NLLD Executive Director Dwayne Bourgeois
was on Capitol Hill last week to urge lawmakers to renew the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), set to expire on July 31, 2018.
The U.S. House is expected to vote this week, possibly as soon as tomorrow, on an extension of the NFIP until November 30, which will extend the program through the 2018 hurricane season. The Senate is expected to consider the legislation shortly thereafter under a fast track process. If this extension bill, authored by Rep. Tom MacArthur and
co-sponsored by House Majority Whip Steve Scalise
, passes as expected, there will not be a lapse in authorization ahead of the upcoming August recess.
While in D.C., Bourgeois met extensively with
Congressmen Scalise and Garret Graves, along with key staff members in the offices of Senators Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy and Congressman Ralph Abraham
, all whom have made the flood insurance program a high priority. Other meetings were held with key staff of Senate and House committees with jurisdiction over the NFIP.
"For those of us in Lafourche Parish and our entire Bayou Region,
access to affordable flood insurance is critical to sustaining our communities and building for the future.
That's why ensuring the viability and affordability of the flood insurance program is such a high priority for the North Lafourche Levee District. We cannot allow the flood insurance program to expire," Bourgeois said.
