The National Flood Insurance Program’s authority is set to lapse at midnight. Last-minute wrangling from the Senate may not be enough to save it.
The NFIP’s reauthorization lines up with – but is separate from – the government funding deadline. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) told reporters he could bring up a unanimous consent request as soon as tonight to extend its authorization, which would allow the federal government to continue issuing and renewing flood insurance policies.
If the request goes through, the House could take up the measure and patch the program in relatively short order. But Kennedy and other Republicans believe that Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) will object. Paul, an NFIP skeptic, is keeping his options open.
