Climate Changed

Flood Policy Standoff Tests Democrats' Promise of Climate Action

  • Party resists cuts to subsidies for flood insurance program
  • Experts say those subsidies keep people living in risky areas
A vehicle sits partially submerged in floodwaters after Hurricane Florence hit in Beaulaville, North Carolina, U.S., on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018.Photographer: Callaghan O'Hare/Bloomberg
Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

A Congressional deadlock over flood insurance highlights the difficulty of enacting the type of reforms urged last week in a U.S. government report on climate change -- even for Democrats, who embraced the report’s findings.

The heavily indebted National Flood Insurance Program, which provides subsidized coverage for homes in flood-prone areas, is scheduled to expire at midnight on Friday after months of debate over long-term changes. Both the House and Senate passed a one-week extension on Thursday night. That extension must now be signed by President Donald Trump.