Opening statement.

I have long championed Medicare Advantage for its ability to offer patients choice and control over their health care.

We have to reexamine the theory of--in my perspective, Mr. Chairman--not just flood insurance, but catastrophic occurrences that are happening more and more across the country.

We have to make sure that the Federal Government, the programs within the Government are as efficient and as effective as humanly possible to meet the broader needs of the people.

Planning for that is something that we have just done poorly because we continue to see flood insurance and flood challenges, a National Flood Insurance Program as a coastal program.

That's why I'm reintroducing my bipartisan legislation, the Repeatedly Flooded Communities Preparation Act.

That's why I'm reintroducing my bipartisan legislation, the Repeatedly Flooded Communities Preparation Act.

That means that the formula that we're using to calculate who should be paying into the system is insufficient and certainly leaves the program underfunded.

My concern is that when you look at the National Flood Insurance Program, the one thing we have to say is that it has not worked the way that it was intended to.

Planning for that is something that we have just done poorly because we continue to see flood insurance and flood challenges, a National Flood Insurance Program as a coastal program.

That means that the formula that we're using to calculate who should be paying into the system is insufficient and certainly leaves the program underfunded.

We have to make sure that the Federal Government, the programs within the Government are as efficient and as effective as humanly possible to meet the broader needs of the people.

My concern is that when you look at the National Flood Insurance Program, the one thing we have to say is that it has not worked the way that it was intended to.

We have to reexamine the theory of--in my perspective, Mr. Chairman--not just flood insurance, but catastrophic occurrences that are happening more and more across the country.

I encourage you to recognize that Congress has the authority to make this determination.

I was very interested in your, again, making the pledge that you will not increase audits on those making less than $400,000.

I strongly suggest you accelerate your timeline and return to this committee in short order with an actual plan.

I hope you will continue to be transparent, accessible, and willing to work with me and my colleagues.