NU Online News Service, Feb. 25, 2:05 p.m.EST

A House hearing has been scheduled for March 9 on the status ofthe National Flood Insurance Program amid signs legislationreauthorizing the program that passed the House last year will soonbe re-introduced—albeit with some changes sought by theindustry.

Rep. Judy Biggert, R-Ill., chairwoman of the Insurance, Housingand Community Opportunity Subcommittee of the House FinancialServices Committee has called the hearing.

Industry officials who asked not to be named, confirmed that Ms.Biggert has agreed to sponsor legislation reauthorizing for fiveyears the program that passed the House in July.

The Senate did not take up the bill. The program has beenoperating on temporary extensions since it originally ran out onSept. 30, 2008. The current extension expires at the end of thegovernment fiscal year, Sept. 30.

The legislation includes provisions designed to phase in marketrates and reduce instances where a homeowner submits multipleclaims.

Last year's legislation, H.R. 5114, the "Flood Insurance Reformand Priorities Act of 2010," passed the House 329-90 in July. Itwas sponsored by Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif.

The legislation is not expected to include an amendment added onthe floor that would require write-your-own insurers to agree thatthey will not use "anti-concurrent causation" language to excludecoverage of wind damage simply because there is also flood damageto the property.

The industry vehemently opposed this provision, and its sponsor,Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Miss., was defeated for re-election lastNovember, with insurers reportedly contributing strongly to thecampaign of his successor, Steven Palazzo, now R-Miss.

Another provision likely to draw renewed scrutiny wouldauthorize the Federal Emergency Management Agency, whichadministers the program, to spend up to $250 million annually torespond to consumer requests for information about their status inthe program, and whether they are subject to higher rates throughremapping, for example.

Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, now a member of theRepublican-controlled leadership of the committee, stronglyobjected to this provision, and may try to have it deleted.

The new bill is expected to be silent on dealing with thecurrent NFIP deficit of more than $18 billion, although that couldgenerate criticism.