Ruben Gallego Celebrates Senate Passage of Terrorism Insurance Bill, Calls on Johnson to Pass It in House

Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) recently announced that his Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act passed, calling on House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to reconvene Congress and pass it.

A Recap of the Bill

Sen. Gallego's bipartisan Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act reauthorizes the 2002 Terrorism Risk Insurance Act, which created a federal reinsurance backstop that lets businesses and industries buy terrorism risk insurance policies.

In addition to reauthorizing the program for another seven years, the bill allows for action taken before December 31st, 2027, to prevent policyholders from facing a coverage gap.

The bill passed out of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee in September and passed the Senate unanimously on Monday.

What Gallego is Saying

"My military service gave me an understanding that terrorism doesn't just take lives the moment it strikes — it leaves behind families, businesses, and communities that must rebuild in its aftermath," said Sen. Gallego through a press release. "We have to be prepared for the worst, and that means making sure businesses aren't left without coverage if a terrorist attack were to happen. Letting this program lapse would put businesses, workers, and taxpayers at unnecessary risk."

As a result, the Arizona Senator called on Speaker Johnson to reconvene the House and pass the bill, stating, "I'm proud to work alongside my colleagues in the Senate to get this bill passed. I urge Speaker Johnson to bring the House back to D.C. from their prolonged vacation to quickly send this bill to the president's desk for signage."

Why is the House Adjourned?

Earlier this September, Speaker Johnson adjourned the House, apparently to let Republicans focus on reelection campaigns as the midterms come down to the wire.

Democrats have criticized the early adjournment, saying the GOP has presided over a "do-nothing Congress" in a recent press conference and pointing to the three government shutdowns and canceled votes over the past year.