American Victims of Terrorism Compensation Act
Sponsored By: Senator John Cornyn
Introduced
Summary
Expanded, time‑bound funding for U.S. victims of state‑sponsored terrorism. This bill would clarify and widen the sources and timing of money in the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund, set firm deadlines for fifth‑round and supplemental payments, create annual pro rata payments starting in 2026, and add stricter reporting and oversight rules.
Show full summary
- Claimants (victims): Would require fifth‑round payments to be distributed by March 14, 2025 and would begin annual pro rata payments in 2026 so eligible victims get more predictable, regular distributions.
- Funding mechanics: Would direct specific forfeiture and penalty deposits into the Fund, including a $1.5 billion deposit to the Crime Victims Fund, and would authorize annual transfers equal to 50% of excess unobligated balances from DOJ and Treasury forfeiture funds.
- Administration and oversight: Would limit Special Master use of Department of Justice personnel to 10 full‑time equivalents with their costs paid from the Fund, require an annual Attorney General report posted by March 1, and mandate a GAO report by April 1, 2025 plus triennial evaluations thereafter.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Large Binance payments to victims
If enacted, the bill would treat $898.6 million as already deposited into the Victims Fund and designate about $1.91 billion more from Binance-related proceedings as Fund money. It would also require $1.51 billion of those Binance-related proceeds to go to the Crime Victims Fund. Interest on these amounts would accrue to the Victims Fund. Amounts paid by defendants in the named Binance cases would have to be sent to the Fund faster — within 30 days after receipt or 15 days after enactment, whichever is later.
More forfeiture money each year
If enacted, each year the government would transfer half of the extra unused money and half the interest from the DOJ Assets Forfeiture Fund and the Treasury Forfeiture Fund into the Victims Fund. The calculation would be made on the later of January 31 or when a final appropriations Act is enacted, and transfers must happen within 30 days. The bill would also expand which forfeitures must go to the Victims Fund to include many IEEPA/TWEA cases and amounts tied to business with state sponsors of terrorism. Agencies would have to deposit many forfeiture receipts faster — generally within 60 days after receipt or 30 days after enactment, whichever is later.
Faster and yearly victim payouts
If enacted, the Special Master would have to pay fifth‑round authorizations made by January 1, 2025 by March 14, 2025. Any extra money in the lump‑sum catch‑up reserve would be moved into the Victims Fund within 30 days of enactment and added to a supplemental fifth‑round payment that the Special Master must authorize by April 1, 2025 and send by June 30, 2025 to eligible fifth‑round claimants. Starting January 1, 2026 and each January 1 after, the Special Master could authorize pro rata payments to eligible claimants from newly deposited qualifying amounts and interest. Authorized yearly payments must be paid during that calendar year, or within one year if authorized before January 1.
Limit on DOJ staff and paid costs
If enacted, the Special Master could use no more than 10 full‑time DOJ staff to help run the program. Any costs for those staff and other administrative costs would have to be paid from the Victims Fund. That would reduce the amount left in the Fund for claimant payments.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
John Cornyn
TX • R
Cosponsors
Richard Blumenthal
CT • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Kevin Cramer
ND • R
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Charles Schumer
NY • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Adam Schiff
CA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Ted Cruz
TX • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
David McCormick
PA • R
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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