(1) by striking ‘‘subsection (g)’’ each place such 
term appears in subsections (h) and (i)(2) and insert-
ing ‘‘subsection (f)’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsections (g) through (k) 
as subsections (f) through (j), respectively; and 
(3) by redesignating subsection (m) as subsection 
(k). 
SEC. 19. GAO STUDY OF METHODS TO INCREASE FLOOD IN-
SURANCE PROGRAM PARTICIPATION BY LOW- 
INCOME FAMILIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of the 
United States shall conduct a study to identify and analyze 
potential methods, practices, and incentives that would in-
crease the extent to which low-income families (as such term 
is defined in section 3(b) of the United States Housing Act 
of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b))) that own residential prop-
erties located within areas having special flood hazards pur-
chase flood insurance coverage for such properties under the 
national flood insurance program. In conducting the study, 
the Comptroller General shall analyze the effectiveness and 
costs of the various methods, practices, and incentives iden-
tified, including their effects on the national flood insurance 
program. 
(b) REPORT.—The Comptroller General shall submit 
to the Congress a report setting forth the conclusions of the 
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study under this section not later than 12 months after the 
date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 20. NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF FLOOD INSURANCE 
AND ESCROW IN RESPA GOOD FAITH ESTI-
MATE. 
Subsection (c) of section 5 of the Real Estate Settle-
ment Procedures Act of 1974 (12 U.S.C. 2604(c)) is amend-
ed by adding at the end the following new sentence: ‘‘Each 
such good faith estimate shall include the following con-
spicuous statements and information: (1) that flood insur-
ance coverage for residential real estate is generally avail-
able under the national flood insurance program whether 
or not the real estate is located in an area having special 
flood hazards and that, to obtain such coverage, a home 
owner or purchaser should contact the national flood insur-
ance program; (2) a telephone number and a location on 
the World Wide Web by which a home owner or purchaser 
can contact the national flood insurance program; and (3) 
that the escrowing of flood insurance payments is required 
for many loans under section 102(d) of the Flood Disaster 
Protection Act of 1973, and may be a convenient and avail-
able option with respect to other loans.’’. 
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SEC. 21. REITERATION OF FEMA RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER 
2004 REFORM ACT. 
(a) APPEALS PROCESS.—As directed in section 205 of 
the Bunning-Bereuter-Blumenauer Flood Insurance Reform 
Act of 2004 (42 U.S.C. 4011 note), the Director of the Fed-
eral Emergency Management Agency is again directed to, 
not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, establish an appeals process through which holders 
of a flood insurance policy may appeal the decisions, with 
respect to claims, proofs of loss, and loss estimates relating 
to such flood insurance policy as required by such section. 
(b) MINIMUM TRAINING AND EDUCATION REQUIRE-
MENTS.—The Director of the Federal Emergency Manage-
ment Agency is directed to continue to work with the insur-
ance industry, State insurance regulators, and other inter-
ested parties to implement the minimum training and edu-
cation standards for all insurance agents who sell flood in-
surance policies that were established by the Director under 
the notice published September 1, 2005 (70 Fed. Reg. 
52117) pursuant to section 207 of the Bunning-Bereuter- 
Blumenauer Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 (42 
U.S.C. 4011 note). 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than the expiration of the 6- 
month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Director of the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency shall submit a report to the Congress describing the 
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implementation of each provision of the Bunning-Bereuter- 
Blumenauer Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 (Public 
Law 108–264) and identifying each regulation, order, no-
tice, and other material issued by the Director in imple-
menting each such provision. 
SEC. 22. ONGOING MODERNIZATION OF FLOOD MAPS AND 
ELEVATION STANDARDS. 
(a) ONGOING FLOOD MAPPING PROGRAM.—Section 
1360 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 
U.S.C. 4101) is amended by adding at the end the following 
new subsection: 
‘‘(k) ONGOING PROGRAM TO REVIEW, UPDATE, AND 
MAINTAIN FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM MAPS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director, in coordina-
tion with the Technical Mapping Advisory Council 
established pursuant to section 576 of the National 
Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 4101 
note) and section 22(b) of the Flood Insurance Reform 
and Modernization Act of 2007, shall establish an on-
going program under which the Director shall review, 
update, and maintain national flood insurance pro-
gram rate maps in accordance with this subsection. 
‘‘(2) INCLUSIONS.— 
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‘‘(A) COVERED AREAS.—Each map updated 
under this subsection shall include a depiction 
of— 
‘‘(i) the 500-year floodplain; 
‘‘(ii) areas that could be inundated as 
a result of the failure of a levee, as deter-
mined by the Director; and 
‘‘(iii) areas that could be inundated as 
a result of the failure of a dam, as identi-
fied under the National Dam Safety Pro-
gram Act (33 U.S.C. 467 et seq.). 
‘‘(B) OTHER
INCLUSIONS.—In updating 
maps under this subsection, the Director may in-
clude— 
‘‘(i) any relevant information on coast-
al inundation from— 
‘‘(I) an applicable inundation 
map of the Corps of Engineers; and 
‘‘(II) data of the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration relat-
ing to storm surge modeling; 
‘‘(ii) any relevant information of the 
Geographical Service on stream flows, wa-
tershed characteristics, and topography that 
is useful in the identification of flood haz-
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ard areas, as determined by the Director; 
and 
‘‘(iii) a description of any hazard that 
might impact flooding, including, as deter-
mined by the Director— 
‘‘(I) land subsidence and coastal 
erosion areas; 
‘‘(II) sediment flow areas; 
‘‘(III) mud flow areas; 
‘‘(IV) ice jam areas; and 
‘‘(V) areas on coasts and inland 
that are subject to the failure of struc-
tural protective works, such as levees, 
dams, and floodwalls. 
‘‘(3) STANDARDS.—In updating and maintain-
ing maps under this subsection, the Director shall es-
tablish standards to— 
‘‘(A) ensure that maps are adequate for— 
‘‘(i) flood risk determinations; and 
‘‘(ii) use by State and local govern-
ments in managing development to reduce 
the risk of flooding; 
‘‘(B) facilitate the Director, in conjunction 
with State and local governments, to identify 
and use consistent methods of data collection and 
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analysis in developing maps for communities 
with similar flood risks, as determined by the 
Director; and 
‘‘(C) ensure that emerging weather fore-
casting technology is used, where practicable, in 
flood map evaluations and the identification of 
potential risk areas. 
‘‘(4) HURRICANES KATRINA AND RITA MAPPING 
PRIORITY.—In updating and maintaining maps 
under this subsection, the Director shall— 
‘‘(A) give priority to the updating and 
maintenance of maps of coastal areas affected by 
Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita to pro-
vide guidance with respect to hurricane recovery 
efforts; and 
‘‘(B) use the process of updating and main-
taining maps under subparagraph (A) as a 
model for updating and maintaining other 
maps. 
‘‘(5) PREVENTING DELAY OF 100-YEAR MAPS.—In 
carrying out this section and this subsection, the Di-
rector shall take such actions as may be necessary to 
ensure that updating and publication of national 
flood insurance program rate maps to include a de-
piction of the 500-year floodplain does not in any 
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