Congressman Mike Ezell, who represents Mississippi’s 4th district in the U.S. Congress, has introduced new legislation aimed at restoring flood insurance coverage for homeowners affected by the ongoing government shutdown. The bill, titled the NFIP Retroactive Renewal and Reauthorization Act, seeks to immediately reinstate the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and protect policyholders from penalties resulting from the program’s lapse.
The current government shutdown has caused a halt in NFIP operations, preventing both new policies and renewals. With the expiration of a short grace period, many homeowners now face higher rates and partial-risk assessments unless Congress enacts a retroactive extension. This situation affects tens of thousands of families in Mississippi alone, where more than 55,000 active NFIP policies cover over $13 billion in property value.
Ezell stated, “This shutdown is hurting real people — and coastal families are feeling it first. Because Washington Democrats refuse to do their job, Mississippi homeowners can’t renew their flood insurance policies, and families trying to buy or refinance a home are being left in limbo. My bill will fix that by restoring coverage retroactively and protecting families from the fallout of this political dysfunction. Mississippians shouldn’t lose their insurance or face higher costs because of a political stalemate in Washington. It’s time to reopen the government, restore flood coverage, and deliver the certainty our coastal communities deserve.”
The lapse also impacts real estate transactions and risk management strategies during hurricane season. Dan Mills, CEO of Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans, commented on the urgency: “As CEO of the Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans, I cannot overstate the urgency of extending the National Flood Insurance Program. Right now, thousands of families in Southeast Louisiana are on the brink of losing affordable flood coverage due to the government shutdown and the harsh realities of Risk Rating 2.0. If Congress does not act immediately, homeowners and small businesses will be forced into unaffordable premiums, putting their homes, livelihoods, and our entire region at risk. This bill is not just necessary—it is critical to prevent a wave of financial devastation and to preserve the resilience of our communities. We urge swift passage to protect Louisiana families before it’s too late.”
Amy Bach, Executive Director at United Policyholders added: “The National Flood Insurance Program is a critical lifeline for American households to avoid economic ruin from flooding disasters. The private flood insurance industry may hold promise, but it is nowhere near ready to come close to providing the level of security the NFIP provides. It is imperative that the program be re-authorized and retroactively available to those whose policies lapsed during the shutdown so they don’t end up re-rated and priced out of this important protection.”
Doug Quinn from American Policyholder Association said: “The federal government shutdown has stopped purchases and renewals of all flood insurance policies through the NFIP. This has a far-reaching impact on many facets of the American economy, not just compromising the safety net of flood insurance, but also impacting real estate closings & risk management strategies. Now more than ever, American families are reliant on the protection offered by a strong, resilient National Flood Insurance Program. The American Policyholder Association strongly encourages the passage of the NFIP Renewal and re-authorization Act.”
Ezell’s proposed legislation would extend authorization for NFIP through December 31, 2026 while including provisions for retroactive renewal so that policyholders whose coverage expired during this period can renew without penalty once operations resume.
In addition to his legislative work on this issue since joining Congress in 2023 after replacing Steven Palazzo as representative for Mississippi’s 4th district (https://ezell.house.gov/about), Ezell serves as Co-Chair for the Bipartisan Congressional Flood Resilience Caucus and continues advocating for reforms intended to strengthen long-term stability within FEMA’s Risk Rating 2.0 system—a pricing model criticized for increasing premiums among Gulf Coast residents.
Ezell was born in Pascagoula in 1959 where he still resides today; he graduated with a BA from University of Southern Mississippi in 1997.
