Never Forget the Heroes: Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act

Bill: 116-s-546
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2019-02-25
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Administrative remedies

Appropriations

Cancer

Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Crime victims

Disability assistance

Employee benefits and pensions

First responders and emergency personnel

Government buildings, facilities, and property

Government trust funds

Health care costs and insurance

Inflation and prices

New York City

Pennsylvania

Terrorism

Virginia

Worker safety and health
Latest action: action_date: 2019-02-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-02-25
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Never Forget the Heroes: Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act</b></p> <p>This bill funds through FY2090 the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001.</p> <p>Additionally, the bill modifies the Victim Compensation Fund (VCF): </p> <ul> <li>to allow claims to be filed until October 2089, </li> <li>to require VCF policies and procedures to be reassessed at least once every five years (currently, at least once annually), </li> <li>to require claimants to be paid for the amount by which a claim was reduced on the basis of insufficient funding, </li> <li>to remove the cap on noneconomic damages in certain circumstances, and </li> <li>to adjust the annual limit on economic loss compensation for inflation. </li> </ul>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 546 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 25, 2019 Mrs. Gillibrand (for herself, Mr. Gardner , Ms. Murkowski , Mrs. Shaheen , Mr. Whitehouse , Mr. Markey , Mr. Booker , Mr. Schumer , Mr. Sanders , Ms. Baldwin , Mr. Van Hollen , Mr. Menendez , Mr. Blumenthal , Mr. Merkley , Ms. Duckworth , Mr. Bennet , Ms. Warren , Mr. Casey , Ms. Klobuchar , Mr. Murphy , Mr. Coons , and Ms. Harris ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To extend authorization for the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 through fiscal year 2090, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Never Forget the Heroes: Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act . 2. September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 (a) Authorization and funding Section 410 of the Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act ( 49 U.S.C. 40101 note) is amended— (1) in subsection (c), by striking $4,600,000,000 and all that follows through expended and inserting such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2019 and each fiscal year thereafter through fiscal year 2090, to remain available through such fiscal year ; and (2) in subsection (e), by striking Upon completion of all payments under this title and inserting On October 1, 2090 . (b) Extending filing deadline Section 405(a)(3)(B) of the Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act ( 49 U.S.C. 40101 note) is amended by striking the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment of the James Zadroga 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund Reauthorization Act and inserting October 1, 2089 . (c) Compensation reduced by Special Master due to lack of funding Section 406(d)(2) of the Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act ( 49 U.S.C. 40101 note) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (C)(ii), by striking each year thereafter and inserting not less than once every 5 years thereafter ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (D) Compensation reduced by Special Master due to insufficient funding (i) In general With respect to any claim in Group B as described in section 405(a)(3)(C)(iii) for which, prior to the date of enactment of this subparagraph, the Special Master had advised the claimant that the amount of compensation for such claim has been reduced on the basis of insufficient funding, the Special Master shall, in the first fiscal year following such date of enactment that sufficient funding becomes available under this title, pay to the claimant an amount that is, as determined by the Special Master, equal to the difference between— (I) the amount the claimant would have been paid under this title if sufficient funding was available to the Special Master at the time the Special Master determined the amount due the claimant under this title; and (II) the amount the claimant was paid under this title. (ii) Definitions For purposes of this subparagraph: (I) Insufficient funding The term insufficient funding means funding— (aa) that is available to the Special Master under section 410(c), as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this subparagraph, for purposes of compensating claims in Group B as described in section 405(a)(3)(C)(iii); and (bb) that the Special Master determines is insufficient for purposes of compensating all such claims and complying with subparagraph (A). (II) Sufficient funding The term sufficient funding means funding— (aa) made available to the Special Master for purposes of compensating claims in Group B as described in section 405(a)(3)(C)(iii) through an Act of Congress that is enacted after the date on which the amount of the claim described in clause (i) has been reduced; and (bb) that the Special Master determines is sufficient for purposes of compensating all claims in such Group B. . (d) Limitations on noneconomic loss Section 405(b)(7)(A) of the Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act ( 49 U.S.C. 40101 note) is amended— (1) by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) as subclauses (I) and (II) respectively, and adjusting the margins accordingly; (2) by striking With respect to and inserting the following: (i) In general Except as provided in clause (ii), with respect to ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (ii) Exception The Special Master may exceed the applicable limitation under clause (i) for a claim in Group B as described in subsection (a)(3)(C)(iii) if the Special Master determines that the pain and suffering of the claimant is so excessive as to render the amount of the applicable limitation under clause (i) insufficiently compensatory. . (e) Adjustment of gross income limitation Section 405(b)(7)(B)(ii) of the Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act ( 40 U.S.C. 40101 note) is amended— (1) by striking In considering and inserting the following: (I) In general Subject to subclause (II), in considering ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (II) Adjustment The Special Master shall adjust the amount of the limitation under subclause (I) not more frequently than once every 5 years to reflect the percentage by which the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Department of Labor for the month of October immediately preceding the date of adjustment exceeds the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Department of Labor for the month of October that immediately precedes the date that is 5 years before the date of adjustment. .