President Bush has signed legislation that provides a federal financial safety net for insurance companies that face large terrorism-related claims. Construction officials hope that the bill, signed on Nov. 26, will give a push to projects stalled because such insurance coverage has been unavailable or too costly.
At the White House bill signing ceremony, Bush said the new law, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act, "will permit many construction projects to move forward.... Billions of dollars in investments will be more secure. The nation's hard hats will get back to work, being able to put food on the table for their families."