A Senate vote on legislation that would delay flood insurancepremium increases for up to four years may take place nextweek.

Industry officials and members of Congress and their staffsconfirm that efforts are underway by sponsors of the legislation tohave it attached to the 2014 version of the National DefenseReauthorization Act (NDAA).

The NDAA passed the House by an overwhelming majority June 14.It has been held up in the Senate for a variety of reasons,including requests by women members of the Senate to includeprovisions designed to strengthen prosecution of members of themilitary charged with sexual assault and to deter theseassaults.

Senate majority leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., is seeking to get the60 votes necessary to bring the NDAA to the floor and have it votedon before the Senate leaves for its Thanksgiving recess Nov.22.

The flood bill is S. 1610, the Homeowner Flood Insurance Act.Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., who is managing the bill as chairman ofthe Senate Banking Committee's Subcommittee on Economic Policy, hasindicated that he will seek to attach the bill to the NDAA when thebill comes up for a vote. Industry lobbyists and Senate officialssay Reid will support the effort to attach the bill to theNDAA.

Primary sponsor of the bill is Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La. It hasthe support of 21 senators. Companion legislation in the House hasas its chief sponsor, Rep. Maxine Waters-D-Calif., ranking minoritymember of the House Financial Services Committee. The House billhas 128 sponsors. The House bill is H.R. 3370.

Revisiting the flood insurance premium rate increases has broadsupport in Congress, with members of Congress from Hawaii toVermont urging passage of such legislation. There is also a lawsuitseeking an injunction against the increases filed in FederalDistrict Court in Gulfport, Miss. It was filed by the insurancecommissioner of Mississippi, but South Carolina already filed abrief supporting the injunction last week, and Alabama and Floridajointly filed a similar brief this week. Louisiana is also draftinga brief supporting the lawsuit.

A court hearing around Nov. 28 on the request for an injunctionis expected.

The bill that has been drafted would delay most of the ratehikes until FEMA completes the affordability study mandated by thelaw, proposes alternatives to the rate hikes, and gives Congressadequate time to review their findings.

The Senate bill has generated support from members of Congressfrom Hawaii to Vermont.

It would also give FEMA more time to complete the study, providereimbursement to qualifying homeowners for successful map appeals,give communities fair credit for locally-funded flood protectionsystems, and create an ombudsman within FEMA to answer policyholderquestions.