Terrorism insurance bill gains House approval

? The government would cover up to $90 billion annually in insurance claims from any future terrorist attacks under a compromise bill approved Thursday by the House as lawmakers sorted through their final stack of legislation for the year.

The terrorism insurance bill, approved by voice vote, began moving after telephone calls by President Bush to Republican leaders in recent days broke a yearlong logjam. It was expected to be cleared quickly by the Senate and sent to Bush, who says the measure would invigorate the drooping economy.

“This legislation will put hard hats back to work, create construction jobs, improve the legal process and protect taxpayers,” White House spokesman Scott McClellan said.

To gain crucial Democratic support, Bush had to accept no limits on punitive damages, which many Republicans consider a boon to trial lawyers usually allied with Democrats. But GOP leaders said they would revisit the issue of tort reform next year, including the question of punitive damages.

“We’re going to lock the doors of the federal Treasury against the trial lawyers,” said Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Tex., who will be the No. 2 GOP leader in the new Congress next year.

Lawmakers also sent Bush a bill aimed at thwarting terrorism at the country’s 361 seaports, which are considered especially vulnerable to such attacks. The House used a voice vote and senators voted 95-0 for legislation requiring ports to develop security plans, though the measure lacked most of the millions of dollars or more that it would cost.

The activity came as the lame-duck 107th Congress tried squeezing out a last batch of bills before its end. The House hoped to adjourn for the year, while the Senate seemed likely to work into next week on a measure creating a Homeland Security Department and other legislation.