Fairness for American Victims of State-Sponsored Terrorism Act

To amend the Justice for United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Act to authorize appropriations for catch-up payments from the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Fairness for American Victims of State-Sponsored Terrorism Act 2. Justice for United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Act (a) In general Section 404 of the Justice for United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Act ( 34 U.S.C. 20144 (1) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (1)(B), in the first sentence, by inserting and during the 1-year period beginning on the date of enactment of the Fairness for American Victims of State-Sponsored Terrorism Act (B) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of the Fairness for American Victims of State-Sponsored Terrorism Act (2) in subsection (c)(3)(A), by striking clause (ii) and inserting the following: (ii) Not later than 90 days after the date of obtaining a final judgment, with regard to a final judgment obtained on or after the date of that publication, unless— (I) the final judgment was awarded to a 9/11 victim, 9/11 spouse, or 9/11 dependent before the date of enactment of the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund Clarification Act, in which case such United States person shall have 90 days from the date of enactment of such Act to submit an application for payment; or (II) the final judgment was awarded to a 1983 Beirut barracks bombing victim before the date of enactment of the Fairness for American Victims of State-Sponsored Terrorism Act ; (3) in subsection (d)(4)— (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking (B) and (C) (B), (C), and (D) (B) in subparagraph (C), by adding at the end the following: (iv) Authorization (I) In general The Special Master shall authorize lump sum catch-up payments in amounts equal to the amounts described in subclauses (I), (II), and (III) of clause (iii). (II) Appropriations (aa) In general There are authorized to be appropriated and there are appropriated to the Fund such sums as are necessary to carry out this clause, to remain available until expended. (bb) Limitation Amounts appropriated pursuant to item (aa) may not be used for a purpose other than to make lump sum catch-up payments under this clause. ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (D) Lump sum catch-up payments for beirut barracks bombing victims, spouses, and dependents (i) In general Not later than 1 year after the enactment of the Fairness for American Victims of State-Sponsored Terrorism Act (ii) Public comment The Comptroller General shall provide an opportunity for public comment for a 30-day period beginning on the date on which the notice is published under clause (i). (iii) Report Not later than 30 days after the expiration of the comment period in clause (ii), the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and the Special Master a report that includes the determination of the Comptroller General on the amount of the proposed lump sum catch-up payment for each Beirut barracks bombing victim and the total amount of such proposed lump sum catch-up payments. (iv) Lump sum catch-up payment reserve fund (I) In general There is established within the Fund a lump sum catch-up payment reserve fund, to remain in reserve except in accordance with this subsection. (II) Authorization Not earlier than 90 days after the date on which the Comptroller General submits the report required under clause (iii), and not later than 1 year after such date, the Special Master shall authorize lump sum catch-up payments from the reserve fund established under subclause (I) in amounts equal to the amounts described in clause (iii). (III) Appropriations (aa) In general There are authorized to be appropriated and there are appropriated to the lump sum catch-up payment reserve fund $3,000,000,000 to carry out this clause, to remain available until expended. (bb) Limitation Except as provided in sublcause (IV), amounts appropriated pursuant to item (aa) may not be used for a purpose other than to make lump sum catch-up payments under this clause. (IV) Expiration (aa) In general The lump sum catch-up payment reserve fund established by this clause shall be terminated not later than 1 year after the Special Master disperses all lump sum catch-up payments pursuant to subclause (II). (bb) Remaining amounts All amounts remaining in the lump sum catch-up payment reserve fund in excess of the amounts described in clause (iii) shall be deposited into the Fund under this section. ; (4) in subsection (e), by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following: (2) Deposit and transfer Beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the following shall be deposited or transferred into the Fund for distribution under this section: (A) Criminal funds and property All funds, and the net proceeds from the sale of property, forfeited or paid to the United States after the date of enactment of this Act as a criminal penalty or fine arising from a violation of any license, order, regulation, or prohibition issued under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act ( 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq. (B) Civil funds and property Seventy-five percent of all funds, and seventy-five percent of the net proceeds from the sale of property, forfeited or paid to the United States after the date of enactment of this Act as a civil penalty or fine arising from a violation of any license, order, regulation, or prohibition issued under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act ( 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq. ; (5) in subsection (g)(1), by striking (e)(2)(A) (e)(2) (6) in subsection (j), by adding at the end the following: (15) 1983 Beirut bombing victim The term 1983 Beirut bombing victim . (b) Rescissions (1) Business Loans Program Account Of the unobligated balances of amounts made available under the heading Small Business Administration—Business Loans Program Account, CARES Act 15 U.S.C. 636(a) (2) Emergency rental assistance Of the unobligated balances of amounts made available under section 3201(a) of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ( Public Law 117–2

Summary: Fairness for American Victims of State-Sponsored Terrorism Act This bill authorizes and provides funding for additional payments from the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund. Specifically, the bill (1) provides lump-sum catch-up payments from the fund to 9/11 victims and their families; and (2) makes victims of the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Marine Corps barracks in Beirut and their families eligible for lump-sum catch-up payments from the fund. The bill also rescinds specified unobligated funds that were provided for (1) the Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program, and (2) emergency rental assistance.