House set to debate terrorism insurance bill extension News
House set to debate terrorism insurance bill extension

[JURIST] A bill [PDF text] renewing the 2002 Terrorism Risk Insurance Act [text] will be debated in the US House of Representatives later this week, according to acting House Majority Leader Roy Blunt (R-MS) [official website]. The original law, passed after 9/11 and set to expire on December 31, 2005, required insurers to offer terrorism insurance but capped private insurance company liability at $5 million, with the government reimbursing any excess liability. The Senate version of the bill [PDF text], passed last month and supported by the White House, increases the cap to $50 million in 2006 and $100 million in 2007. Some insurers and homeowners would like to see the original bill extended in its current form, saying that it promotes construction and economic progress. Leaders expect the bill to be swiftly passed, as the House is operating under a suspension calendar this week, where bills require a two-thirds majority to pass and debate is limited to 40 minutes. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Indian National Congress founded

The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded on December 28, 1885 in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. In subsequent decades, the so-called Congress Party would advocate for Indian independence from the UK, which was eventually achieved in 1947. The first Prime Minister of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru, was elected as a member of the INC. Learn more about the history and founding of the Indian National Congress.

Congress recognized Pledge of Allegiance

On December 28, 1945, Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance and encouraged its recitation in schools. The Pledge was supposedly written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus Day. The words “under God” were added by Congress in 1954. The revised version of the Pledge was the subject of litigation before the United States Supreme Court originally brought by Michael Newdow, a parent who unsuccessfully objected to his daughter's school district policy requiring daily recitation of the Pledge. The court ruled that Newdow had no standing.

Nepal ends monarchy, establishes republic

On December 28, 2007, the Kingdom of Nepal's interim parliament ended the country's monarchy and established the Republic of Nepal. Free elections were held on April 10 of the following year to elect a Constituent Assembly.

Learn more about the rise of democracy in Nepal.