Bipartisan bill to pay US victims of terror attacks reintroduced

(JNS) — Legislation to fund an account that pays compensation to American victims of terrorist attacks was reintroduced Tuesday.

The American Victims of Terror Compensation Act, which has Democratic and Republican sponsors in both houses of Congress, is designed to guarantee that victims who win judgments against Iran, Cuba, North Korea, Syria and other state sponsors of terror can be compensated.

“While we can never bring back the loved ones lost in state-sponsored terror attacks like 9/11, we must ensure they have the support they need to carry on,” Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) said at a press conference outside the U.S. Capitol. “These families deserve nothing less.” 

Some 18,000 victims—including the families of more than 3,000 Americans killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks—are entitled to compensation from the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund, which was established in 2015. The fund has paid out more than $6 billion, per the U.S. Justice Department.

The bill guarantees that the victims will receive an annual payment, provides for increased congressional oversight and adds personnel to operate the fund.

“For far too long, American victims of state-sponsored terrorism, including the families of those lost on Sept. 11, have struggled to receive the compensation they rightfully deserve,” stated Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.).

The fund “was created to ensure they have a path to justice, yet it has failed to deliver in any meaningful way,” Lawler said. “This bipartisan legislation will change that by guaranteeing annual payments to victims, increasing transparency, and holding the fund accountable. We owe it to the thousands of families impacted by terrorism to follow through on our commitments.”