I 

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 602

To provide compensation for the families of noncombatants killed in United 

States military actions in Afghanistan after September 11, 2001. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 5, 2003

Mr. OWENS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 

on International Relations 

A BILL

To provide compensation for the families of noncombatants 

killed in United States military actions in Afghanistan 

after September 11, 2001.

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

3 SECTION 1. FINDINGS. 

4 The Congress makes the following findings:

5 (1) Property and lives of some innocent persons 

6 were destroyed as a result of the military operations 

7 in Afghanistan. Since the operations were launched 

8 to achieve the destruction of the Al Qaeda terrorist 

9 network and the Taliban regime which harbored the 

10 terrorists as well as acted in alliance with them, the 
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1 United States Government has worked strenuously 

2 to avoid injury to civilians. Any destruction of civil3 ian lives and property has been accidental as a re4 sult of human error or unusual unforeseen cir5 cumstances. 

6 (2) Collateral damage is a nearly inevitable part 

7 of violent warfare. United States military forces do 

8 not deny that there have been such losses in Afghan9 istan. 

10 (3) In many instances, the victims of such acci11 dents of war can be identified and surviving relatives 

12 can be identified. Such casualties are among the 

13 people of the Afghanistan nation that the United 

14 States Government has pledged to assist in the re15 building of the country. 

16 (4) More than $300,000,000 in aid has already 

17 been distributed to the Afghan Government through 

18 traditional channels. It is also understood that addi19 tional assistance is promised and planned for Af20 ghanistan. 

21 (5) There is no prohibition against the provi22 sion of some portion of additional funds for Afghani23 stan through direct payments of compensation to in24 nocent war victims. Indeed, although this would be 

25 a new and unusual conduit for foreign assistance, it 
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1 may prove to be more effective than traditional aid 

2 distribution vehicles. Dollars directly to the people 

3 may achieve a greater impact in the rebuilding of 

4 the nation while at the same time reaping great ben5 efits in goodwill. 

6 SEC. 2. COMPENSATION FOR THE FAMILIES OF NON7 COMBATANTS KILLED IN UNITED STATES 

8 MILITARY ACTIONS IN AFGHANISTAN. 

9 (a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi10 sion of law, the Secretary of State, in consultation with 

11 the Secretary of Defense and the Attorney General, shall 

12 provide for the payment of compensation in the amount 

13 of $10,000 to the family of each noncombatant national 

14 of Afghanistan who was killed as a direct result of United 

15 States military actions in Afghanistan after September 11, 

16 2001. 

17 (b) ADMINISTRATION.—The Secretary of State 

18 shall—

19 (1) administer the compensation program es20 tablished under this Act; 

21 (2) promulgate all procedural and substantive 

22 rules for the administration of this Act; and 

23 (3) employ and supervise hearing officers and 

24 other administrative personnel to perform the duties 

25 of administering this Act. 
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1 (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

2 are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 

3 necessary to carry out this Act.

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