A bipartisan group of House lawmakers introduced legislation Thursday to strengthen a fund that compensates victims of terror attacks, including the tragic events of September 11. Rep. Mike Lawler spearheaded the bill, which aims to update the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund, with support from New York Reps. Nicole Malliotakis and Dan Goldman, as well as New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer.
The fund, established a decade ago to provide payouts to individuals who secured court judgments against state sponsors of terrorism, has faced challenges in fulfilling its purpose. Due to financial constraints, a round of payments is unlikely this year. Lawler’s bill seeks to bolster the fund’s finances by ensuring that fines and penalties collected by the U.S. Department of Justice from certain terror-related cases are allocated to the fund, along with establishing an additional funding mechanism.
The legislation also calls for annual distributions to victims, starting this year. Angela Mistrulli, whose father was tragically killed in the North Tower on September 11, expressed her support for the bill at a press conference, emphasizing the importance of providing assistance to victims of terrorism without the prolonged struggles that families like hers have endured.
The bill has garnered bipartisan support and must pass through both the House and the Senate. Notable figures backing the legislation include House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik and prominent Democrats like Reps. Grace Meng and Jerry Nadler. Lawler’s team highlighted that the bill would also benefit victims of other terror incidents, such as TWA Flight 847, the 1983 Beirut Embassy Bombing, the attack on the USS Pueblo, and the recent Hamas attack on Israel.
With the potential to aid nearly 20,000 victims of terrorism, the bill represents a significant step towards providing much-needed support and resources to those affected by acts of terror.