Congressman Gonzalez Urges Inclusion of Flood Mapping Reform in NFIP Reauthorization

WASHINGTON – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) today joined fellow members of the House Financial Services Committee for a hearing over the reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

In the 115th Congress, Congressman Gonzalez introduced the bipartisan Improvement of Mapping, Addresses, Geography, Elevation, and Structures (IMAGES) Act of 2018, to urge Congress to enhance the NFIP to better protect at-risk residential and commercial properties.

"In recent years, residential and commercial property owners in Central, Coastal, and South Texas have faced insurance fallouts due to outdated flood maps," Congressman Gonzalez said. "Reauthorizing the National Flood Insurance Program is just one piece of this puzzle. We must provide funding combined with programmatic reform that improves mapping, addresses, geography, elevation, and structure data in at-risk areas. Now is the time for Congress, and pertinent federal, state, and local agencies, to prepare property owners and equip them with adequate flood insurance, and do so before the next storm hits."

Since taking office, Congressman Gonzalez has witnessed the devastating aftermath of 2017's Hurricane Harvey and 2018's severe storms and flooding that left much of Central, Coastal, and South Texas inundated – with residential and commercial property owners suffering monumental losses. It remains the mission of the congressman to seek flood map reform and provide agencies, like the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and their 3D Elevation Program (3DEP), with the necessary funding and quality standards to get this job done.

For the full panel of witnesses, please click here. To view Congressman Gonzalez's portion of the hearing, please click here.

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