WASHINGTON (February 13, 2026) – United States Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) penned an op-ed in NOTUS highlighting his plan to make the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) affordable again. Cassidy outlined his legislation to make the program reliable for policyholders even during government shutdowns, ensuring that families remain protected regardless of political gridlock.
“There is the tragedy of the flood itself, but then there is the second tragedy of people forced to leave homes they’ve lived in for decades because once a property floods, affordable flood insurance becomes nearly impossible to secure,” wrote Dr. Cassidy.
“Americans’ flood protection should not depend on politicians’ ability to get their act together. That’s why I introduced legislation that would automatically maintain NFIP coverage if Congress misses a reauthorization deadline or if a government shutdown occurs, ensuring that families remain protected no matter what happens in Washington,” continued Dr. Cassidy.
Read the full op-ed here or below:
This bill would make flood insurance reliable — even when Washington isn’t.
Flooding has touched nearly every parish in Louisiana and every corner of the United States. Texas, New Mexico, Kentucky and New York all saw deadly flash flooding last year. New York City faced storms that brought “terrifying, freak flash flooding,” as the New York Post put it. We in Louisiana know well the pain flooding can cause.
There is the tragedy of the flood itself, but then there is the second tragedy of people forced to leave homes they’ve lived in for decades because once a property floods, affordable flood insurance becomes nearly impossible to secure.
Every flood is a little bit different, but the message I always emphasize is the same: Americans need stability. For millions, that stability is the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The program has provided Americans with access to affordable flood insurance for the last 50 years. Right now, it is being threatened.
In addition to experiencing repeated lapses in authorization, the NFIP has become vulnerable because Congress has tied its reauthorization to government funding legislation. As a result, government shutdowns can halt the issuance and renewal of flood insurance policies overnight, leaving families exposed when they need protection most. Last year, the nation experienced the longest government shutdown in American history — 43 days — right in the middle of hurricane season.
That NFIP lapse left 500,000 Louisianans and millions more across the country in jeopardy of losing their coverage. Over the past decade, Congress has passed 34 short-term extensions. Clearly, a program that is extended so often deserves a long-term solution. I have been working for years toward long-term authorization to provide stability for millions of Americans rebuilding after a flood.
Americans’ flood protection should not depend on politicians’ ability to get their act together. That’s why I introduced legislation that would automatically maintain NFIP coverage if Congress misses a reauthorization deadline or if a government shutdown occurs, ensuring that families remain protected no matter what happens in Washington. It fixes the damage caused by the Schumer Shutdown and provides the stability millions of Americans rely on to buy, rebuild and keep their homes safe. We also need to pass a long-term extension so NFIP policyholders can rely on the program to do what it’s supposed to: provide stability.
Until this program is sustainable for future generations, Americans will continue to drop the program, leaving their homes vulnerable and the program under threat. I hope Congress can come together and pass my bill to prevent the NFIP from having future lapses. Let’s keep the National Flood Insurance Program alive — and then let’s keep it strong, reliable and worthy of the trust that millions of American families place in it every day.
