To extend the National Flood Insurance Program through November 21, 2025.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5574
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Finance and Financial Sector
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-26: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-05T17:34:44Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill (H.R. 5574) aims to extend the authorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a federal program that provides flood insurance to property owners in flood-prone areas, preventing its expiration and ensuring continued availability of coverage.
Key Provisions
- Financing Extension: Amends Section 1309(a) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to extend the program's borrowing authority from the U.S. Treasury from September 30, 2023, to November 21, 2025.
- Program Expiration Extension: Amends Section 1319 of the same Act to push back the overall expiration date of the NFIP from September 30, 2023, to November 21, 2025.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- The bill updates two specific dates in the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, effectively granting a temporary two-year extension to the program's operations and funding mechanisms.
- No new policies, reforms, or additional requirements are introduced; it solely delays the previous sunset dates to maintain the status quo.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which administers the NFIP, will continue operations without interruption, avoiding administrative disruptions and potential legal challenges from a program lapse.
- On Citizens: Property owners, homeowners, and businesses in flood-risk areas (primarily in coastal and riverine regions) will retain access to affordable flood insurance policies, reducing financial vulnerability to flooding events.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the NFIP is a domestic program focused on U.S. properties.
- Broader effects include stabilizing the private insurance market, which often requires NFIP coverage for mortgages in high-risk zones, and preventing economic fallout from uninsured flood damages.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Property Owners and Renters: In flood-prone communities, who rely on NFIP for insurance not typically offered by private insurers.
- Financial Institutions: Banks and lenders that mandate flood insurance for loans on properties in designated flood zones.
- Insurance Providers: Private companies that partner with FEMA to sell and service NFIP policies.
- Federal Government: Particularly FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security, responsible for program management and funding.
- State and Local Governments: In areas with high flood risks, such as Louisiana and Alabama (represented by bill sponsors), which benefit from sustained federal support for disaster recovery.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Ensures compliance with statutory deadlines in the National Flood Insurance Act, averting a potential void in federal authority to issue new policies or borrow funds, which could lead to court challenges if the program lapsed.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's enumerated powers under Article I to regulate commerce and provide for the general welfare, as the NFIP supports interstate economic stability in disaster-prone regions.
- Political: As a short-term extension introduced by bipartisan sponsors from flood-vulnerable states, it highlights ongoing congressional debates over long-term NFIP reforms (e.g., affordability and risk assessment), but does not resolve them, potentially setting the stage for future negotiations before the new expiration date.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (9)
Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2], Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7], Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3], Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15], Del. Moylan, James C. [R-GU-At Large], Rep. Patronis, Jimmy [R-FL-1], Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14]
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-26: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- 2025-09-26: Introduced in House
- 2025-09-26: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- To extend the National Flood Insurance Program through November 21, 2025. — issued 2025-09-26 — PDF (2 pages)