Congressman Byron Donalds, who represents Florida’s 19th district in the U.S. Congress, posted a series of statements on July 22, 2025, addressing concerns about the increasing cost of flood insurance and legislative efforts to provide relief.
In his first post, Donalds wrote, “The rising cost of flood insurance is crushing hardworking Floridians. This is unacceptable, this must change, & this critical issue must be addressed to ensure our economy works for ALL AMERICANS. The time for action is now & I have introduced H.R. 4494 to tackle this HEAD-ON.” (July 22, 2025).
He followed up by acknowledging support from other lawmakers: “Thank you @SenRickScott for your leadership of Senate companion bill S.2313 – The Flood Insurance Relief Act. Thank you @SenAshleyMoody for your co-leadership. See here for bill text of H.R.4494: https://t.co/ZD4c4MEFXo See here for bill text of S.2313: https://t.co/n36taxPK9z” (July 22, 2025).
Explaining the contents of the proposed legislation, Donalds stated, “H.R. 4494 provides much-needed tax relief for NFIP & private insurance policyholders across SW Florida, the Sunshine State, & the nation. Specifically, this bill combats the rising cost of flood insurance by creating a non-refundable tax deduction for flood insurance premiums.” (July 22, 2025).
Byron Donalds has served in Congress since replacing Francis Rooney in 2021 and previously held office in the Florida House of Representatives from 2016 to 2020. Born in Brooklyn in 1978 and currently residing in Naples, Donalds holds degrees from both Florida A&M University and Florida State University.
