Stymied last week when the House parliamentarian ruled his amendment out of order, Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.) this week will get a separate vote on whether to add wind coverage to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

A vote is tentatively scheduled for Thursday July 22 on the Multiple Peril Insurance Act of 2009 (H.R. 1264). The bill would amend the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to require the NFIP to enable the purchase of multiperil coverage and optional separate windstorm coverage.

PIA opposes adding wind coverage to NFIP policies. Currently, only flood insurance is covered by the NFIP, while wind insurance is covered under homeowner’s insurance and statewide wind pools. PIA is concerned that adding wind to the NFIP would cause confusion and could be viewed as an attempt to get Congress to pay for wind damage connected to hurricanes that may currently be a legal obligation under the current wind damage terms of property policies. This would risk expanding rather than reducing the debt of the NFIP.

PIA National has sent a letter to all House members expressing our opposition to H.R. 1264.

PIA's Letter to the House Opposing H.R. 1264 (7/20/10)

July 21, 2010