‘‘(4) of the provisions of section 102 requiring 
purchase of flood insurance coverage for properties 
located in such an area, including the date on which 
such provisions apply with respect to such area, tak-
ing into consideration section 102(i); and 
‘‘(5) of a general estimate of what similar 
homeowners in similar areas typically pay for flood 
insurance coverage, taking into consideration section 
1308(g) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 
1968.’’. 
SEC. 14. COMMUNITY OUTREACH PLAN FOR UPDATING 
FLOODPLAIN 
AREAS 
AND 
FLOOD-RISK 
ZONES. 
The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Man-
agement Agency shall, not later than the expiration of the 
60-day period beginning upon the date of the enactment 
of this Act, submit to the Congress a community outreach 
plan for the updating of floodplain areas and flood-risk 
zones under section 1360(f) of the National Flood Insur-
ance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4101(f)). 
SEC. 15. NOTIFICATION OF ESTABLISHMENT OF FLOOD 
ELEVATIONS. 
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:
‘‘(l) NOTIFICATION TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS OF 
MAP MODERNIZATION .—Upon any revision or update of 
any floodplain area or flood-risk zone pursuant to sub-
section (f), any decision pursuant to subsection (f)(1) that 
such revision or update is necessary, any issuance of pre-
liminary maps for such revision or updating, or any other 
significant action relating to any such revision or update, 
the Director shall notify the Senators for each State af-
fected, and each Member of the House of Representatives 
for each congressional district affected, by such revision 
or update in writing of the action taken.’’. 
SEC. 16. COVERAGE FOR ADDITIONAL LIVING EXPENSES 
AND BUSINESS INTERRUPTION. 
Subsection (b) of section 1306 of the National Flood 
Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4013) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(2) in paragraph (5)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘pursuant to paragraph 
(2), (3), or (4)’’ after ‘‘any flood insurance cov-
erage’’; and 
(B) by striking the period at the end and 
inserting a semicolon; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraphs:
‘‘(6) in the case of any residential property, 
each renewal or new contract for flood insurance 
coverage shall provide not less than $1,000 aggre-
gate liability per dwelling unit for any necessary in-
creases in living expenses incurred by the insured 
when losses from a flood make the residence unfit to 
live in, which coverage shall be available only at 
chargeable rates that are not less than the estimated 
premium rates for such coverage determined in ac-
cordance with section 1307(a)(1); 
‘‘(7) in the case of any residential property, op-
tional coverage for additional living expenses de-
scribed in paragraph (6) shall be made available to 
every insured upon renewal and every applicant in 
excess of the limits provided in paragraph (6) in 
such amounts and at such rates as the Director 
shall establish, except that such chargeable rates 
shall not be less than the estimated premium rates 
for such coverage determined in accordance with sec-
tion 1307(a)(1); and 
‘‘(8) in the case of any commercial property or 
other residential property, including multifamily 
rental property, optional coverage for losses result-
ing from any partial or total interruption of the in-
sured’s business caused by damage to, or loss of,
such property from a flood shall be made available 
to every insured upon renewal and every applicant, 
except that— 
‘‘(A) the Director may provide such cov-
erage under such terms, conditions, and re-
quirements as the Director considers appro-
priate to meet the needs of small businesses 
while complying with the requirement under 
subparagraph (C); and 
‘‘(B) any such coverage shall be made 
available only at chargeable rates that are not 
less than the estimated premium rates for such 
coverage determined in accordance with section 
1307(a)(1).’’. 
SEC. 17. EXCEPTION TO WAITING PERIOD FOR EFFECTIVE 
DATE OF POLICIES. 
Section 1306(c)(2)(A) of the National Flood Insur-
ance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4013(c)(2)(A)) is amended 
by inserting before the semicolon the following: ‘‘or is in 
connection with the purchase or other transfer of the prop-
erty for which the coverage is provided (regardless of 
whether a loan is involved in the purchase or transfer 
transaction), but only when such initial purchase of cov-
erage is made not later 30 days after such making, in-
creasing, extension, or renewal of the loan or not later
than 30 days after such purchase or other transfer of the 
property, as applicable’’. 
SEC. 18. MINIMUM DEDUCTIBLES FOR CLAIMS. 
Section 1312 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 
1968 (42 U.S.C. 4019) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘The Director is’’ and inserting 
the following: ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director is’’; 
and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) MINIMUM ANNUAL DEDUCTIBLES.— 
‘‘(1) PRE-FIRM PROPERTIES.—For any struc-
ture that is covered by flood insurance under this 
title, and on which construction or substantial im-
provement occurred on or before December 31, 
1974, or before the effective date of an initial flood 
insurance rate map published by the Director under 
section 1360 for the area in which such structure is 
located, the minimum annual deductible for damage 
to or loss of such structure shall be— 
‘‘(A) $1,500, if the flood insurance cov-
erage for such structure covers loss of, or phys-
ical damage to, such structure in an amount 
equal to or less than $100,000; and 
‘‘(B) $2,000, if the flood insurance cov-
erage for such structure covers loss of, or phys-
ical damage to, such structure in an amount 
greater than $100,000. 
‘‘(2) POST-FIRM PROPERTIES.—For any struc-
ture that is covered by flood insurance under this 
title, and on which construction or substantial im-
provement occurred after December 31, 1974, or 
after the effective date of an initial flood insurance 
rate map published by the Director under section 
1360 for the area in which such structure is located, 
the minimum annual deductible for damage to or 
loss of such structure shall be— 
‘‘(A) $750, if the flood insurance coverage 
for such structure covers loss of, or physical 
damage to, such structure in an amount equal 
to or less than $100,000; and 
‘‘(B) $1,000, if the flood insurance cov-
erage for such structure covers loss of, or phys-
ical damage to, such structure in an amount 
greater than $100,000.’’. 
SEC. 19. PAYMENT OF PREMIUMS IN INSTALLMENTS FOR 
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES. 
Section 1306 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 
1968 (42 U.S.C. 4013) is amended by adding at the end 
the following new subsection:
‘‘(d) PAYMENT OF PREMIUMS IN INSTALLMENTS FOR 
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES.—In addition to any other 
terms and conditions under subsection (a), such regula-
tions shall provide that, in the case of any residential prop-
erty, premiums for flood insurance coverage for such prop-
erty may be paid in installments.’’. 
SEC. 20. TERMINATION OF FORCE-PLACED INSURANCE. 
Section 102(e) of the Flood Disaster Protection Act 
of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4012a(e)) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as 
paragraphs (5) and 6), respectively; and 
(2) by adding inserting after paragraph (2) the 
following new paragraphs: 
‘‘(3) TERMINATION OF FORCE-PLACED INSUR-
ANCE.—Within 15 days of receipt by the lender or 
servicer of a confirmation of a borrower’s existing 
flood insurance coverage, the lender or servicer 
shall— 
‘‘(A) terminate the force-placed insurance; 
and 
‘‘(B) refund to the borrower all force- 
placed insurance premiums paid by the bor-
rower during any period during which the bor-
rower’s flood insurance coverage and the force- 
placed flood insurance coverage were each in ef-
pursuant to subsection (e)(2), in an amount in 
excess of the minimum amount required under 
subsections (a) and (b) of this section.’’; 
(2) in paragraph (5)— 
(A) in the first sentence, by striking 
‘‘$350’’ and inserting ‘‘$2,000’’; and 
(B) in the last sentence, by striking 
‘‘$100,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$1,000,000; except 
that such limitation shall not apply to a regu-
lated lending institution or enterprise for a cal-
endar year if, in any three (or more) of the five 
calendar years immediately preceding such cal-
endar year, the total amount of penalties as-
sessed under this subsection against such lend-
ing institution or enterprise was $1,000,000’’; 
and 
(3) in paragraph (6), by adding after the period 
at the end the following: ‘‘No penalty may be im-
posed under this subsection on a regulated lending 
institution or enterprise that has made a good faith 
effort to comply with the requirements of the provi-
sions referred to in paragraph (2) or for any non- 
material violation of such requirements.’’.
SEC. 22. NOTIFICATION TO TENANTS OF AVAILABILITY OF 
CONTENTS INSURANCE. 
The National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 is amend-
ed by inserting after section 1308 (42 U.S.C. 4015) the 
following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 1308A. NOTIFICATION TO TENANTS OF AVAILABILITY 
OF CONTENTS INSURANCE. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall, upon enter-
ing into a contract for flood insurance coverage under this 
title for any property— 
‘‘(1) provide to the insured sufficient copies of 
the notice developed pursuant to subsection (b); and 
‘‘(2) require the insured to provide a copy of 
the notice, or otherwise provide notification of the 
information under subsection (b) in the manner that 
the manager or landlord deems most appropriate, to 
each such tenant and to each new tenant upon com-
mencement of such a tenancy. 
‘‘(b) NOTICE.—Notice to a tenant of a property in 
accordance with this subsection is written notice that 
clearly informs a tenant— 
‘‘(1) whether the property is located in an area 
having special flood hazards; 
‘‘(2) that flood insurance coverage is available 
under the national flood insurance program under
this title for contents of the unit or structure leased 
by the tenant; 
‘‘(3) of the maximum amount of such coverage 
for contents available under this title at that time; 
and 
‘‘(4) of where to obtain information regarding 
how to obtain such coverage, including a telephone 
number, mailing address, and Internet site of the 
Director where such information is available.’’. 
SEC. 23. GRANTS FOR DIRECT FUNDING OF MITIGATION 
ACTIVITIES 
FOR 
INDIVIDUAL 
REPETITIVE 
CLAIMS PROPERTIES. 
(a) DIRECT GRANTS TO OWNERS.—Section 1323 of 
the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 
4030) is amended— 
(1) in the section heading, by inserting ‘‘DI-
RECT’’ before ‘‘GRANTS’’; and 
(2) in the matter in subsection (a) that pre-
cedes paragraph (1)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘, to owners of such prop-
erties,’’ before ‘‘for mitigation actions’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘1’’ and inserting ‘‘two’’. 
(b) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Paragraph (9) of sec-
tion 1310(a) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968
(42 U.S.C. 4017(a)) is amended by inserting ‘‘which shall 
remain available until expended,’’ after ‘‘any fiscal year,’’. 
SEC. 24. FLOOD INSURANCE OUTREACH. 
Chapter I of the National Flood Insurance Act of 
1968 (42 U.S.C. 4011 et seq.), as amended by the pre-
ceding provisions of this Act, is further amended by add-
ing at the end the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 1326. GRANTS FOR OUTREACH TO PROPERTY OWN-
ERS AND RENTERS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director may, to the extent 
amounts are made available pursuant to subsection (i), 
make grants to local governmental agencies responsible for 
floodplain management activities (including such agencies 
of Indians tribes, as such term is defined in section 4 of 
the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Deter-
mination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4103)) in communities 
that participate in the national flood insurance program 
under this title, for use by such agencies to carry out out-
reach activities to encourage and facilitate the purchase 
of flood insurance protection under this Act by owners and 
renters of properties in such communities and to promote 
educational activities that increase awareness of flood risk 
reduction.
‘‘(b) OUTREACH ACTIVITIES.—Amounts from a grant 
under this section shall be used only for activities designed 
to— 
‘‘(1) identify owners and renters of properties 
in communities that participate in the national flood 
insurance program, including owners of residential 
and commercial properties; 
‘‘(2) notify such owners and renters when their 
properties become included in, or when they are ex-
cluded from, an area having special flood hazards 
and the effect of such inclusion or exclusion on the 
applicability of the mandatory flood insurance pur-
chase requirement under section 102 of the Flood 
Disaster Protection Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4012a) 
to such properties; 
‘‘(3) educate such owners and renters regarding 
the flood risk and reduction of this risk in their 
community, including the continued flood risks to 
areas that are no longer subject to the flood insur-
ance mandatory purchase requirement; 
‘‘(4) educate such owners and renters regarding 
the benefits and costs of maintaining or acquiring 
flood insurance, including, where applicable, lower- 
cost preferred risk policies under this title for such 
properties and the contents of such properties;
‘‘(5) encouraging such owners and renters to 
maintain or acquire such coverage; 
‘‘(6) notify such owners of where to obtain in-
formation regarding how to obtain such coverage, in-
cluding a telephone number, mailing address, and 
Internet site of the Director where such information 
is available; and 
‘‘(7) educate local real estate agents in commu-
nities participating in the national flood insurance 
program regarding the program and the availablility 
of coverage under the program for owners and rent-
ers of properties in such communities, and establish 
coordination and liaisons with such real estate 
agents to facilitate purchase of coverage under this 
Act and increase awareness of flood risk reduction. 
‘‘(c) COST SHARING REQUIREMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In any fiscal year, the Di-
rector may not provide a grant under this section to 
a local governmental agency in an amount exceeding 
3 times the amount that the agency certifies, as the 
Director shall require, that the agency will con-
tribute from non-Federal funds to be used with 
grant amounts only for carrying out activities de-
scribed in subsection (b).
ceding provisions of this Act, is further amended by add-
ing at the end the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 1327. TREATMENT OF SWIMMING POOL ENCLOSURES 
OUTSIDE OF HURRICANE SEASON. 
‘‘In the case of any property that is otherwise in com-
pliance with the coverage and building requirements of the 
national flood insurance program, the presence of an en-
closed swimming pool located at ground level or in the 
space below the lowest floor of a building after November 
30 and before June 1 of any year shall have no effect on 
the terms of coverage or the ability to receive coverage 
for such building under the national flood insurance pro-
gram established pursuant to this title, if the pool is en-
closed with non-supporting breakaway walls.’’. 
SEC. 26. REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO WINDSTORM AND 
FLOOD. 
Section 1345 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 
1968 (42 U.S.C. 4081) is amended by adding at the end 
the following new subsection: 
‘‘(d) REQUIREMENTS FOR WRITE-YOUR-OWN INSUR-
ERS RELATING TO WINDSTORM AND FLOOD.— 
‘‘(1) WRITTEN
AGREEMENT.—The Director 
may not utilize the facilities or services of any insur-
ance company or other insurer or entity to offer 
flood insurance coverage under this title unless such
company, insurer, or entity enters into a written 
agreement with the Director that provides as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(A) PROHIBITION
ON
EXCLUSION
OF 
WIND
DAMAGE
COVERAGE.—The agreement 
shall prohibit the company, insurer, or entity 
from including, in any policy provided by the 
company or insurer for homeowners’ insurance 
coverage or coverage for damage from wind-
storms, any provision that excludes coverage for 
wind or other damage solely because flooding 
also contributed to damage to the insured prop-
erty. 
‘‘(B) FIDUCIARY
RESPONSIBILITY.—The 
agreement shall provide that the company, in-
surer, or entity— 
‘‘(i) has a fiduciary duty with respect 
to the Federal taxpayers; 
‘‘(ii) in selling and servicing policies 
for flood insurance coverage under this 
title and adjusting claims under such cov-
erage, will act in the best interests the na-
tional flood insurance program rather than 
in the interests of the company, insurer, or 
entity; and
‘‘(iii) will provide written guidance to 
each insurance agent and claims adjuster 
for the company, insurer, or entity that 
sets forth the terms of the agreement pur-
suant to subparagraph (A) and this sub-
paragraph. 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS
FOR
ADJUSTMENT
OF 
CLAIMS.—The Director shall, in utilizing the facili-
ties of any insurance company or other insurer or 
entity pursuant to this section to offer flood insur-
ance coverage under this title, the Director shall 
provide as follows: 
‘‘(A) APPROVAL OF ADJUSTMENT PROCE-
DURES.—No such insurance company, other in-
surer, or entity may offer flood insurance cov-
erage under this title unless the Director has 
approved, as meeting standards as the Director 
shall establish, the procedures, protocols, guide-
lines, standards, or instructions used by the 
company, insurer, or entity in adjusting claims 
for identifying, apportioning, quantifying, and 
differentiating damage caused by flooding and 
damage caused by wind. 
‘‘(B) TREATMENT OF WIND AND FLOOD 
CLAIMS
FROM
SAME
EVENT.—The Director
shall require any insurance company or other 
insurer or entity that, pursuant to this section, 
provides flood insurance coverage under this 
title for a property and that also provides insur-
ance coverage for the same property for losses 
resulting from wind, when claims are made both 
for damage resulting from flood and for damage 
resulting from wind involved in a single event, 
to comply with the following requirements: 
‘‘(i) 
CONTEMPORANEOUS
ADJUST-
MENT.—The claims for damage to the 
property under the coverage under this 
title for losses from flood and under the 
coverage for losses from wind shall be ad-
justed contemporaneously. 
‘‘(ii) INCLUSIONS
IN
FLOOD
CLAIM 
FILE.—The insurance company, other in-
surer, or entity shall obtain and include in 
the file maintained with respect to any 
claim under the flood insurance coverage 
under this title, and make available to the 
Director upon request, the following infor-
mation relating to the wind claim: 
‘‘(I) The amount paid on the 
claim and the date of such payment..
‘‘(II) An explanation of rationale 
used by the company, insurer, or enti-
ty in determining which damage re-
sulted from flood and which damage 
resulted from wind. 
‘‘(III) Copies of any photographs, 
witness statements, and other evi-
dence related to the wind or flood 
claim. 
‘‘(iii) REVIEW.—The Director shall re-
view the information obtained pursuant to 
clause (ii) to ensure that— 
‘‘(I) claims are paid under cov-
erage under this title only for losses 
resulting from flood; and 
‘‘(II) in the adjusting the claims, 
the insurance company or other in-
surer or entity complied with proce-
dures, protocols, guidelines, stand-
ards, or instructions for identifying, 
apportioning, quantifying, and dif-
ferentiating damage caused by flood-
ing and damage caused by wind that 
have been approved by the Director as 
meeting the standards established by
the Director pursuant to subpara-
graph (A). 
‘‘(iv) PAYMENT UNDER FLOOD COV-
ERAGE WHEN CAUSE OF LOSS CANNOT BE 
DETERMINED.—If the insurance company 
or other insurer or entity determines that 
the loss claimed was caused by flooding or 
wind, but that the evidence is insufficient 
to differentiate the losses caused by flood-
ing from those caused by wind, the com-
pany, insurer, or entity shall pay the claim 
under the flood insurance coverage for the 
property as if the entire loss were caused 
by flooding, and shall submit all informa-
tion regarding the claim to the Director. 
‘‘(v) FEMA DETERMINATION AND RE-
COVERY.—In the case of any claim paid 
pursuant to clause (iv), the Director shall 
review the information related to the claim 
and determine, in accordance with proce-
dures for making such a determination re-
garding such claims as the Director shall 
establish, the losses caused by wind. The 
Director shall seek to recover any portion 
of the losses that the Director determines
were caused by wind from the insurance 
company or other insurer or entity that, 
pursuant to clause (iv), paid such losses as 
flood losses.’’. 
SEC. 27. 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 
amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: 
‘‘Each such good faith estimate shall include the following 
conspicuous statements and information: (1) that flood in-
surance coverage for residential real estate is generally 
available 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 insurance program; (2) a telephone number and a 
location on the Internet by which a home owner or pur-
chaser 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 con-
venient and available option with respect to other loans.’’.
SEC. 28. AUTHORIZATION OF ADDITIONAL FEMA STAFF. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Di-
rector of the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
may employ such additional staff as may be necessary to 
carry out all of the responsibilities of the Director pursu-
ant to this Act, the amendments made by this Act, and 
the national flood insurance program. There are author-
ized to be appropriated to Director such sums as may be 
necessary for costs of employing such additional staff. 
SEC. 29. PLAN TO VERIFY MAINTENANCE OF FLOOD INSUR-
ANCE ON MISSISSIPPI AND LOUISIANA PROP-
ERTIES 
RECEIVING 
EMERGENCY 
SUPPLE-
MENTAL FUNDS. 
The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 
and the Director of the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency shall jointly develop and implement a plan to 
verify that persons receiving funds under the Homeowner 
Grant Assistance Program of the State of Mississippi or 
the Road Home Program of the State of Louisiana from 
amounts allocated to the State of Mississippi or the State 
of Louisiana, respectively, from the Community develop-
ment fund under the Emergency Supplemental Appropria-
tions Act to Address Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and 
Pandemic Influenza, 2006 (Public Law 109–148) are 
maintaining flood insurance on the property for which
such persons receive such funds as required by each such 
Program. 
SEC. 30. FLOOD INSURANCE ADVOCATE. 
Chapter II of the National Flood Insurance Act of 
1968 is amended by inserting after section 1330 (42 
U.S.C. 4041) the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 1330A. OFFICE OF THE FLOOD INSURANCE ADVO-
CATE. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF POSITION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—There shall be in the Fed-
eral Emergency Management Agency an Office of 
the Flood Insurance Advocate which shall be headed 
by the National Flood Insurance Advocate. The Na-
tional Flood Insurance Advocate shall report directly 
to the Director and shall, to the extent amounts are 
provided pursuant to subsection (f), be compensated 
at the same rate as the highest rate of basic pay es-
tablished for the Senior Executive Service under sec-
tion 5382 of title 5, United States Code, or, if the 
Director so determines, at a rate fixed under section 
9503 of such title. 
‘‘(2) APPOINTMENT.—The National Flood In-
surance Advocate shall be appointed by the Director, 
and without regard to the provisions of title 5,
United States Code, relating to appointments in the 
competitive service or the Senior Executive Service. 
‘‘(3) 
QUALIFICATIONS.—An 
individual 
ap-
pointed under paragraph (2) shall have a back-
ground in customer service as well as insurance. 
‘‘(4) STAFF.—To the extent amounts are pro-
vided pursuant to subsection (f), the National Flood 
Insurance Advocate may employ such personnel as 
may be necessary to carry out the duties of the Of-
fice. 
‘‘(b) FUNCTIONS OF OFFICE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—It shall be the function of 
the Office of the Flood Insurance Advocate to— 
‘‘(A) assist insureds under the national 
flood insurance program in resolving problems 
with the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency relating to such program; 
‘‘(B) identify areas in which such insureds 
have problems in dealings with the Agency re-
lating to such program; 
‘‘(C) identify potential legislative, adminis-
trative, or regulatory changes which may be ap-
propriate to mitigate such problems; 
‘‘(D) assist communities and homeowners 
with interpreting, implementing, and appealing
terms and conditions it may establish, tempo-
rarily suspend implementation of a floodplain 
map pending such panel’s review of evidence 
submitted by such individuals or communities 
as part of such challenge; 
‘‘(H) establish a process under which sci-
entific and engineering data, including maps 
and an explanation of how the Director makes 
a determination regarding a map revision, will 
be made publicly available to any interested in-
dividuals to be impacted by a flood map revi-
sion; and 
‘‘(I) establish a process under which each 
community to be impacted by a flood map revi-
sion will be provided an open community forum 
to consult with and ask questions of representa-
tives of the Federal Emergency Management 
Administration. 
‘‘(J) identify ways to assist communities in 
efforts to fund the accreditation of flood protec-
tion systems. 
‘‘(2) ANNUAL REPORTS.— 
‘‘(A) ACTIVITIES.—Not later than Decem-
ber 31 of each calendar year, the National 
Flood Insurance Advocate shall report to the
‘‘(B) DIRECT SUBMISSION OF REPORT.— 
Each report required under this paragraph 
shall be provided directly to the committees 
identified in subparagraph (A) without any 
prior review or comment from the Director, the 
Secretary of Homeland Security, or any other 
officer or employee of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency or the Department of 
Homeland Security, or the Office of Manage-
ment and Budget. 
‘‘(c) FUNDING.—Pursuant to section 1310(a)(4), the 
Director may use amounts from the National Flood Insur-
ance Fund to fund the activities of the Office of the Flood 
Advocate in each of fiscal years 2011 through 2016, ex-
cept that the amount so used in each such fiscal year may 
not exceed $5,000,000 and shall remain available until ex-
pended. Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, 
amounts made available pursuant to this subsection shall 
not be subject to offsetting collections through premium 
rates for flood insurance coverage under this title.’’. 
SEC. 31. TREATMENT OF PREVIOUSLY MAPPED AREAS. 
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) 
TREATMENT
OF
PREVIOUSLY
MAPPED 
AREAS.—If the Director issues a letter of map revision 
for an area or a portion of an area to correct an error 
in a recently issued flood insurance rate map and such 
letter results in the designation of such area as not having 
special flood hazards, the Director shall reexamine the 
designation of any areas bordering or abutting the area 
that was the subject of such letter if such areas are located 
within a special flood hazard area. The Director shall in-
form the community and residents within such area of the 
results of such examination no later than one year after 
the date of the initial letter of map revision.’’. 
SEC. 32. REMAPPING OF AREAS WITH IMPROVED LEVEES. 
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: 
‘‘(l) REMAPPING OF AREAS WITH IMPROVED LEV-
EES.—If at any time any community, any State, the Army 
Corps of Engineers, or any other entity improves any levee 
system that protects any area that is located in an area 
having special flood hazards and the Director determines 
that such improvement mitigates flood risk in a manner 
that eliminates the risk of flooding in the area, the Direc-
tor shall—
‘‘(1) revise and update the floodplain areas and 
flood risk zones, and the flood insurance maps re-
flecting such areas and zones, for the areas pro-
tected by such levee system so that any requirement 
under the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 for 
mandatory purchase of flood insurance does not 
apply to such area; and 
‘‘(2) make the updated maps and any informa-
tion regarding such updating available to the af-
fected communities.’’. 
SEC. 33. APPEALS. 
(a) TELEVISION AND RADIO ANNOUNCEMENT.—Sec-
tion 1363 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 
(42 U.S.C. 4104) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting after ‘‘deter-
minations’’ by inserting the following: ‘‘by notifying 
a local television and radio station,’’; and 
(2) in the first sentence of subsection (b), by in-
serting before the period at the end the following: 
‘‘and shall notify a local television and radio station 
at least once during the same 10-day period’’. 
(b) APPLICABILITY.—The amendments made by sub-
section (a) shall apply with respect to any flood elevation 
determination for any area in a community that has not, 
as of the date of the enactment of this Act, been issued
a Letter of Final Determination for such determination 
under the flood insurance map modernization process. 
SEC. 34. ELIGIBILITY OF PROPERTY DEMOLITION AND RE-
BUILDING UNDER FLOOD MITIGATION AS-
SISTANCE PROGRAM. 
(a) FLOOD MITIGATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.— 
Section 1366(e)(5)(B) of the National Flood Insurance 
Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4104c(e)(5)(B)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘or floodproofing’’ and inserting ‘‘floodproofing, 
or demolition and rebuilding of properties to at least base 
flood elevation or greater, if required by any local ordi-
nance’’. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that section 1366 of the Flood Insurance Act of 
1968 (42 U.S.C. 4104c), as in effect on the day before 
the date of enactment of this Act, authorized the Adminis-
trator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to 
consider property demolition and rebuilding as eligible ac-
tivities under the Flood Mitigation Assistance Program. 
The purpose of the amendment made by subsection (a) 
is to clarify that such authority exists.
SEC. 35. STUDY REGARDING MANDATORY PURCHASE RE-
QUIREMENT FOR NON-FEDERALLY RELATED 
LOANS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General shall 
conduct a study to assess the impact, effectiveness, and 
feasibility of, and basis under the Constitution of the 
United States for, amending the provisions of the Flood 
Disaster Protection Act of 1973 regarding the properties 
that are subject to the mandatory flood insurance coverage 
purchase requirements under such Act to extend such re-
quirements to any property that is located in any area hav-
ing special flood hazards and which secures the repayment 
of a loan that is not described in paragraph (1), (2), or 
(3) of section 102(b) of such Act, and shall determine how 
best to administer and enforce such a requirement, taking 
into consideration other insurance purchase requirements 
under Federal and State law. 
(b) REPORT.—The Comptroller General shall submit 
a report to the Congress regarding the results and conclu-
sions of the study under subsection (a) not later than the 
expiration of the 6-month period beginning on the date 
of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 36. STUDY OF METHODS TO INCREASE FLOOD INSUR-
ANCE PROGRAM PARTICIPATION BY LOW-IN-
COME FAMILIES AND FAMILIES IN RURAL 
COMMUNITIES AND ON INDIAN RESERVA-
TIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of the 
United States shall conduct a study to identify and ana-
lyze potential methods, practices, and incentives that 
would increase 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))), families re-
siding in rural communities, and families who reside on 
Indian reservations, that own residential properties lo-
cated within areas having special flood hazards purchase 
flood insurance coverage for such properties under the na-
tional flood insurance program. In conducting the study, 
the Comptroller General shall analyze the effectiveness 
and costs of the various methods, practices, and incentives 
identified, including their effects on the national flood in-
surance program. 
(b) REPORT.—The Comptroller General shall submit 
to the Congress a report setting forth the conclusions of 
the study under this section not later than 12 months 
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 37. REPORT ON INCLUSION OF BUILDING CODES IN 
FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT CRITERIA. 
Not later than the expiration of the 6-month period 
beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency shall conduct a study and submit a report to the 
Committee on Financial Services of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 
Urban Affairs of the Senate regarding the impact, effec-
tiveness, and feasibility of amending section 1361 of the 
National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4102) 
to include widely used and nationally recognized building 
codes as part of the floodplain management criteria devel-
oped under such section, and shall determine— 
(1) the regulatory, financial, and economic im-
pacts of such a building code requirement on home-
owners, States and local communities, local land use 
policies, and the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency; 
(2) the resources required of State and local 
communities to administer and enforce such a build-
ing code requirement; 
(3) the effectiveness of such a building code re-
quirement in reducing flood-related damage to build-
ings and contents;
(4) the impact of such a building code require-
ment on the actuarial soundness of the National 
Flood Insurance Program; 
(5) the effectiveness of nationally recognized 
codes in allowing innovative materials and systems 
for flood-resistant construction; 
(6) the feasibility and effectiveness of providing 
an incentive in lower premium rates for flood insur-
ance coverage under such Act for structures meeting 
whichever of such widely used and nationally recog-
nized building code or any applicable local building 
code provides greater protection from flood damage; 
(7) the impact of such a building code require-
ment on rural communities with different building 
code challenges than more urban environments; and 
(8) the impact of such a building code require-
ment on Indian reservations. 
SEC. 38. STUDY ON REPAYING FLOOD INSURANCE DEBT. 
Not later than the expiration of the 6-month period 
beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency shall submit a report to the Congress setting forth 
a plan for repaying within 10 years all amounts, including 
any amounts previously borrowed but not yet repaid, owed 
pursuant to clause (2) of subsection (a) of section 1309
of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 
4016(a)(2)). 
SEC. 39. STUDY REGARDING CERTAIN HARBOR AREAS. 
(a) STUDY.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency shall carry out a study 
to identify the impacts of the National Flood Insurance 
Program on harbor areas that are working waterfronts, 
which shall— 
(1) identify the models and assumptions used 
under such program with respect to wave action in 
working waterfronts and harbors; 
(2) determine whether these are the same mod-
els and assumptions used for open or unprotected 
coast lines; 
(3) identify the assumptions used under such 
program in modeling V-zones; 
(4) identify the underlying basis for projected 
impact of waves on working waterfronts; 
(5) identify the frequency with which individual 
working waterfronts receive revised flood-risk based 
on the data they provide; 
(6) determine the feasibility of basing flood 
maps for such working waterfronts on actual histor-
ical flood and damage data;
(7) identify the standards for construction and 
design of working waterfront infrastructure that 
would be needed to safely develop commercial build-
ings in the V-zone; 
(8) determine the economic impacts of the Na-
tional Flood Insurance Program on working water-
fronts and working waterfront dependant businesses; 
(9) identify any new or alternative models that 
may be used to more accurately reflect the risk of 
flooding in working waterfronts and harbor environ-
ments; 
(10) review the current coastal flood insurance 
study guidelines and recommended methodologies; 
(11) determine whether methodologies other 
than those referred to in paragraph (10) should be 
applied with respect to complicated harbors and 
open shorelines; 
(12) review where 2-D ST Wave methodology 
should be applied and where other methodologies 
should be applied; 
(13) review available data on wave attenuation 
through pilings and piers and determine whether a 
physical model for the attenuation of waves in that 
environment can be undertaken to derive such data; 
and
(14) include any other information the Adminis-
trator considers relevant to evaluating the flood risk 
and insurance challenges facing working waterfronts. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall sub-
mit to the Congress a report setting forth the results and 
conclusions of the study, including— 
(1) a description of all of the matters identified 
and determined pursuant to subsection (a); and 
(2) an analysis of the feasibility of developing 
a sheltered harbor flood zone for purposes of the 
National Flood Insurance Program that specifically 
recognizes the unique challenges faced by working 
waterfronts and built-up harbors. 
(c) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘working 
waterfront’’ means real property (including support struc-
tures over water and other facilities) that provides access 
to coastal waters to persons engaged in commercial fish-
ing, recreational fishing business, boatbuilding, aqua-
culture, or other water-dependent coastal-related business 
and is used for, or that supports, commercial fishing, rec-
reational fishing, boatbuilding, aquaculture, or other 
water-dependent coastal-related business.
SEC. 40. STUDY REGARDING HAZARD MODELING. 
The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Man-
agement Agency shall conduct a study to identify and as-
sess the impacts, including short-term and long-term im-
pacts, of significant flooding events and subsequent revi-
sions of hazard modeling and mapping since January 1, 
2000, on the financial soundness of the national flood in-
surance program. The Administrator may enter into an 
agreement with Water Resources Research Institutes to 
conduct the study under this section. The Administrator 
shall provide for a final report regarding the study to be 
submitted to the Congress not later than the expiration 
of the 16-month period beginning on the date of the enact-
ment of this Act. The report may include recommenda-
tions of the Administrator with respect to revising hazard 
modeling and mapping. 
SEC. 41. STUDY REGARDING IMPACT OF RATE INCREASES 
ON PRE-FIRM PROPERTIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of the 
United States shall conduct a study to assess the impacts 
of implementing provisions regarding pre-FIRM prop-
erties (as such term is defined in section 578(b) of the 
National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 
4014)), including the impact on the program participation 
rate among owners, renters, and tenants of non-primary 
residences or commercial nonresidential properties. In