Sponsors (7)
The bill restores and speeds access to lump‑sum awards for Beirut and Khobar victims who missed applying, but it does so at the risk of reducing funds available to other claimants and increasing administrative demands and potential taxpayer exposure.
Beirut and Khobar victims who previously missed applying will become eligible for lump‑sum catch-up payments and will face lower documentation barriers because the bill allows flexible proof (written/verbal/signed statements) and requires the Special Master to publish claims procedures within 30 days, speeding access to benefits.
The bill authorizes using the Fund's reserve first when making these catch-up payments, helping ensure payments can be made promptly without immediately drawing down the Fund's principal.
Paying lump‑sum catch-up awards to newly eligible claimants will reduce the pool of Fund assets available for other victims and for future awards, potentially lowering payments to others.
If payments exhaust reserves or require spending beyond the Fund's available assets, taxpayers could indirectly face higher costs to replenish awards or cover liabilities.
Expanding eligibility and processing catch‑up claims will increase administrative workload for the Special Master and may require additional staff or resources, raising costs and risking processing delays.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Permits lump-sum "catch-up" payments from the Victims of State-Sponsored Terrorism Fund to certain Beirut and Khobar bombing victims who were previously excluded due to DOJ guidance.
Official title: To amend the Justice for United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Act to provide for lump sum catch-up payments for certain 1983 Beirut barracks bombing victims and 1996 Khobar Towers bombing victims.
Introduced August 1, 2025 by Pete Sessions · Last progress August 1, 2025
Authorizes one-time "catch-up" lump-sum payments from the Victims of State-Sponsored Terrorism Fund to certain people harmed in the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing and the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing who previously did not receive such payments because Department of Justice guidance discouraged repeat applications. It directs the Special Master to publish procedures within 30 days, allows victims to show they relied on DOJ guidance by several simple methods, and permits use of the Fund's reserve or the Fund itself to make payments.