PIA Seeks Bush Action On Flood Insurance

By Daniel Hays

NU Online News Service, Dec. 4, 4:22 p.m. EST?The National Association of Professional Insurance Agents in Washington said today it has asked federal officials to seek a Presidential order extending the National Flood Insurance Program.

The legislation creating the program expires at the end of the year and the U.S. House of Representatives adjourned until next January without reauthorizing it.

PIA National said it has filed a request with the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, asking that it explore obtaining an Executive Order from President Bush affirming that the National Flood Insurance Program will continue to operate as is.

Patricia A. Borowski, PIA senior vice president of government affairs, said, a coalition of various groups with an interest in seeing the program continued had met today and the PIA had briefed them on the letter of request it had filed with FIMA.

She said FIMA officials have told PIA that if they get policies "in the pipeline" before Dec. 31, they would be honored.

However, Ms. Borowski said that PIA has legal concerns and feels that "We (agents) can't bring in contracts until they reauthorize the law."

She said PIA advised its members to contact their write-your-own vendors, the carriers who process their coverage requests, and verify that they are indemnified.

She said PIA is hopeful of obtaining an order in that it does not involve any effort to "grab extra authority and it permits the marketplace to continue undisturbed."

"The statutory authority for the flood insurance program expires on Dec. 31, 2002. PIA National believes such an Executive Order would be prudent under the circumstances, simply to assure everyone involved that the NFIP program, its services and all current, pending and potential obligations will continue as is until Congress completes its reauthorization, " she said.

The House adjourned for the year Nov. 22, without completing its portion of the reauthorization of NFIP, which provides 90 percent of all the flood insurance policies in the nation. The Senate had already approved a reauthorization.

Authority for the program technically expires on Dec. 31, but, according to PIA, FIMA has said that because a continuing resolution was adopted by Congress before adjourning for the year, all flood insurance services for current contracts at current conditions will be honored, even if servicing needs extend into next year.

On Nov. 20, the Senate passed S. 13, sponsored by Senate Banking Committee Chairman Paul Sarbanes, D-Md., to reauthorize the program through Dec. 31, 2003.

House Financial Services Committee Chairman Michael Oxley, R-Ohio, introduced H.R. 5759 and H.R. 5758, which would have extended the program through Dec.31, 2004.

On Nov. 21, PIA along with real estate and banking associations including America's Community Bankers, the American Bankers Association, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the Mortgage Bankers Association of America, the National Association of Home Builders and the National Association of Realtors urged the House to pass NFIP reauthorization before adjourning for the year. The next day, the House adjourned without taking action on any consent agenda items, after passing the Homeland Security Act.

In its letter suggesting an Executive Order, PIA expressed appreciation to FIMA Administrator Anthony S. Lowe and Deputy Administrator Howard Leikin for specific changes they made in response to the concerns raised by PIA about the process and procedures for any interim period the agency published when Congress failed to complete NFIP reauthorization.

"PIA is pleased to be working with a broad coalition of realtors, bankers and regulators to facilitate a solution to this problem," Ms. Borowski said.

"Our coalition efforts will focus on creating the momentum needed to ensure quick completion of NFIP reauthorization when Congress reconvenes in early January and obtaining an Executive Order for the interim period," she said.

PIA represents member insurance agents and their employees who sell and service all kinds of insurance, but specialize in coverage of automobiles, homes and businesses.

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PIA Seeks Bush Action On Flood Insurance

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