Update:  The legislation was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on September 16, 2007.  More

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New York, NY, July 28, 2005 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has welcomed the introduction of federal legislation that would protect travelers from being denied life insurance based on future travel plans.  The League, which has supported similar legislative initiatives at the state level, joined today with Capitol Hill lawmakers and other supporters at a news conference announcing the Life Insurance Fairness for Travelers Act.

"The practice of insurance companies denying life insurance to applicants on the basis of lawful future travel plans is wrong," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director.  "We have seen too many instances of unjustified life insurance denials based on past or future travel to Israel, without any demonstration of increased risk associated with such travel.  This unfair policy impacts everyone from tourists to corporate executives and to students studying abroad."

New York, Illinois and Maryland have enacted legislation protecting applicants from being denied life insurance based on past travel, and Washington State has enacted a law that prevents discrimination based on both past and future foreign travel.

"We understand that the insurance industry relies on risk assessment to determine whether to provide coverage, but denials should only occur when bona fide statistical differences in risk or exposure have been substantiated," said Mr. Foxman.

ADL commended the bill's sponsors, Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, for their leadership in introducing the measure.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.