Mar 5, 2014 2 min read

U.S. Rep Tim Murphy continued his support of flood-prone communities by voting in favor of the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act Tuesday.

The bill would delay increases in flood insurance premiums that were part of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012, which was enacted in an effort to balance and ensure the long-term sustainability of the National Flood Insurance Program, according to a news release from Murphy’s office.

Murphy, R-18th District, said he made a commitment to Washington County and parts of Allegheny County to resolve the devastation caused by flash flooding. Last July, heavy storms pounded the area, resulting in flooding in Cecil, McDonald, Midway, Mt. Pleasant, Peters and Robinson. Murphy and state and federal emergency management workers visited the affected areas to assess the damage.

In the months after, Murphy orchestrated meetings between the affected municipalities and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to discuss the next step for flood prevention and to initiate an official flood-damage reduction study.

“While we continue our work on dredging and other construction projects, the bipartisan Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act ensures working-class families struggling to get by in a stagnant economy are not forced out of their homes as insurance premiums skyrocket and the asset value of their property is destroyed,” Murphy said.