Fairness for Khobar Act

Summary#

This bill would change the Justice for United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Act to allow certain victims of the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing and the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing to get lump-sum "catch-up" payments. It says the Special Master must authorize those payments for victims who did not apply earlier because of Department of Justice guidance that said only one application could be submitted and that some previously eligible claimants could not get lump-sum payments.

The Special Master must publish procedures and guidance within 30 days of the bill's effective date. Victims covered by the change may show they relied on the Department of Justice guidance by providing written or verbal communications with the Fund, a sworn statement, or other methods the Special Master accepts. The bill allows payments to come from a reserve fund or, if that is not enough, from the Fund.

What it means for you#

• If you are a victim or family member from the 1983 Beirut barracks or 1996 Khobar Towers incidents and you did not apply earlier because of DOJ guidance, you may now be allowed to receive a lump-sum catch-up payment.
• The Special Master will set and publish how to apply and how to prove you relied on the DOJ guidance. That guidance must be published within 30 days.
• Payments may be taken from a designated reserve fund or from the Fund if reserve funds are insufficient.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on total cost or dollar amounts. The bill says payments would be taken from a reserve fund established in the statute or from the Fund if reserve funds are not sufficient.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.