I 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 4025 

To provide for justice and compensation for United States citizens taken 

hostage by Iran, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 4, 2009 

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN (for herself and Mr. SHERMAN) introduced the following 

bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently 

determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To provide for justice and compensation for United States 

citizens taken hostage by Iran, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. STATEMENTS OF POLICY. 

4 (a) PURSUIT OF JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY.— 

5 It is the policy of the United States, as specified in the 

6 Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 

7 and in other United States laws, to seek justice for United 

8 States victims of terrorism and to hold terrorists and their 

9 state-sponsors accountable for their actions. 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 4025 IH

1 (b) PREEMPTION.—United States law regarding vic2 tims of terrorism supersedes the Algiers Accords and any 

3 other agreement with Iran stemming from the holding of 

4 United States hostages in Iran from November 4, 1979, 

5 through January 20, 1981. 

6 SEC. 2. JUSTICE AND COMPENSATION FOR UNITED STATES 

7 CITIZENS TAKEN HOSTAGE BY IRAN ON NO8 VEMBER 4, 1979. 

9 (a) INAPPLICABILITY OF ALGIERS ACCORDS.—Any 

10 provision of the Algiers Accords, entered into with Iran 

11 on January 19, 1981, that purports to prohibit a United 

12 States citizen from prosecuting any claim (relating to the 

13 taking of United States citizens hostage in Iran on No14 vember 4, 1979) in any court of the United States or to 

15 limit the jurisdiction of any court (with respect to such 

16 matter) of the United States is hereby abrogated and 

17 deemed not applicable. 

18 (b) PAYMENTS.—Not later than 30 days after the 

19 date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall di20 rect payments in accordance with subsection (c) to a com21 mon fund to be established and administered by certified 

22 class representatives for United States citizens who were 

23 hostages in Iran (as identified in case number 

24 1:00CV03110 (EGS) of the United States District Court 

25 for the District of Columbia). Such common fund shall 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 4025 IH

1 make payments in accordance with subsection (b) for the 

2 benefit of such United States citizens. 

3 (c) AMOUNTS.—Compensation from the common 

4 fund shall be paid as follows: 

5 (1) For each former hostage identified in such 

6 case number 1:00CV031110 (EGS) of the United 

7 States District Court for the District of Columbia, 

8 $1,000 for each day of captivity. 

9 (2) For each spouse and child of a hostage re10 ferred to in paragraph (1), or the estate of such hos11 tage if deceased, including those spouses and chil12 dren identified as a class member, $500 for each day 

13 of captivity of the former hostage. 

14 (3) Interest calculated at 9 percent, rep15 resenting the annual average of the daily prime rate 

16 from the date of taking of a hostage who is receiving 

17 compensation under this section to the date of pay18 ment, compounded annually, for the period from the 

19 date of such taking until the date of payment under 

20 such subsection. 

21 (d) FUNDING.—Payments to the common fund (suffi22 cient to cover the compensation paid in accordance with 

23 subsection (b)) shall be made in the following order: 

24 (1) Amounts in the Iran Foreign Military Sales 

25 Program account, in its entirety. 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 4025 IH

1 (2) Blocked assets of terrorist parties, as such 

2 term is defined in section 201(d)(2) of the Ter3 rorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 (Public Law 

4 107–297; 28 U.S.C. 1610 note). 

Æ 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS