American Victims of Terrorism Compensation Act

Summary#

This bill changes how money is put into and paid out from the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund. It directs certain forfeited assets, fines, and related interest to go into the Fund. The bill names specific amounts tied to the United States v. Binance Holdings Limited case and requires part of those proceeds to be deposited into the Crime Victims Fund. It also requires annual and special distributions to eligible claimants, sets deadlines for a supplemental fifth-round payment, and clarifies that direct court-ordered restitution and equitable sharing of some funds are not harmed. The bill adds rules for timely transfers from federal forfeiture funds and requires regular reports by the Special Master and the Comptroller General. It allows the Special Master to use up to 10 full-time equivalent Department of Justice staff paid from the Fund.

What it means for you#

  • If you are an eligible claimant with an approved claim, you may receive pro rata payments when the Fund has deposits. The bill requires annual payments starting January 1, 2026, and a supplemental fifth-round distribution with specific deadlines. If you have not given payment information, payment will be sent as soon as that information is received.
  • If you are connected to cases that produce forfeited funds or fines (including the Binance matter), some of those proceeds and interest will be moved into the victims Fund or into the Crime Victims Fund as the bill specifies.
  • The Special Master can use up to 10 DOJ staff members to help run the Fund, and those staffing costs come from the Fund itself.

Expenses#

  • The bill identifies specific sums from the Binance case: $898,619,225 already deposited and additional amounts up to $1,912,031,763, plus interest earned, tied to that matter. It requires $1,505,475,575 from certain Binance proceeds to be deposited into the Crime Victims Fund.
  • The bill directs annual transfers of 50% of the excess unobligated balances (and 50% of interest earned) from the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund and 50% of the excess unobligated balance (and 50% of interest earned) from the Department of the Treasury Forfeiture Fund, as each is determined.
  • Administrative costs and the cost of up to 10 DOJ full-time equivalent personnel are to be paid from the victims Fund.
  • No publicly available information on the overall net federal budgetary impact or total long-term costs beyond these instructions is included in the bill text provided.

Proponents' View#

The bill states its purpose is to clarify and add funding sources so United States victims of state-sponsored terrorism get consistent and meaningful distributions from the Fund. It also calls for clearer timing, required reporting, and staff support to manage payments and transparency.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information about opponents' views or specific objections is included in the provided text.