November 26 - 30, 2001

Access to Terrorism Insurance

On November 29, 2001, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3357, the Terrorism Risk Protection Act.

In addition to the tragic loss of life that resulted from the events of September 11, the attacks have inflicted what may be the largest losses ever incurred by the insurance industry from a single event. With uncertainty over the extent of their existing losses and the threat of additional terrorist attacks looming, insurers have indicated that they no longer intend to offer coverage for terrorist attacks or will only offer such coverage on a limited basis at an extremely high cost.

Many businesses require terrorism risk insurance to operate, and there is a high probability that our economy would suffer greatly without the availability of meaningful and affordable terrorism risk coverage. The Terrorism Risk Protection Act helps protect our economy by creating a temporary risk-sharing program where the federal government provides financial assistance to insurers in the event of another terrorist attack. Should another terrorist act occurs, taxpayers dollars would remain protected, as the insurance industry would be required to repay any assistance it receives through assessments and surcharges that would be imposed on insurers.

H.R. 3357 passed the House with a vote of 227 to 193.

Fighting the War on Terrorism and Restoring the U.S. Military

On November 28, 2001, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3338, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, which provides the military resources we need to win the war on terrorism, defend our homeland, and secure our national security interests. In light of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on America, it is more important than ever to ensure that our nation's military has the proper tools and resources to win the war against terrorism. The bill provides $317.5 billion for Department of Defense programs, marking the most significant increase to the defense budget since the mid-1980s.

Specifically, it provides a $19 billion increase over last year's level to sustain military personnel, develop and purchase military hardware, and maintain the operational readiness of U.S. forces. I am pleased that the House of Representatives sent a message of unity, bipartisanship, and commitment to winning the global campaign against terrorism by passing the Department of Defense Appropriations Act by a vote of 406-20.

Transportation Appropriations Act

On November 30, 2001, the House of Representatives approved H.R. 2299, the FY 2002 Transportation Appropriations Act.

The Puget Sound region suffers from the second-worst congestion in the nation. Traffic congestion threatens our quality of life and stifles Washington's economy. I supported H.R. 2299, in which we were able to secure funding for several important transportation projects in Washington State including: