratic Member of the House Financial Services Committee issued the following news release:

For the second straight day, House Republicans rejected a Democratic procedural motion to bring bipartisan legislation that would delay the implementation of flood insurance increases up for a vote.

Again using a parliamentary procedure to order the "previous question," Republicans blocked an effort to bring H.R. 3370, the bipartisan Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act, to the House floor. This legislation, which has 182 cosponsors from both sides of the aisle, recently passed the U.S. Senate by an overwhelming majority of 67-32.

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), who has led the effort to fix these unintended consequences, released the following statement.

"For the second straight day, House Republicans have voted to prolong suffering for middle class families grappling with increased flood insurance premiums, depressed home prices, or the inability to buy or sell their home.

I continue to be disappointed that nearly every House Republican voted to block consideration of the very legislation many of them coauthored. This measure would delay increases in flood insurance premiums for the hundreds of thousands of middle class families who are still struggling to figure out how they will afford premiums that have increased in unimaginable ways.

I again urge Republican leadership to take up this bipartisan solution, which was recently passed by the U.S. Senate, without delay."

The motion to would end debate and block consideration of the flood bill, passed by a vote of 226-196.

Source Targeted News Service