1Urging the Congress of the United States to reexamine the
2Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012.

3WHEREAS, The Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of
42012 (Public Law 112-141, 42 U.S.C. § 4001 et seq.) was passed
5by Congress on June 29, 2012, and signed into law by President
6Obama on July 6, 2012; and

7WHEREAS, The Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of
82012 imposes dramatic rate increases on a number of properties
9that receive Federal subsidies through the National Flood
10Insurance Program; and

11WHEREAS, The National Flood Insurance Program is administered
12by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and provides
13coverage for Pennsylvanians in federally designated flood risk
14zones; and

15Whereas, For thousands of people residing near Pennsylvania's

145,000 miles of rivers and streams, flooding is a concern and
2impacts their lives and homes; and

3Whereas, In this Commonwealth, there are over 73,000 flood
4insurance policies in place, with an insurance value of over
5$13.5 billion; and

6Whereas, Under Federal law, flood insurance is required for
7loans sold to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and to agencies that
8provide government insurance or guarantees, such as the Small
9Business Administration, Federal Housing Administration and the
10Veteran's Administration; and

<-11WHEREAS, Steep increases in flood insurance premiums will
12have disastrous, long-term consequences for homeowners,
13families, small businesses and local governments in this
14Commonwealth; and

15WHEREAS, Pennsylvanians are already feeling the negative
16effects of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of
172012; and

18WHEREAS, The Congress of the United States has been making
19bipartisan efforts to delay the premium increases created by the
20Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012; therefore be
21it

22RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
23Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Congress of the United
24States to continue its bipartisan efforts to reexamine and
25develop solutions addressing flood insurance rates for our
26citizens; and be it further

<-27RESOLVED, That flood insurance premiums through the National
28Flood Insurance Program be restored to pre-Biggert-Waters rates
29until FEMA conducts the affordability study or a fair, long-term
30and equitable solution is identified; and be it further

1RESOLVED, That FEMA, in conjunction with the National Flood
2Insurance Program, refund all policyholders who have
3successfully appealed their placement in a flood plain for
4elevation studies that were conducted as required by the
5Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012; and be it
6further

7RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
8the President of the United States, the presiding officers of
9each house of Congress and to each member of Congress from
10Pennsylvania.