GOP Rep. Jeb Hensarling wants U.S. residents living in flood plains to move elsewhere to protect themselves and save taxpayer dollars being spent rebuilding flooded houses, Hensarling told CNBC Thursday.
Two hurricanes hit the southern coast of the United States last month, causing widespread flooding in parts of Texas and Florida. The disasters are draining funds from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which is already $23 billion in debt.
“We have these repetitive loss properties,” Hensarling told CNBC’s Squawk Box. “If all we do is force federal taxpayers to build the same home in the same fashion in the same location and expect a different result, we all know that is the classic definition of insanity.”
Hensarling described one Louisiana home that has been flooded more than 40 times, costing taxpayers nearly half a million dollars in repairs.
“At some point, God is telling you to move,” Hensarling said.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.