HCR 42 Text

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 42
(By Mr. Speaker, (Mr. Miley), Delegates Swartzmiller,
      Ambler, Anderson, Armstead, Ashley, Azinger, Barill,
      Barker, Barrett, Boggs, Border, Cadle, Campbell,
      Canterbury, Caputo, Craig, Diserio, Eldridge,
      Ellem, Ellington, A. Evans, D. Evans, Faircloth,
      Ferns, Ferro, Fleischauer, Folk, Fragale, Frich,            Gearheart, Guthrie, Hamilton, Hamrick, Hartman,
      Hunt, Iaquinta, Jones, Kinsey, Longstreth, Lynch,
      Manchin, Manypenny, Marcum, Marshall, Miller, Moore,
      Morgan, Moye, Overington, Pasdon, Paxton, Perdue,
      Perry, Pethtel, L. Phillips, R. Phillips, Pino,
      D. Poling, M. Poling, Poore, Reynolds, Romine, Rowan,
      Skaff, Skinner, P. Smith, R. Smith, Sobonya,
      Sponaugle, Staggers, Stephens, Storch, Sumner,
      Tomlin, Walker, Walters, Wells, Westfall, White,
                    Williams and Young)
Expressing support of the House of Delegates urging Congress to revise the "Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012."
     Whereas, In 1968, the United States Congress created the National Flood Insurance Program, allowing the purchase of flood insurance as an alternative to disaster relief; and
     Whereas, This program is now deeply in debt following the widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy; and
     Whereas, In 2012, the United States Congress passed the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 to bolster the National Flood Insurance Program; and
     Whereas, Due to this Act, many West Virginia residents and businesses have seen their flood insurance premiums greatly increase; and
     Whereas, Many of those affected by increasing flood insurance premiums have historically lived outside of a recognized floodplain; and
     Whereas, Floodplain maps are created and administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, located outside of West Virginia; and
     Whereas, There is a large cost being placed on West Virginia
cities and property owners to appeal the incorrect maps; and
     Whereas, Traditionally, flood insurance rates have been regionally based, where similar risk factors and like properties are insured; and
     Whereas, There is a distinct difference between inland flooding in West Virginia, which often results in permanent residences being cleaned and rehabbed, and coastal flooding, which primarily affects vacation homes that are completely lost; and
     Whereas, Under the new law, inland areas and coastal regions are insured together; and
     Whereas, This has caused property owners of low-risk primary residences to subsidize flood insurance for vacation homes that are intentionally built in high-risk coastal areas; and
     Whereas, While this Act is laudable in its intent, it has resulted in an unfair burden and hardship placed on West Virginia residents and businesses; therefore, be it
     Resolved by the House of Delegates:
     That the House of Delegates hereby strongly urges the United States Congress to revisit and revise the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012, in hopes that the unfair burden and hardship placed on West Virginia residents and businesses can be removed; and, be it
     Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward a certified copy of this resolution to members of the United States Senate representing West Virginia, members of the West Virginia congressional delegation, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate and the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.

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