Coalition Asks Congress to Renew NFIP

On Tuesday, June 8, the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA) initiated a nationwide grassroots action campaign, asking its members to contact their Members of Congress and to urge them to pass flood insurance legislation before the program expires on June 30. "Our message is clear: time is running out," said Peter Bizzozero, PIA National assistant vice president for federal affairs. "It is imperative that the NFIP not be allowed to expire, as happened at the end of 2002." At that time, the flood insurance program lapsed because Congress had adjourned without passing a reauthorization. It was reauthorized in January of 2003, but the interruption caused widespread concern and threatened to disrupt real estate markets. Authorization for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has been extended twice by Congress this year.