Congress has passed H.R. 10545, the “American Relief Act, 2025,” which was signed by President Biden on December 21, 2024.  This continuing resolution (CR) reauthorizes NFIP until March 14, 2025 and averts a government shutdown.  This is the 32^nd short-term extension of NFIP since 2017.

However, this reauthorization occurred hours after the midnight deadline, causing a brief lapse for NFIP and federal funding.  NFIP also briefly lapsed in March 2024.  Thus, CSFI stresses the importance of a long-term reauthorization of the program for stability and continuity.  The Congressional Research Service (CRS) explains effects of a lapse and the history of NFIP’s reauthorization.

In addition to reauthorizing NFIP and extending government funding until March, the American Relief Act provides relevant disaster assistance in response to 2023-24 natural disasters.  Relief measures, totaling $110B, include:

• $31B for disaster and economic assistance to agriculture producers.
• $29B for FEMA’s response, recovery, and mitigation activities related to Presidentially declared major disasters
• $12B billion for the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program to help local, state, and Tribal governments recover from Presidentially declared disasters
• $8.1B for the Federal Highway Administration Emergency Relief Program to reimburse states for highway and bridge repairs.
• $3.1B for infrastructure improvements for drinking water and wastewater systems.
• $2.2B to support small businesses and individuals through the SBA disaster loan program.
• $1.5B for rehabilitation and repairs, for studies and projects to reduce the risks of future disasters, and to address water infrastructure needs facilitated by the Corps of Engineers.