Kevin Brady: “This amendment might well be described as the ``Homeowner's Right to Know.'' The original bill, H.R. 1309, contains…”

“This amendment might well be described as the ``Homeowner's Right to Know.'' The original bill, H.R. 1309, contains several very positive notification requirements to help ensure that our constituents are more aware of the National Flood Insurance Program, the flood mapping process, and how they can protect their property from the risk of flood. However, one critical area in which the underlying bill needs to require adequate notification is when a homeowner is being newly added into a revised or updated flood map. {time} 1600 My amendment would require the FEMA Administrator to provide a copy of a flood insurance risk map to property owners who are newly added to such a map along with information regarding the appeals process at the time the map is issued. The purpose is simple: One, bring more transparency to the flood mapping process; and, two, protect homeowners' rights by ensuring they have adequate notice their property is being added to the floodplain while ensuring that they have the information about the appeals process. Too often, homeowners aren't even aware that FEMA is making changes to the flood maps in their communities until after a map is finalized and they receive a notice from their mortgage lender that they are now required to purchase flood insurance. Perhaps just as often, properties are not only unknowingly added to the floodplain, but they are added based on inconsistent or inaccurate data used by FEMA to create the maps.…”