U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-3) issued the following statement after the Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance held a hearing titled “Implementation of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Act: Protecting Taxpayers and Homeowners”:

“As Vice Chairman of the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, and with hundreds of miles of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers and the Lake of the Ozarks in the 3^rd District, I welcomed the opportunity to hear from the witnesses, particularly Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate. I have heard from many of my constituents who are saddled with serious problems stemming from the National Flood Insurance Program. In light of that, I have requested that senior FEMA officials visit the 3^rd District and to re-examine the Missouri floodplain maps. As a result of today’s hearing, Administrator Fugate has agreed to my request that he and FEMA leadership meet with representatives from the housing and insurance industries in an effort to improve communication and address the concerns that plague the program. It is my hope that, as a result of this hearing, and after talking with Administrator Fugate, there will soon be greater accountability in the program and solutions for those in the 3^rd District.”

NOTE: A video of Luetkemeyer during the hearing today is available on his YouTube page at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7cZg4UlwH4&feature=youtu.be.