Terrorism Risk Insurance Act
Before the September 11 attacks, business insurers generally neither charged for nor specifically excluded terrorism coverage. The scope of the 9/11 attacks and the resulting $40 billion estimated insured loss changed perceptions dramatically. It was the worst terrorist attack on record for both property and fatalities and the worst international attack on American soil since the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, as nearly 3,000 people lost their lives in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Stonycreek Township near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Much of the financial cost from the 9/11 attacks fell on reinsurers (that further spread the risk assumed by primary insurers). Unable to accurately model or price terrorism exposures, reinsurers largely withdrew from the market for terrorism coverage. Without reinsurance, primary insurers were then compelled to exclude terrorism. Most state insurance regulators approved terrorism exclusions for use by primary insurers. Many businesses were not able to purchase insurance protection against future terrorist attacks. This situation was a serious threat to industries where lenders and investors required terrorism protection for their investments. Real estate, transportation, construction, energy, and utility sectors of the economy were vulnerable, creating broader threats to the national economy. Congress responded by enacting TRIA in November 2002 to provide a government reinsurance backstop in case of large-scale terrorist attacks, requiring that business insurers offer terrorism coverage for the types of insurance included in the act. Congress extended and amended TRIA in December 2005 and December 2007. Following enactment of the 2007 TRIA extension, the Congressional Budget Office forecast a net federal budget cost of $0 for TRIA through 2017. "Under TRIA, the federal government would help insurers cover losses in the event of a terrorist attack under certain conditions, and would also impose assessments on the insurance industry to recover all or a portion of the federal payments. "
The act expired on December 31, 2014, but was renewed at the start of the next congress, with President Barack Obama signing the extension on January 12, 2015. Many experts warn that "construction projects could be stalled and commercial loans on shopping malls, utilities and skyscrapers could be in jeopardy." In addition, according to the Baltimore Sun, the National Football League denied rumors that it would cancel the Super Bowl over the issue. The act was set to expire on December 31, 2019, but was renewed under the 116th Congress as part of an omnibus spending bill, with President Donald Trump signing the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 on December 20, 2019. The Act includes the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2019 which further extends the TRIPRA for an additional 7 years, expiring on December 31, 2027. The Secretary of the Treasury oversees the Terrorism Insurance Program, with the assistance of the Federal Insurance Office. The Secretary has authority to establish regulations and procedures to implement TRIA. The term "act of terrorism" is defined in the act as: any act certified by the Secretary of the Treasury, in concurrence with the Secretary of Homeland Security and Attorney General, to be an act that is dangerous to human life, property, or infrastructure and to have resulted in damage within the U.S. (or outside the U.S. in the case of a U.S.-flagged vessel, aircraft or premises of a U.S. mission). It must be committed as part of an effort to coerce U.S. civilians or to influence either policy or conduct of the U.S. Government through coercion. The definition includes both foreign and domestic terrorists. The Secretary may not delegate this certification authority and his or her decision to either certify or not certify an act of terrorism is not subject to judicial review. TRIA created a U.S. government reinsurance facility to provide reinsurance coverage to insurance companies following a declared terrorism event. TRIA is a short-term measure designed to help the insurance market recover from 9/11 and develop solutions to insuring terrorism. TRIA established the Federal Terrorism Insurance Program to administer a system of shared public/private compensation for insured losses resulting from acts of terrorism in order to protect consumers and create transitional period for private insurance markets to stabilize -Is a recipient of direct earned premiums for any type of commercial property and casualty insurance coverage;
-Is licensed (or admitted) to provide insurance in any State, approved for the purpose of offering property and casualty insurance by a Federal agency in connection with maritime, energy, or aviation activity, or is a State residual market insurance entity or State workers' compensation fund
-And meets any other criteria that the Secretary may reasonably prescribe.
History
The Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) (, ) is a United States federal law signed into law by President George W. Bush on November 26, 2002. The Act was originally set to expire December 31, 2005, was extended for two years in December 2005, and was extended again on December 26, 2007. The Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act expired on December 31, 2014. On January 7, 2015 the House of Representatives voted 416-5 to approve the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2015, (, ) extending the TRIA through the year 2020. On January 12, 2015, President Barack Obama signed the extension into law. TRIA was extended for a third time under the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2015 (TRIPRA of 2015) and was scheduled to expire on December 31, 2020. On December 17, 2019 the House of Representatives voted 297-120 to approve the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (, ) which included the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2019 extending the TRIA through the year 2027. The following day, President Donald Trump signed the bill into law. TRIA was extended for a fourth time under the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2019 (TRIPRA of 2019) and is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2027.