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American Victims of Terrorism Compensation Act

USA119th CongressHR-1530| House 
| Updated: 2/24/2025
Michael Lawler

Michael Lawler

Republican Representative

New York

Cosponsors (72)
John W. Mannion (Democratic)Donald Norcross (Democratic)Elise M. Stefanik (Republican)Kelly Morrison (Democratic)Mikie Sherrill (Democratic)Gabe Amo (Democratic)Ritchie Torres (Democratic)Christopher R. Deluzio (Democratic)Chrissy Houlahan (Democratic)Jefferson Van Drew (Republican)Patrick Ryan (Democratic)Lance Gooden (Republican)Greg Landsman (Democratic)Laura Gillen (Democratic)Claudia Tenney (Republican)Juan Vargas (Democratic)Eugene Simon Vindman (Democratic)Young Kim (Republican)J. Luis Correa (Democratic)Dina Titus (Democratic)Melanie A. Stansbury (Democratic)Suzan K. DelBene (Democratic)Angie Craig (Democratic)Janelle S. Bynum (Democratic)Thomas R. Suozzi (Democratic)Andrew R. Garbarino (Republican)Jake Auchincloss (Democratic)Ted Lieu (Democratic)Rudy Yakym (Republican)Thomas H. Kean (Republican)Barry Loudermilk (Republican)George Latimer (Democratic)Henry C. "Hank" Johnson (Democratic)Derek Tran (Democratic)Don Bacon (Republican)Mike Flood (Republican)Joseph D. Morelle (Democratic)Pat Fallon (Republican)Suhas Subramanyam (Democratic)Daniel S. Goldman (Democratic)Gregory W. Meeks (Democratic)Jahana Hayes (Democratic)Jerrold Nadler (Democratic)LaMonica McIver (Democratic)Nicholas A. Langworthy (Republican)Troy E. Nehls (Republican)Laurel M. Lee (Republican)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Val T. Hoyle (Democratic)August Pfluger (Republican)Nellie Pou (Democratic)Timothy M. Kennedy (Democratic)Abraham J. Hamadeh (Republican)Russell Fry (Republican)Addison P. McDowell (Republican)Cleo Fields (Democratic)Wesley Hunt (Republican)Rick Larsen (Democratic)Max L. Miller (Republican)Deborah K. Ross (Democratic)Randy Feenstra (Republican)Jared Moskowitz (Democratic)Josh Gottheimer (Democratic)Nick LaLota (Republican)Frank Pallone (Democratic)Susie Lee (Democratic)Grace Meng (Democratic)Bradley Scott Schneider (Democratic)Jennifer A. Kiggans (Republican)Mike Levin (Democratic)Nicole Malliotakis (Republican)Vern Buchanan (Republican)

Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The American Victims of Terrorism Compensation Act seeks to amend the Justice for United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Act, primarily to enhance and clarify the funding mechanisms for the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund. The core purpose is to ensure more consistent and meaningful distributions to eligible claimants who have suffered from state-sponsored terrorism. This legislation introduces several new and substantial funding streams to bolster the Fund's financial capacity. A significant provision directs specific amounts from the forfeiture proceedings against Binance Holdings Limited into the Fund, totaling over $2.8 billion, plus accrued interest. Additionally, the bill mandates annual transfers of 50 percent of the excess unobligated balances from both the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund and the Department of the Treasury Forfeiture Fund , along with half of the interest earned on their investments. These transfers are designed to provide a recurring and substantial source of revenue for the victims' compensation. The bill also clarifies that all funds and net proceeds forfeited to the United States after the bill's enactment, stemming from violations of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act or the Trading with the Enemy Act, or involving state sponsors of terrorism, must be deposited into the Fund. Agencies are required to deposit these funds within 60 days of receipt or 30 days of enactment. Furthermore, it revises the annual payment schedule, requiring the Special Master or Attorney General to authorize additional pro rata payments to claimants on January 1, 2026, and each year thereafter, incorporating all newly received amounts and interest. To enhance transparency and oversight, the legislation establishes new reporting requirements. The Attorney General must submit an annual report to Congress detailing the Fund's balance, deposits, disbursements, and sources of funding, which will also be published online. The Comptroller General of the United States is mandated to produce an initial report by April 1, 2025, listing significant forfeitures and their destinations since 2020, followed by a triennial report evaluating the Fund's administration, funding sufficiency, and payment trends. Finally, the bill allows the Special Master to utilize up to 10 full-time equivalent Department of Justice personnel to assist in administering the Fund, with associated costs paid from the Fund itself. It also directs any remaining amounts in the lump sum catch-up payment reserve fund, plus interest, to be deposited into the Fund for a supplemental fifth-round distribution to eligible claimants by June 30, 2025.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-8419
American Victims of Terrorism Compensation Act
Feb 24, 2025
Introduced in House
Feb 24, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Feb 25, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-706
Introduced in Senate
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-8419
    American Victims of Terrorism Compensation Act


  • February 24, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • February 24, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.


  • February 25, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-706
    Introduced in Senate

Crime and Law Enforcement

Related Bills

  • S 119-706: American Victims of Terrorism Compensation Act
Congressional oversightCrime victimsGovernment studies and investigationsGovernment trust fundsTerrorism

American Victims of Terrorism Compensation Act

USA119th CongressHR-1530| House 
| Updated: 2/24/2025
The American Victims of Terrorism Compensation Act seeks to amend the Justice for United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Act, primarily to enhance and clarify the funding mechanisms for the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund. The core purpose is to ensure more consistent and meaningful distributions to eligible claimants who have suffered from state-sponsored terrorism. This legislation introduces several new and substantial funding streams to bolster the Fund's financial capacity. A significant provision directs specific amounts from the forfeiture proceedings against Binance Holdings Limited into the Fund, totaling over $2.8 billion, plus accrued interest. Additionally, the bill mandates annual transfers of 50 percent of the excess unobligated balances from both the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund and the Department of the Treasury Forfeiture Fund , along with half of the interest earned on their investments. These transfers are designed to provide a recurring and substantial source of revenue for the victims' compensation. The bill also clarifies that all funds and net proceeds forfeited to the United States after the bill's enactment, stemming from violations of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act or the Trading with the Enemy Act, or involving state sponsors of terrorism, must be deposited into the Fund. Agencies are required to deposit these funds within 60 days of receipt or 30 days of enactment. Furthermore, it revises the annual payment schedule, requiring the Special Master or Attorney General to authorize additional pro rata payments to claimants on January 1, 2026, and each year thereafter, incorporating all newly received amounts and interest. To enhance transparency and oversight, the legislation establishes new reporting requirements. The Attorney General must submit an annual report to Congress detailing the Fund's balance, deposits, disbursements, and sources of funding, which will also be published online. The Comptroller General of the United States is mandated to produce an initial report by April 1, 2025, listing significant forfeitures and their destinations since 2020, followed by a triennial report evaluating the Fund's administration, funding sufficiency, and payment trends. Finally, the bill allows the Special Master to utilize up to 10 full-time equivalent Department of Justice personnel to assist in administering the Fund, with associated costs paid from the Fund itself. It also directs any remaining amounts in the lump sum catch-up payment reserve fund, plus interest, to be deposited into the Fund for a supplemental fifth-round distribution to eligible claimants by June 30, 2025.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-8419
American Victims of Terrorism Compensation Act
Feb 24, 2025
Introduced in House
Feb 24, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Feb 25, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-706
Introduced in Senate
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-8419
    American Victims of Terrorism Compensation Act


  • February 24, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • February 24, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.


  • February 25, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-706
    Introduced in Senate
Michael Lawler

Michael Lawler

Republican Representative

New York

Cosponsors (72)
John W. Mannion (Democratic)Donald Norcross (Democratic)Elise M. Stefanik (Republican)Kelly Morrison (Democratic)Mikie Sherrill (Democratic)Gabe Amo (Democratic)Ritchie Torres (Democratic)Christopher R. Deluzio (Democratic)Chrissy Houlahan (Democratic)Jefferson Van Drew (Republican)Patrick Ryan (Democratic)Lance Gooden (Republican)Greg Landsman (Democratic)Laura Gillen (Democratic)Claudia Tenney (Republican)Juan Vargas (Democratic)Eugene Simon Vindman (Democratic)Young Kim (Republican)J. Luis Correa (Democratic)Dina Titus (Democratic)Melanie A. Stansbury (Democratic)Suzan K. DelBene (Democratic)Angie Craig (Democratic)Janelle S. Bynum (Democratic)Thomas R. Suozzi (Democratic)Andrew R. Garbarino (Republican)Jake Auchincloss (Democratic)Ted Lieu (Democratic)Rudy Yakym (Republican)Thomas H. Kean (Republican)Barry Loudermilk (Republican)George Latimer (Democratic)Henry C. "Hank" Johnson (Democratic)Derek Tran (Democratic)Don Bacon (Republican)Mike Flood (Republican)Joseph D. Morelle (Democratic)Pat Fallon (Republican)Suhas Subramanyam (Democratic)Daniel S. Goldman (Democratic)Gregory W. Meeks (Democratic)Jahana Hayes (Democratic)Jerrold Nadler (Democratic)LaMonica McIver (Democratic)Nicholas A. Langworthy (Republican)Troy E. Nehls (Republican)Laurel M. Lee (Republican)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Val T. Hoyle (Democratic)August Pfluger (Republican)Nellie Pou (Democratic)Timothy M. Kennedy (Democratic)Abraham J. Hamadeh (Republican)Russell Fry (Republican)Addison P. McDowell (Republican)Cleo Fields (Democratic)Wesley Hunt (Republican)Rick Larsen (Democratic)Max L. Miller (Republican)Deborah K. Ross (Democratic)Randy Feenstra (Republican)Jared Moskowitz (Democratic)Josh Gottheimer (Democratic)Nick LaLota (Republican)Frank Pallone (Democratic)Susie Lee (Democratic)Grace Meng (Democratic)Bradley Scott Schneider (Democratic)Jennifer A. Kiggans (Republican)Mike Levin (Democratic)Nicole Malliotakis (Republican)Vern Buchanan (Republican)

Judiciary Committee

Crime and Law Enforcement

Related Bills

  • S 119-706: American Victims of Terrorism Compensation Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Congressional oversightCrime victimsGovernment studies and investigationsGovernment trust fundsTerrorism