U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL) announced today that relief from flood insurance rate increases is contained in the 2014 Omnibus Appropriations Act, which likely will be voted on by the House of Representatives tomorrow. 

"I have been pressing for relief from the arbitrary increases for many months. The Act would immediately halt increases for existing homeowners and help approximately 2 million Florida families through fiscal year 2014. During the delay, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Congress need to go back to the drawing board for a permanent fix to ensure that our neighbors and small business owners do not suffer unconscionable increases," Rep. Castor said. 

Rep. Castor has offered comprehensive flood insurance reform to delay increases as an amendment on every piece of legislation moving through the Congress since November and cosponsored a number of other legislative solutions.

"I urge my colleagues in Congress to support the legislation and provide a lifeline to millions of our neighbors right away." The Omnibus Appropriations Act is product of the bipartisan budget agreement passed in December. 

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