SLS 13RS-2022 ORIGINAL Page 1 of 3 Regular Session, 2013 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 91 BY SENATOR ALLAIN CONGRESS. Memorializes Congress to prevent unnecessary and unintended harm to coastal communities, individuals, and businesses by immediately amending the Biggert- Waters Act and mandating revision of FEMA flood-risk maps. A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1 To memorialize the Congress of the United States to prevent unnecessary and unintended2 harm to coastal communities, individuals, and businesses by immediately amending3 the Biggert-Waters Act and mandating revision of Federal Emergency Management4 Agency flood-risk maps.5 WHEREAS, in 2012 Congress re-authorized the National Flood Insurance Program6 in the Biggert-Waters Act; and7 WHEREAS, language in the Biggert-Waters Act phases out certain subsidized flood8 insurance rates, thereby allowing rate increases to the costs of obtaining such flood insurance9 of either twenty or twenty-five percent a year, depending upon on the property, until10 properties reach actuarial status; and11 WHEREAS, at the same time the Federal Emergency Management Agency12 ("FEMA") issued new flood-risk maps showing that properties not protected by one hundred13 year flood federal levees would be considered as inadequately safeguarded against floods,14 with the result that such properties became significantly higher-risk property for the purpose15 of flood insurance rate premium calculation and elevation requirements; and16 WHEREAS, the confluence of these two events has resulted in potential economic17 disaster for coastal communities, businesses, and individuals now faced not only with18 SCR NO. 91 SLS 13RS-2022 ORIGINAL Page 2 of 3 unaffordable flood insurance premiums but also with the inability to transfer or sell property1 deemed by FEMA to be at higher risk of flooding; and2 WHEREAS, legislation and amendments are pending in Congress to delay the3 premium increases authorized by the Biggert-Waters Act for one year to determine the4 effects of such changes upon the availability, affordability, and sustainability of flood5 insurance; and6 WHEREAS, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is also now in discussions7 to reconsider and revise its flood-risk maps to include the effects of locally built levees,8 pumping stations and floodgates, all of which have been funded, designed and built to9 provide substantial protection from flooding, and also to develop new maps that more10 accurately reflect actual area flood risk; and11 WHEREAS, it is necessary for both Congress and FEMA to take immediate action12 to prevent pending and unintended economic catastrophe for coastal communities,13 individuals, and businesses; and14 WHEREAS, without action by both Congress and FEMA it has been estimated that15 at least half a million homes and businesses in Louisiana could be severely impacted, and16 that other coastal communities outside of Louisiana could face similar economic devastation,17 including communities, individuals, and businesses in New York, New Jersey and other18 states severely damaged by Hurricane Sandy in 2012.19 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana memorializes20 the Congress of the United States to prevent unnecessary and unintended harm to coastal21 communities, individuals, and businesses by immediately amending the Biggert-Waters Act22 and mandating revision of Federal Emergency Management Agency flood-risk maps.23 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution shall be transmitted24 to the secretary of the United States Senate and the clerk of the United States House of25 Representatives, and to each member of the Louisiana delegation to the United States26 Congress, and to the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.27 SCR NO. 91 SLS 13RS-2022 ORIGINAL Page 3 of 3 The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jerry G. Jones. DIGEST Allain SCR No. 91 Memorializes Congress to prevent unnecessary and unintended harm to coastal communities, individuals, and businesses by immediately amending the Biggert-Waters Act and mandating revision of Federal Emergency Management Agency flood-risk maps.