Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act

Summary

Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act - Amends the Federal judicial code to revise the definition of "agency or instrumentality of a foreign state" for purposes of provisions regarding exceptions to: (1) the jurisdictional immunity of a foreign state where money damages are sought against a foreign state for personal injury or death that was caused by an act of torture, extrajudicial killing, aircraft sabotage, hostage taking, or the provision of material support or resources for such an act (jurisdictional provisions); and (2) the immunity from attachment or execution where the judgment relates to a claim for which the foreign state is not immune (attachment provisions). Directs that moneys due from or payable by the United States to any State against which a judgment is pending under jurisdictional provisions be subject to attachment and execution in like manner and to the same extent as if the United States were a private person. Authorizes the President, upon determining on an asset-by-asset basis that a waiver is necessary in the national security interest, to waive attachment provisions in connection with (and prior to the enforcement of) any judicial order directing attachment in aid of execution or execution against the premises of a foreign diplomatic mission to the United States, or any funds held by or in the name of such foreign diplomatic mission determined by the President to be necessary to satisfy actual operating expenses of such foreign diplomatic mission. Specifies that a waiver shall not apply to the proceeds of: (1) such use if the premises of a foreign diplomatic mission has been used for any non-diplomatic purpose (including use as rental property); or (2) a sale or transfer if any asset of a foreign diplomatic mission is sold or otherwise transferred for value to a third party. Treats all assets of any agency or instrumentality of a foreign state as assets of that foreign state.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

1. 16 November 1999

   Introduced

   Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 16 November 1999

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 16 November 1999

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 4 February 2000

   Referred

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims.

   Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Introduced in House · 16 November 1999 · Official file

Documents

3 official files

• Introduced in House (text)

  Introduced in House · EN · 16 November 1999

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House (PDF)

  Introduced in House · EN · 16 November 1999

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 16 November 1999

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Rep. McCollum, Bill [R-FL-5] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. DeLay, Tom [R-TX-22] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Diaz-Balart, Lincoln [R-FL-21] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Saxton, Jim [R-NJ-13] · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Franks, Bob [R-NJ-7] · R · Cosponsor
• Christopher Smith · R · Cosponsor
• ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN · R · Cosponsor
• · hsju00 · Standing

Related records

• related to ← Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act
• related to ← Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act