WASHINGTON–Reforms to the National Flood Insurance Program willbe a priority on the Senate Banking Committee agenda as lawmakersreturn to Washington later this month.

The National Flood Insurance Program was the subject of a numberof Senate Banking Committee hearings during the fall, in which thethen-Acting Administrator and Director of Mitigation for theFederal Emergency Management Agency David Maurstad weathered thecriticism of lawmakers for the NFIP's financial problems and theslow implementation of previously passed reforms.

The Senate version of the NFIP reform bill will be introduced bySen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala, chairman of the Senate BankingCommittee, and is expected to include many of the changes made tothe program in the House legislation in addition to otherchanges.