Rep. Andy Harris: The National Flood Insurance Program needs reform

We have all seen firsthand how Maryland families and small businesses are hurting from Hurricane Sandy. We all want them to receive the federal assistance they deserve. But we have an obligation to not only fulfill the needs of those impacted by this storm, but ensure Americans are protected from future disasters.

On Jan. 4, in response to Hurricane Sandy, Congress considered a bill to deal with the National Flood Insurance Program. The NFIP was created in 1968 to fill a gap created when private insurers left the market due to the high risk of providing flood insurance. Appropriately, the ...