President Bush has signed into law a bill to continue the federal terrorism insurance program for two years. The program had been set to expire Dec. 31.
The bill, which the Senate approved on Dec. 16 and the House the following day, extends the 2002 Terrorism Risk Insurance Act through December 2007, assuring that federal "backstop" coverage for major terrorism-related claims will continue. But the new measure requires insurers to pick up a larger share of the risk.