Jeff Duncan: “This bill, H.R. 98, will reauthorize the war risk insurance program through December of the year 2003. However, the war…”

“This bill, H.R. 98, will reauthorize the war risk insurance program through December of the year 2003. However, the war risk insurance program is essential to the safety and security needs of our Nation. No airline will provide air service if its planes are not insured. Commercial insurance policies contain a provision stating that aircraft will not be covered if the aircraft flies into a war zone. The war risk insurance program provides insurance for commercial airlines to provide flights to high-risk areas. These flights are usually requested by our government agencies for services such as ferrying troops and supplies. With this insurance, commercial airlines are willing to take on these dangerous missions. Without this insurance, a key piece of our national security program is missing. The program is due to expire in March of this year. It is essential that we authorize this program to protect our Nation in times of need. This program has covered thousands and thousands of flights into war zones, and it is very, very necessary.”