Political Quotes

“I first wish to thank Senator Menendez, Senator Landrieu, and Senator Isakson for their tremendous leadership on the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act, of which I am a very proud cosponsor, and for working with me and my staff on an amendment that is so critical to so many New Yorkers who are still recovering from Superstorm Sandy. My amendment is quite simple and common sense. It is aimed to help homeowners who are currently stuck in a bureaucratic ditch that is impossible for them to climb out of due to the immovable reality of the buildings in which they live. Under today's FEMA policy, flood insurance premium rates are based on the elevation of the house relative to the base flood elevation, which is the elevation that FEMA calculates that floodwaters have a 1-percent chance of rising to in any given year. Under normal circumstances, homes can be elevated to avoid high insurance rates that are assessed on homes that are built below the base flood elevation in special flood hazard areas, but in places such as New York and New Jersey this is impossible for owners of older urban homes, such as brownstones, row houses, and multifamily buildings, which can predate the Civil War, which in many instances cannot be raised due to structural characteristics and were built before flood maps were in place.…”