To provide compensation for United States citizens taken hostage by terrorists or state sponsors of terrorism.

Bill: 110-hr-3369
Sponsor: Rep. Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [R-FL-18]
Introduced: 2007-08-03 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Agriculture and Food
Alien property
Civil actions and liability
Class actions (Civil procedure)
Compensation for victims of crime
Crime and Law Enforcement
Damages
Economics and Public Finance
Energy
Fines (Penalties)
Food relief
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Forfeiture
Government Operations and Politics
Government liability (International law)
Government trust funds
Hostages
International claims
International relief
Iran
Iraq
Law
Lebanon
Middle East and North Africa
Petroleum
President and foreign policy
Terrorism
United Nations
Victims of terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2007-08-03
text: 
Authorizes the President to compensate a U.S. national, or his or her estate, who: (1) has a claim pending in U.S. court against a foreign state seeking compensation for injuries caused by an act of hostage-taking, or has obtained a judgment on such a claim that has not been fully satisfied; (2) on or after August 2, 1990, and while not serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, was taken hostage by a terrorist party; or (3) was a representative plaintiff or class member in 
Case Number 1:00CV03110 (EGS)
 or a plaintiff in 
Case Number 1:00CV00716 (HHK)
 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. 
 
Limits an award to $500,000, adjusted to reflect the annual change in the Consumer Price Index.
 
Bars a person who has accepted compensation under this Act from commencing or maintaining a U.S. civil action seeking compensation for such injuries or damages associated with such hostage taking against a foreign state or its agencies or instrumentalities. 
 
Funds compensation under this Act from the Hostage Victims Fund (as provided by this Act) into which the President shall direct deposits from: (1) blocked assets of terrorist parties; (2) amounts received against any person in connection with the U.N. Oil for Food Program; or (3) amounts received as a result of any fine or forfeiture in connection with a violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the Trading With the Enemy Act, the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, the Bank Secrecy Act, or the Export Administration Act. 
 
Provides additional compensation for victims of the 1979 Iranian hostage taking in Tehran, including spouses and children of persons taken captive.
 
Authorizes the return of a country's funds deposited into the Hostage Victims Fund upon termination of the country's terrorist party designation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-09-10
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.
action_date: 2007-08-03
text: 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.
action_date: 2007-08-03
text: 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.
action_date: 2007-08-03
text: 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.
action_date: 2007-08-03
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-08-03
text: Introduced in House