heavily underwrites the flood insurance rates for these areas. The law "ordered FEMA to stop subsidizing flood insurance for second homes and businesses, and for properties that had been swamped multiple times." These changes were to occur gradually over the course of five years. FEMA was also instructed to do a study on the affordability of this process, a study which it has failed to complete. Provisions of the bill The bill would delay the flood insurance premium increases mandated under the Biggert–Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 for four years. During that time, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is supposed to come up with a plan to make the premiums cheaper and reassess its maps of areas that are likely to flood (and therefore require flood insurance). In addition to delaying the onset of higher premiums, the bill would allow homeowners who sell their homes to pass the lower flood insurance premiums on to the next homeowner. Procedural history The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014 was introduced into the United States Senate on January 14, 2014 by Sen. Robert Menendez (D, NJ). Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA) was the main Republican co-sponsor of the bill. The bill was debated and considered on January 27, 28, and 29th, 2014. On January 30, 2014, the Senate voted in Roll Call Vote 19 to pass the bill 67–32. The White House originally released a statement opposing the bill, but changed its mind and supported the bill. Speaker of the House John Boehner indicated that that House might consider the Senate bill. Debate and discussion Supporters of the bill argue that the delay is necessary for economic reasons. They argue that without the delay, flood insurance premiums will increase so much that many of the home and business owners they apply to will be unable to afford coverage and have to leave. Constituents who use the program or are afraid they will be drawn into a floodplain have called their congresspersons to lobby for this bill. Opponents object to the delay because the National Flood Insurance Program is already $24 billion in debt and this change would hurt needed reforms to this program. Opponents of undoing the insurance reforms are described as including budget hawks, insurance companies, scientists, and environmentalists. Alternative proposals Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) offered an amendment that would have set up a graduated phase in of a maximum