NU Online News Service, July 26, 2:50 a.m.EDT

WASHINGTON—Markup of legislation reauthorizing theNational Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) in the Senate has beendelayed for at least a week—and could be pushed back until earlySeptember.

The delay is linked to ongoing talks on raising the debtceiling, which Obama administration officials say must be donebefore Tuesday, Aug. 2.

Markup of the legislation was tentatively set for Thursday, anda draft of the legislation as crafted by the leadership of thecommittee—Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., chairman, and Sen. RichardShelby, R-Ala., ranking minority member—was released last week.

However, industry lobbyists said late Monday that the drama overthe debt-ceiling issue is affecting all legislative business, andthat the banking panel leadership had decided to delay the markupfor at least a week.

Several lobbyists acknowledged that once Congress acts on thedebt-ceiling issue, Congress may call it a day and adjourn for itsmonth-long summer recess before the current scheduled Aug. 8departure.

Currently, Congress is scheduled to return Sept. 7,congressional staffers said.

On July 12, the House passed legislation that would reauthorizethe NFIP until Sept. 30, 2016. The final vote on H.R. 1309, theFlood Insurance Reform Act of 2011, was 406-22.

The current authorization for the program expires on Sept. 30,2011.