American Victims of Terrorism Compensation Act
Sponsored By: Representative Lawler
Introduced
Summary
This bill would create faster, more predictable funding for victims of state‑sponsored terrorism by directing sanctions, forfeitures, and settlement proceeds into a dedicated victims fund and tightening deposit and distribution rules. It also would add clear accounting and stronger oversight so Congress and the Comptroller General can track payments and remaining claims.
Show full summary
- Victims and families: It would require a supplemental fifth‑round distribution to be authorized by the Special Master by April 1, 2025 and paid by June 30, 2025, and would establish annual pro rata payments starting in 2026 to deliver ongoing payments from the fund.
- Funding streams and transfers: It would direct deposits of sanctions, forfeitures, penalties, fines, settlements, and related interest from actions tied to state sponsors of terrorism and from laws like the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Trading with the Enemy Act. It would also require transfers equal to 50 percent of excess unobligated balances from the Department of Justice and Treasury forfeiture funds and include specific transfers tied to Binance Holdings Limited.
- Administration and oversight: It would cap Special Master support at 10 full‑time equivalent Department of Justice personnel with administrative costs paid from the fund. It would require annual public reports to Congress and a Comptroller General report by January 1, 2027 and every three years after to review fund administration and unpaid claims.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
More money into victim funds
This bill would send more forfeiture money and interest into victim funds. It would recognize $898,619,225 from the Binance case and require $1,912,031,763 more to go into the Victims Fund. It would also send $1,505,475,575 from that matter to the Crime Victims Fund. Binance-related deposits and interest would be due by the later of 30 days after receipt or 15 days after enactment. Other covered forfeitures, including cases under IEEPA or TWEA and cases tied to state sponsors of terrorism, would be due by the later of 60 days after receipt or 30 days after enactment. Each year, DOJ and Treasury would transfer 50% of their excess unobligated forfeiture balances and 50% of related interest within 30 days after the annual determination. All interest earned after agencies receive covered amounts would accrue to the Victims Fund. These changes would not cut past law enforcement equitable sharing or court-ordered restitution already in place.
Faster and ongoing payments to victims
If enacted, eligible claimants would get remaining fifth-round payments authorized by January 1, 2025 paid by March 14, 2025. If a claimant has not provided payment details, the payment would go out as soon as practicable after the information is received. Leftover catch-up reserve money and interest would be moved into the Fund within 30 days after enactment and paid in a supplemental fifth-round by June 30, 2025. Starting January 1, 2026, and each January 1 after that, the Special Master or Attorney General would authorize pro rata payments. Those annual payments would include all available amounts and interest not needed for admin costs, and be paid as soon as practicable that year.
More public reports on forfeiture money
This bill would require a yearly report on the Victims Fund by January 31 to Congress, and a public posting by March 1. The report would list balances, deposits with sources, and payouts, including admin costs. It would also require the GAO to list, by April 1, 2025, all forfeitures and penalties over $10,000,000 since January 1, 2020, where the money went, and any interest earned.
Admin staff cap and Fund costs
This bill would cap support to the Special Master at no more than 10 full-time DOJ staff. It would also require the Victims Fund to pay the costs of those staff and other admin costs. That could reduce money available for claimant payments.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Lawler
NY • R
Cosponsors
Gottheimer
NJ • D
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Malliotakis
NY • R
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Goldman (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Langworthy
NY • R
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Stansbury
NM • D
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Garbarino
NY • R
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Tenney
NY • R
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Torres (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Van Drew
NJ • R
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 2/24/2025
LaLota
NY • R
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Titus
NV • D
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Meng
NY • D
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Nehls
TX • R
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Ryan
NY • D
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Johnson (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Suozzi
NY • D
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Gooden
TX • R
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Nadler
NY • D
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Moskowitz
FL • D
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Pallone
NJ • D
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Gillen
NY • D
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Hayes
CT • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Latimer
NY • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Ross
NC • D
Sponsored 3/6/2025
Larsen (WA)
WA • D
Sponsored 3/6/2025
Fields
LA • D
Sponsored 3/6/2025
Morelle
NY • D
Sponsored 3/6/2025
Subramanyam
VA • D
Sponsored 3/14/2025
Morrison
MN • D
Sponsored 3/14/2025
Lee (NV)
NV • D
Sponsored 3/14/2025
Norcross
NJ • D
Sponsored 3/25/2025
Lieu
CA • D
Sponsored 4/2/2025
Correa
CA • D
Sponsored 4/2/2025
Levin
CA • D
Sponsored 4/7/2025
Buchanan
FL • R
Sponsored 4/7/2025
DelBene
WA • D
Sponsored 4/7/2025
Stefanik
NY • R
Sponsored 4/7/2025
Bacon
NE • R
Sponsored 4/17/2025
Kean
NJ • R
Sponsored 4/17/2025
Hoyle (OR)
OR • D
Sponsored 4/24/2025
Pfluger
TX • R
Sponsored 4/24/2025
Meeks
NY • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Yakym
IN • R
Sponsored 4/30/2025
Fallon
TX • R
Sponsored 5/1/2025
McIver
NJ • D
Sponsored 5/5/2025
Houlahan
PA • D
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Fry
SC • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Vindman
VA • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
McDowell
NC • R
Sponsored 5/20/2025
Tran
CA • D
Sponsored 6/3/2025
Lee (FL)
FL • R
Sponsored 6/3/2025
Sherrill
NJ • D
Sponsored 6/3/2025
Miller (OH)
OH • R
Sponsored 6/3/2025
Craig
MN • D
Sponsored 6/5/2025
Loudermilk
GA • R
Sponsored 6/5/2025
Feenstra
IA • R
Sponsored 6/5/2025
Kiggans (VA)
VA • R
Sponsored 6/9/2025
Pou
NJ • D
Sponsored 6/20/2025
Auchincloss
MA • D
Sponsored 6/20/2025
Bynum
OR • D
Sponsored 6/25/2025
Deluzio
PA • D
Sponsored 7/2/2025
Kim
CA • R
Sponsored 7/21/2025
Flood
NE • R
Sponsored 7/25/2025
Kennedy (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 7/29/2025
Amo
RI • D
Sponsored 8/15/2025
Vargas
CA • D
Sponsored 8/15/2025
Schneider
IL • D
Sponsored 9/4/2025
Hunt
TX • R
Sponsored 9/15/2025
Mannion
NY • D
Sponsored 9/15/2025
Landsman
OH • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Hamadeh (AZ)
AZ • R
Sponsored 1/13/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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