Representative Bill Cassidy (R-LA) offered an amendment to H.R. 2217, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2014, which would delay needed flood insurance reforms by preventing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from using its budget to implement a law ending highly subsidized flood insurance rates. These artificially discounted flood insurance rates have led to development and destruction of floodplains. Increasing these premiums to market-based levels would limit floodplain development and encourage the protection of wetlands, forests, and other habitats that effectively mitigate flood damage. On June 5, the House approved the Cassidy amendment by a vote of 281-146 (House roll call vote 203). NO IS THE PRO-ENVIRONMENT VOTE. The Cassidy amendment was included in the FY14 omnibus funding bill signed into law by President Obama on January 17, 2014.