US CONGRESS RENEWS NFIP UNTIL MID-JUNE

The US House of Representatives last week approved the re-authorisation of the National Flood Insurance Programme until June 14. The programme was to have expired on May 31. The House vote came days after the Senate had approved the short-term extension. A six-month extension had been included in a $19.1bn disaster-aid bill that the Senate approved last week but that legislation was held up in the House by three Republican lawmakers who objected to a unanimous consent vote on such a large funding package. The House expects to pass the aid bill – and the longer NFIP extension – after members return from their spring recess this week.