H.R.3800 - Keeping Homeownership Costs Down Act (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R. 3800, the "Keeping Homeownership Costs Down Act," aims to amend the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968. The bill seeks to prohibit the deferral of issuing letters of map revision (LOMRs) or conditional letters of map revision (CLOMRs) based on the placement of fill. The bill includes a repeal provision that would be triggered once FEMA fully implements the requirements of biological opinions from the Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA regarding LOMRs and CLOMRs related to fill placement.
Expected Effects
The immediate effect would be to expedite the process of issuing LOMRs and CLOMRs related to fill. This could lead to faster development in areas subject to flood risk. However, the repeal clause ties the bill's long-term impact to the implementation of environmental safeguards related to endangered species.
Potential Benefits
- Potentially faster approval for construction and development projects in flood-prone areas.
- Could reduce delays and associated costs for homeowners and developers.
- May streamline the process of updating flood maps to reflect changes due to fill placement.
- The Act is intended to keep homeownership costs down.
- Addresses potential bureaucratic delays in the map revision process.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for increased environmental impact if fill placement is not adequately reviewed.
- The repeal clause introduces uncertainty, as the bill's provisions could be reversed upon full implementation of biological opinions.
- May lead to development in areas that are ecologically sensitive or prone to flooding.
- Possible conflict with the Endangered Species Act if environmental reviews are expedited.
- Could increase flood risk for some properties if map revisions are not accurate.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with Congress's power to regulate commerce (Article I, Section 8) by influencing development and insurance practices related to flood zones, which can impact interstate commerce. The bill's focus on amending an existing federal law (National Flood Insurance Act) falls within the scope of legislative power granted to Congress. However, the potential impact on endangered species could raise questions related to the balance between economic development and environmental protection, an area where Congress has broad but not unlimited authority.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).