WASHINGTON, July 21 (UPI) -- The White House is opposing a bill that would put the U.S. government in the business of windstorm insurance, saying it's best left to the private sector.
Unlike the National Flood Insurance Program, which grew out of the difficulty homeowners experienced obtaining flood insurance through private or state programs, the proposed House bill on windstorm insurance is unnecessary, a White House statement said.
"Expanding NFIP to cover windstorm insurance would unnecessarily duplicate available insurance products and could 'crowd out' such products where they are offered, while offering little to no savings to the American public," the statement said.
Windstorm insurance is readily available in the private sector and through state insurance plans without federal aid, the White House noted.
The bill before the House is H.R. 1264, the Multiple Peril Insurance Act of 2009.
