Harvey Won’t Make Congress More Likely To Fix Flood Insurance Mess

"WASHINGTON -- Hurricane Harvey is sure to add more crushing debt to the National Flood Insurance Program, which is already $25 billion in the red. So when Congress resumes on Tuesday, will it immediately act to fix this troubled program?

Don’t count on it.

Entrenched regional and partisan divisions have sidelined flood insurance reform for years. Those divides could intensify this month as lawmakers confront three tasks: Formulating an aid package for hurricane victims, raising the debt ceiling and reauthorizing the flood insurance program, which is set to expire by Sept. 30.

Given Congress’ track record of action in 2016, few observers expect lawmakers to act on comprehensive flood insurance reform legislation pending in the House and Senate."

Stuart Leavenworth  reports for the McClatchy Washington Bureau September 1, 2017.