American Victims of Terrorism Compensation Act
Sponsored By: Representative Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
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, Michael [R-NY-17]
NY • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
NJ • D
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11]
NY • R
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
NY • D
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Langworthy
NY • R
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Stansbury
NM • D
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Rep. Garbarino, Andrew R. [R-NY-2]
NY • R
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24]
NY • R
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]
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
Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
NV • D
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]
NY • D
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Nehls
TX • R
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Rep. Ryan, Patrick [D-NY-18]
NY • D
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Johnson (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3]
NY • D
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Rep. Gooden, Lance [R-TX-5]
TX • R
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12]
NY • D
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23]
FL • D
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Pallone
NJ • D
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Rep. Gillen, Laura [D-NY-4]
NY • D
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
CT • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16]
NY • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]
NC • D
Sponsored 3/6/2025
Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2]
WA • D
Sponsored 3/6/2025
Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6]
LA • D
Sponsored 3/6/2025
Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/6/2025
Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10]
VA • D
Sponsored 3/14/2025
Rep. Morrison, Kelly [D-MN-3]
MN • D
Sponsored 3/14/2025
Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3]
NV • D
Sponsored 3/14/2025
Norcross
NJ • D
Sponsored 3/25/2025
Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/2/2025
Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46]
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
Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21]
NY • R
Sponsored 4/7/2025
Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]
NE • R
Sponsored 4/17/2025
Kean
NJ • R
Sponsored 4/17/2025
Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4]
OR • D
Sponsored 4/24/2025
Pfluger
TX • R
Sponsored 4/24/2025
Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5]
NY • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Yakym, Rudy [R-IN-2]
IN • R
Sponsored 4/30/2025
Rep. Fallon, Pat [R-TX-4]
TX • R
Sponsored 5/1/2025
Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10]
NJ • D
Sponsored 5/5/2025
Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]
PA • D
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Rep. Fry, Russell [R-SC-7]
SC • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
VA • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
McDowell
NC • R
Sponsored 5/20/2025
Rep. Tran, Derek [D-CA-45]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/3/2025
Lee (FL)
FL • R
Sponsored 6/3/2025
Sherrill
NJ • D
Sponsored 6/3/2025
Rep. Miller, Max L. [R-OH-7]
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
Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2]
VA • R
Sponsored 6/9/2025
Rep. Pou, Nellie [D-NJ-9]
NJ • D
Sponsored 6/20/2025
Auchincloss
MA • D
Sponsored 6/20/2025
Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5]
OR • D
Sponsored 6/25/2025
Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]
PA • D
Sponsored 7/2/2025
Rep. Kim, Young [R-CA-40]
CA • R
Sponsored 7/21/2025
Rep. Flood, Mike [R-NE-1]
NE • R
Sponsored 7/25/2025
Kennedy (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 7/29/2025
Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1]
RI • D
Sponsored 8/15/2025
Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52]
CA • D
Sponsored 8/15/2025
Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10]
IL • D
Sponsored 9/4/2025
Hunt
TX • R
Sponsored 9/15/2025
Mannion
NY • D
Sponsored 9/15/2025
Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]
OH • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Rep. Hamadeh, Abraham J. [R-AZ-8]
AZ • R
Sponsored 1/13/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov