Congressman Ron Klein weekly report
September 9th, 2008
FROM STAFF REPORTS
The day after Hurricane Gustav made landfall on the Gulf Coast, and with named storms Hanna, Ike and Josephine threatening, Congressman Ron Klein (FL-22) issued the following statement on the inclusion of national catastrophe insurance in the official platforms of both the Democratic and Republican parties for the first time.
“First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers are with the Gulf Coast residents still dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav,” Klein said. “We are extremely fortunate that this storm did not wreak the kind of havoc we saw three years ago with Hurricane Katrina, and major reason for that is the much-improved planning of the federal, state and local officials involved. They are to be commended, as are the 2 million residents of New Orleans who safely evacuated and are now returning home.
“With a shocking three more named storms threatening to strike, now is not the time for complacency. I urge every coastal resident to take all necessary steps to ensure that their families are prepared. But in addition to the individual planning and preparation that can save lives, we need a national solution that allows families devastated by major disasters to recover quickly and restore their homes and property. That is why I worked with Rep. Tim Mahoney and our colleagues to pass the bipartisan Homeowners’ Defense Act (H.R. 3355) out of the House of Representatives and create a national catastrophe insurance pool that will bring down the skyrocketing cost of homeowners’ insurance. This marks the first time legislation of this kind has ever passed a house of Congress.
“Natural disasters do not discriminate by political party – when a storm hits, we are all affected. I am pleased that that both major political parties have addressed the urgent need for a national catastrophe fund in their party platforms. But while the Democratic platform explicitly states their support for a comprehensive solution, I am disappointed that the Republican platform simply “recognize[s] the need” for a plan. Recognizing the need without offering any solutions won’t save a single house this hurricane season.
“Florida voters will not be satisfied with a mere nod to catastrophe insurance. They expect real solutions, and it is my hope that Republicans and Democrats in Congress will stand together to deliver that solution and sign the catastrophe fund into law.”
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