Leaders of ProtectingAmerica.org, a group that has beencampaigning for a federally backed national catastrophe program,said today they expect more success with the arrival of the Obamaadministration.

At the same time James Lee Witt, a co-chairman of the group andFormer Federal Emergency Management Agency director in the Clintonadministration, sought to tamp down rumors he would be returning toFEMA under the incoming Obama administration, saying thespeculation was “just rumors.”

Speaking at a press conference to promoteProtectingAmerica.org's vision of a national backstop for statecatastrophe funds and highlight the publicly stated support for theproposal from President-elect Obama, Mr. Witt said he would helpthe new administration in any way, but is not seeking a governmentposition.

“I'm not looking for any appointed position,” he said.

In terms of their agenda, however, Mr. Witt's co-chair, formerCoast Guard Admiral and Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security JamesLoy, said he believed the change in administration will make asignificant difference in the legislative fortunes of theirproposals.

Legislation that would have implemented a national catastrophefund alongside a program providing funds to states for mitigationefforts won passage in the House, but ran into opposition in theSenate and from the Bush administration.

President-elect Obama was a co-sponsor of the Senate version ofthe legislation, which was introduced by his secretary of statedesignate, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.

Speaking of his experiences testifying before Senate committeeson the issue alongside a White House representative, Mr. Loy said,“The next time we have a panel of witnesses before the committee,I'd imagine the other voices at the table will be quitedifferent.”

Mr. Loy said he “feels quite good” about the chances of movingProtectingAmerica.org's proposal through the incoming 111thCongress. Currently the group is “very much in the draftingprocess” of writing the bill, and he said he has been working withHouse members to get the bill introduced as quickly as possible. Onthe Senate side, he said the group has been discussing the billwith Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla.

ProtectingAmerica.org's proposal, according to Mr. Witt, isdesigned to ensure that affordable insurance will be available tohomeowners and “break that damage-repair-damage repair cycle.”

As director of FEMA, Mr. Witt said he had seen firsthand caseswhere families had lost their homes and all their possessions tonatural catastrophes. While his agency was able to provide food andshelter for those victims, he said, “those programs were notdesigned to replace everything that people lose.”

The organization's leaders said the proposal is designed to easethe burden on the federal government, and thus the taxpayers, byproviding stronger guaranty funds for insurers.

They said the group would depend on the insurance industry to dowhat it has done for more than 200 years.