NEW ORLEANS — With the start of hurricane season days away, a surprising move in congress threw a lot of uncertainty around the future of the National Flood Insurance Program.
The National Flood Insurance Program, which tens of thousands of home and business owners here in Louisiana rely on, is set to expire next week.
Congress was on track to pass a $19 billion disaster aid package that would have extended the program. The senate passed the bill Thursday and on Friday, it was expected to clear the house with unanimous consent.
But Rep. Chip Roy (R) from Texas objected to the bill.
"If I do not object, congress will have passed into a law a bill that spends $19 billion of taxpayer money without members of congress being present here in our nation's capitol to vote on it. Secondly, it's a bill that includes nothing to address the clear national emergency and humanitarian crisis we face at our southern border," Roy said.
Roy's block could throw the flood insurance policies and protection they provide into limbo. Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy explains it could cause problems for future home buyers.
"It may cause a delay for people to be able to close on a house," Cassidy said.
Despite the potential flood of concern, Cassidy is urging people to stay calm.
"I think there's still a chance it will go through so before we panic, I think we should just wait to see whether the process doesn't work out so our extensions go as we think they will," Cassidy said.
He's working to pass two extensions of the National Flood Insurance Program.
"One, a several month extension and another, an extension just over the weekend because we were afraid the several month extension would not kick in," Cassidy said.
He's pushing for a 5 or 10 year re-authorization of the program.
Earlier, the house did vote to extend the Flood Insurance Program through September. So for most of this hurricane season at least, homeowners will be protected. The program's future, however, is harder to forecast.
It's unclear what happens next with the disaster relief program, but it's likely the bill wont be addressed again until the chamber returns next month.