Press Releases

June 1^st marks the start of South Florida’s hurricane season and Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) is launching new efforts in support of two innovative disaster-preparation and risk-reduction bills that she has authored in the U.S. Congress. Through upcoming congressional hearings and official briefings, she is leading a push in Congress to seek to reduce the impacts of natural disasters on the U.S. economy and American lives.

As Ranking Member of the U.S. House Technology Subcommittee, Congresswoman Wilson recently introduced H.R. 2132, the Natural Hazards Reduction Act of 2013, which would authorize new funding for the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program (NWIRP) and the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP). These programs develop better building codes and new methods to strengthen existing homes and infrastructure. They also help households, businesses, and communities work together to promote the adoption of hazard risk-reductions measures. In early June, Congresswoman Wilson will promote this legislation as part of a comprehensive hearing on disaster risks, sponsored by the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

Congresswoman Wilson will also be leading a new effort in support of H.R. 737, the Homeowners' Defense Act of 2013, which she authored in January. Next week, Congressional Research Service will be hosting a briefing featuring public and private sector insurance experts to discuss this proposal. The bill would establish a national consortium for state-sponsored insurance funds to voluntarily combine their insurance risk, and then transfer that risk to private markets through catastrophe bonds and reinsurance contracts. It would save money for state governments and taxpayers, as well as consumers who face record high premiums and widespread exclusion from insurance markets. This will enable more homeowners to obtain insurance at a lower cost.

“As a lifelong Floridian and a survivor of Hurricane Andrew, this issue is personal for me. These measures will not only create jobs by employing people to upgrade buildings to meet higher safety standards—these measures will also ultimately save billions in tax dollars and save precious lives.”

Congresswoman Wilson is available for comment.

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U.S. Rep. Frederica S. Wilson is a second-term Congresswoman from Florida representing parts of Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward counties. A former state legislator and school principal, she is the founder of the 5000 Role Models for Excellence Project, a mentoring program for young males at risk of dropping out of school.