Mass. Requests Congressional Assistance to remedy "unintended consequences" of Biggert-Waters

Congressional delegation seeks changes to Biggert-Waters

By Nancy White

Wicked Local Scituate

Scituate —

Massachusetts’ representatives on Capitol Hill are gathering support to make changes to the Biggert-Waters Act.

In a letter dated Sept. 26 sent to the majority and minority leaders of both the House of Representatives and Senate, the Massachusetts delegation requests assistance to remedy some “unintended consequences” of the recent legislation altering flood insurance and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) revised flood insurance rate maps.

“While we support the overall goals of this legislation, we are concerned that if it is fully implemented absent additional measures, some residents and small businesses located in Massachusetts may be faced with economically devastating impacts,” the letter states.

The Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 requires changes to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) that would help to make the program more financially stable.  Flood insurance, flood hazard mapping, grants, and the management of floodplains would see change.

The letter also raises concerns about the affordability of flood insurance under the new law. It asks for support of adequate funding to complete a study to determine potential affordability issues associated with the law.

It also specifically requests for a delay in the immediate premium rate increases required by the legislation so to allow time for the affordability study to be completed and its recommendations incorporated into FEMA’s planning.

The letter addresses the FEMA flood zone maps.

“We ask that you work with us to ensure that the flood maps FEMA devises are accurate and reflect the input of the communities that they characterize,” it states, adding there should be a “meaningful opportunity” for homeowners to dispute any changes to the maps.

State Representative Jim Cantwell (D-Marshfield) traveled with a group from the South Shore Chamber of Commerce last week to speak to the Massachusetts delegation in Washington D.C. He delivered a letter – signed by 51 Massachusetts legislators – requesting the representatives to become co-sponsors of proposed legislation to delay the implementation of Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012.

“(This would be) a proactive step to ensure that the provisions of Biggert-Waters are not only affordable, but sustainable for all Massachusetts residents,” the letter states.

Scituate’s Congressman Stephen Lynch and Congressman William Keating (who represents the town of Marshfield) have both signed on as co-sponsors of the reform act, also known as H.R. 2199.