# 119-s-706: American Victims of Terrorism Compensation Act

119-s-706, American Victims of Terrorism Compensation Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX] (R-TX); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-08-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-706
- As of: 2026-08-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-706
- Congress: 119
- Title: American Victims of Terrorism Compensation Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-02-25
- Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX] (R-TX)
- Cosponsors: 6
- Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-08-11

## 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. - 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.

## Cosponsors (6)

- Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (D-CT), 2025-02-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND] (R-ND), 2025-02-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY] (D-NY), 2025-02-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA] (D-CA), 2025-02-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX] (R-TX), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. McCormick, David [R-PA] (R-PA), 2025-09-02T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Large Binance payments to victims: benefit, high. 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…
- More forfeiture money each year: benefit, high. 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…
- Faster and yearly victim payouts: benefit, medium. 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 M…
- Limit on DOJ staff and paid costs: cost, low. 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.

## Related bills

- 119-s-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
- 119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025
- 119-s-1289: 25th Anniversary of 9/11 Commemorative Coin Act
- 119-s-1032: Major Richard Star Act
- 119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former United States Senator for the State of Kansas.
- 119-sres-897: A resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of the Honorable Jon Llewellyn Kyl, former Senator for the State of Arizona.

## Sources
- [119-s-706 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/706)

## Related
- [119-s-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1071)
- [119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1241)
- [119-s-1289: 25th Anniversary of 9/11 Commemorative Coin Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1289)
- [119-s-1032: Major Richard Star Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1032)
- [119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former Uni…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-913)
- [119-sres-897: A resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of the Honorable Jon Llewel…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-897)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-706 (as of 2026-08-11).