FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UNION OF ORTHODOX JEWISH CONGREGATIONS APPLAUDS HOUSE PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION TO PROTECT TRAVELERS FROM DISCRIMINATORY INSURANCE PRACTICES

Today, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization, welcomed the House of Representatives’ passage of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Revision and Extension Act of 2007 which included a provision to ban discrimination in life insurance policies for travelers to Israel and other lawful destinations.

A handful of states, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, and Washington, already have similar anti-discriminatory laws on the books, but the passage in the House was the first step in providing federal protection for foreign travelers.

Nathan Diament, Director of the Union’s Institute for Public Affairs stated:

We are pleased that Congress has taken upon itself to end this practice of unfair life insurance denials, based solely on past or future travel plans to Israel. This legislation will have a broad impact on all types of travelers, from businessmen to students, and will now enable them to obtain a life insurance policy from the carrier of their choice. We applaud the leadership of Reps. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-FL), Barney Frank (D-MA), Spencer Bachus (R-AL), and Michael Capuano (D-MA) in passing this legislation, and call upon the Senate to take up similar measures so that this act can be signed into law.

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