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Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Richard Hanna (R,C,I-Barneveld) tonight voted in favor of reforming the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to improve its fiscal stability and reduce the burden on taxpayers.

The bill, H.R. 1309, the “Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2011” would reauthorize the flood insurance program for five years and make important reforms that allow communities and individuals to have greater input, flexibility and protections during the floodplain map drawing process.

The bill passed by a vote of 406-22.

“There have been many instances in Upstate New York where homeowners have been concerned with this process and rightfully so,” Hanna said. “This bill seeks to remedy those issues and clearly has bipartisan support.”

The bill also reinstates the Technical Mapping Advisory Council (TMAC), which will develop and recommend new mapping standards for Flood Insurance Rate Maps in consultation with federal, state and local experts. “State and local leaders should be involved in the maps being drawn in their communities,” Hanna said.

“One of the most important provisions in this legislation is to protect homeowners and communities from being erroneously drawn into flood zones and subsequently required to purchase expensive insurance policies,” Hanna said. “It also streamlines the appeals process for homeowners who believe they’ve been incorrectly included in a flood map.”

Hanna said he’s heard from elected officials and individuals throughout the 24th Congressional District who have been concerned about their inclusion in a flood map and worried about how they’ll afford costly flood insurance.

“I support this bill because it will impose a three-year delay in the mandatory purchase requirement for certain properties, which will aid homeowners in newly mapped ‘mandatory purchase areas,’” Hanna said. “In addition, I also supported an amendment that prohibits FEMA from issuing any new flood maps until the TMAC submits its new mapping recommendations to ensure any future maps are drawn according to the new standards.”

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