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Earthquake Insurance Affordability Act

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Mar 17, 2011

Earthquake Insurance Affordability Act - Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to guarantee holders of debt against loss of principal or interest, or both, on debt issued by eligible state programs designed to: (1) promote the availability of private capital to provide liquidity and capacity to state earthquake (specifically, residential property) insurance programs, and (2) expedite the payment of claims under such programs and better assist financial recovery from significant earthquakes.

Prescribes operational requirements for eligible state programs which include an established earthquake insurance program that: (1) offers residential property insurance coverage for insured losses to property, contents, and additional living expenses; and (2) does not require insurers to pool resources to provide property insurance coverage for earthquakes.

Includes among such operational requirements that the state: (1) has in effect and enforces, or the appropriate local governments within the state have in effect and enforce, nationally recognized building, seismic-design, and safety codes and consensus-based standards; and (2) has taken actions to establish an insurance rate structure that takes into account measures to mitigate insured losses.

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Directs the Secretary to establish procedures for certification of an eligible state program.

Limits to $5 billion, including interest, the aggregate principal amount of outstanding debt obligations guaranteed by the Secretary.

Makes appropriations to satisfy debt guarantee commitments.

Requires the Secretary, upon request of an eligible state program, to provide such debt guarantees.

Pledges the full faith and credit of the United States to the payment of all guarantees issued under this Act.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
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Who introduced it

Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA] · D–CA

Committees

  • Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee
1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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  1. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

  2. Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1845-1846)

  3. Introduced in Senate

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Dec 11, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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