HR1530119th Congress

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.

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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