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S 996 113th Congress Senate Emergency Management Building construction Congressional oversight Dams and canals Disaster relief and insurance Emergency planning and evacuation Endangered and threatened species Floods and storm protection Government studies and investigations Land use and conservation Marine and coastal resources, fisheries Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

A bill to improve the National Flood Insurance Program, and for other purposes.

Introduced: May 21, 2013 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 113th Congress ended
It never became law before the 113th Congress (2013–2014) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 21, 2013
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
May 21, 2013
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to repeal the prohibition against provision of flood insurance by the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to prospective insureds at rates less than standard estimates for property purchased after enactment of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (Biggert-Waters). (Thus allows risk premium rates lower than standard rates for certain property purchased after Biggert-Waters.)

Delays the effective date of any flood insurance rate changes until 180 days after FEMA submits: (1) a certain report on methods to establish an affordability framework for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), or (2) notice to the congressional committees concerned of an alternative method of gathering information for such report if the report cannot be submitted by its due date.

Directs FEMA to study options, methods, and implementing strategies for making available voluntary community-based flood insurance policies through NFIP.

Prohibits FEMA, when determining whether a community has made adequate progress on the construction, reconstruction, or improvement of a flood protection system, from considering the level of federal funding or participation.

Deems an action for the repair, restoration, and replacement of a totally destroyed structure or facility located in a coastal high hazard area for which an eligible entity received a contribution under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to be a "substantial improvement" for which grant funds may be used, if specified conditions are met.

Requires a replacement structure or facility to be relocated to an alternative site if FEMA determines that a practicable alternative located outside the coastal high hazard area exists and provides better protection against hazards associated with coastal high hazard areas.

Prescribes deed restrictions to dedicate and maintain it in perpetuity as open space for the conservation of natural floodplain functions for any property involved in the construction of replacement structures or facilities, either the original site if the replacement structure or facility is relocated, or an alternative parcel of land in the coastal high hazard area if the replacement is rebuilt at the same location.

What's happening now May 21, 2013

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 996: A bill to improve the National Flood Insurance Program, and for other purposes.. 113th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-996/
MLA
"S. 996: A bill to improve the National Flood Insurance Program, and for other purposes.." 113th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-996/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 996, 113th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-996/.
Markdown link
[S. 996: A bill to improve the National Flood Insurance Program, and for other purposes.](https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-996/)
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