Sheila Jackson Lee: “I rise to support that legislation and, specifically, to discuss an issue that really impacts all Americans. An…”

“I rise to support that legislation and, specifically, to discuss an issue that really impacts all Americans. An amendment that I crafted, a very effective amendment, would have prohibited States and local governments from misusing new Federal flood insurance program requirements to disadvantage businesses and homeowners in any way, meaning, to take their property away because they have misinterpreted the Federal laws as to whether or not your home is in a floodplain or in a floodway. Those of us from the gulf understand that very well. Unfortunately, under Federal law, it is often misinterpreted by State and local officials, resulting in unintended consequences in many communities across this country. For example, in the White Oak community, 2,400 homes were being violated because a local government was misinterpreting whether or not these particular individuals could stay in their homes. Their values plummeted. I am going to continue to work on this legislation going forward to ensure this language gets in the bill and that we fight to protect homeowners once and for all.”