A Senate vote on legislation that would delay flood insurance premium increasesfor up to four years may take place this week.

Industry officials and members of Congress and their staffsconfirm that efforts are underway by sponsors of the legislation tohave it attached to the 2014 version of the National DefenseReauthorization Act.

The NDAA passed the House by an overwhelming majority June 14.It has been held up in the Senate for a variety of reasons,including requests by women members of the Senate to includeprovisions designed to strengthen prosecution of members of themilitary charged with sexual assault and to deter theseassaults.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is seeking to get the60 votes necessary to bring the NDAA to the floor and have it votedon before the Senate leaves for its Thanksgiving recess on Nov.22.

The flood bill is S. 1610, the Homeowner Flood Insurance Act.Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), who is managing the bill as chairman ofthe Senate Banking Committee's Subcommittee on Economic Policy, hasindicated that he will seek to attach the bill to the NDAA when thebill comes up for a vote. Industry lobbyists and Senate officialssay Reid will support the effort to attach the bill to theNDAA.

Primary sponsor of the bill is Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) It hasthe support of 21 senators. Companion legislation in the House hasas its chief sponsor, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), rankingminority member of the House Financial Services Committee. TheHouse bill has 128 sponsors. The House bill is H.R. 3370.

NAFCU has comeout in support of the measure.

Revisiting the flood insurance premium rate increases has broadsupport in Congress, with members of Congress from Hawaii toVermont urging passage of such legislation.

There is also a lawsuit seeking an injunction against theincreases filed in federal court in Gulfport, Miss. It was filed bythe insurance commissioner of Mississippi, but South Carolinaalready filed a brief supporting the injunction two weeks ago, andAlabama and Florida jointly filed a similar brief last week.Louisiana is also drafting a brief supporting the lawsuit.

A court hearing on the request for an injunction is expected onor around Nov. 28.

The bill that has been drafted would delay most of the ratehikes until FEMA completes the affordability study mandated by thelaw, proposes alternatives to the rate hikes, and gives Congressadequate time to review their findings.

The Senate bill has generated support from members of Congressfrom Hawaii to Vermont.

It would also give FEMA more time to complete the study, providereimbursement to qualifying homeowners for successful map appeals,give communities fair credit for locally-funded flood protectionsystems, and create an ombudsman within FEMA to answer policyholderquestions.