Cliff Bentz (R-OR)
National Flood Insurance Program Clarification Act of 2026
A Republican bill with 4 Republican cosponsors · See all 4 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is called the "National Flood Insurance Program Clarification Act of 2026". It seeks to limit how the Endangered Species Act applies to certain actions under the national flood insurance program. Specifically, it states that Section 7(a) of the Endangered Species Act will not apply to certain actions by the Administrator. It also requires the withdrawal of existing biological opinions that evaluate the impacts of the national flood insurance program. Additionally, it adds a requirement that local measures for land management and use must be for the sole purpose of protecting property and human health.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +3
Would business owners be better off under this?
Reduces regulatory burden for properties and developments associated with flood insurance.
- Scored +2
Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster?
May streamline flood insurance administration by reducing regulatory delays.
- Scored +2
Would farmers be better off under this?
Less regulatory oversight from the Endangered Species Act can benefit agricultural land use.
The opposite
- Scored -7
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill limits the application of the Endangered Species Act and mandates the withdrawal of biological opinions.
- Scored -3
Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests?
Limits land management criteria to only protecting property and human health, ignoring ecological factors.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Reduced Regulatory Requirements: By stating that Section 7(a) of the Endangered Species Act shall not apply to specific actions by the Administrator (Section 2(b)), it may remove certain legal hurdles or delays associated with the national flood insurance program.
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Focused Land Management: The amendment to Section 1361(c) ensures that local measures for land management and use are for the "sole purpose of protecting property and human health" (Section 3).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Loss of Environmental Oversight: The bill requires the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries to withdraw existing biological opinions that evaluate the impacts of the national flood insurance program (Section 2(c)).
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Prevention of Future Environmental Reviews: The bill explicitly states that biological opinions withdrawn under Section 2(c) "shall have no effect and shall not be reissued" (Section 2(c)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster? — May streamline flood insurance administration by reducing regulatory delays. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill limits the application of the Endangered Species Act and mandates the withdrawal of biological opinions. Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — Limits land management criteria to only protecting property and human health, ignoring ecological factors.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — Reduces regulatory burden for properties and developments associated with flood insurance. Would farmers be better off under this? — Less regulatory oversight from the Endangered Species Act can benefit agricultural land use. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Reduces federal environmental constraints on local land management in flood-prone rural areas.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — Reducing regulatory hurdles for flood insurance programs may marginally stimulate development.
- 10/22/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/10/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/14/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 3/9/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- Introduced in House
James GallagherRepublican · California
Pat HarriganRepublican · North Carolina
Julia LetlowRepublican · Louisiana
Randy WeberRepublican · Texas