Ros-Lehtinen Relieved That FEMA Will Grant Extension For Monroe County To Comply With NFIP Court Settlement; Congresswoman Will Work Towards Permanent & Fair Solution For Keys Residents

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) issued the following statement after the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) extended the deadline for Monroe County to comply with a court settlement regarding the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and flood policies in endangered species habitats.

Ros-Lehtinen had written a letter to FEMA expressing that the sudden threat of probation was reckless and that FEMA should enter into genuine discussions with Monroe County in order to ensure that Keys residents remain eligible for NFIP. Her letter prompted FEMA to reach out to the county and subsequently extend their implementation deadline until June 1st, 2012.

Said Ros-Lehtinen, “While I am pleased that FEMA has given the County this breathing room, I still believe that FEMA’s actions are unreasonable. Monroe County, and more importantly its residents, should not be forced to take on burdensome liability and costs because of a lawsuit against FEMA. I will continue working to see that a solution can be reached that is acceptable to the residents of the Florida Keys.”

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