RELEASE: Gottheimer Leads Bipartisan Legislation to Support Victims of Terrorism

Above: Gottheimer reintroduces the American Victims of Terror Compensation Act.

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Tuesday, February 25, 2025, U.S. Representatives Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), Mike Lawler (NY-17), Dan Goldman (NY-10), and Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) reintroduced the bipartisan, bicameral American Victims of Terror Compensation Act, which provides funding for the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund, or USVSST Fund. The USVSST Fund was established in 2015 to help victims of terror attacks claim judgments delivered in U.S. courts against State Sponsors of Terror, including Iran, Cuba, North Korea, and Syria.

This legislation will help ensure the USVSST consistently provides compensation to more than 18,000 American victims of State Sponsors of Terrorism, including the families of the more than 3,000 victims of September 11th. Specifically, it guarantees an annual payment to victims, increases Congressional oversight over the Fund’s operations, and expands USVSST Fund personnel to ensure that the program is adequately staffed.

The full text of the American Victims of Terror Compensation Act can be found HERE.

Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and John Cornyn (R-TX) are leading a companion bill in the Senate.

The USVSST Fund was established in 2015 to help victims of terror attacks claim judgments delivered in U.S. courts against State Sponsors of Terror, including Iran, Cuba, North Korea, and Syria. Since its establishment, the USVSST has struggled to secure sufficient funds to compensate victims of state-sponsored terror in the United States. In the last three years, the USVSST made only one distribution — less than one half of a percent of the court awarded judgment. 

“Justice isn’t just about punishing those who do wrong, it’s about making things right for those who have suffered. I’m proud to reintroduce the bipartisan American Victims of Terror Compensation Act to make sure that victims of terror attacks and their families can get the relief that they deserve,” said U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “While we can never bring back the loved ones lost in state-sponsored terror attacks like 9/11, we must ensure they have the support they need to carry on. These families deserve nothing less.” 

“For far too long, American victims of state-sponsored terrorism—including the families of those lost on September 11th—have struggled to receive the compensation they rightfully deserve. The USVSST Fund was created to ensure they have a path to justice, yet it has failed to deliver in any meaningful way,” said Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17). “This bipartisan legislation will change that by guaranteeing annual payments to victims, increasing transparency, and holding the Fund accountable. We owe it to the thousands of families impacted by terrorism to follow through on our commitments.”

Gottheimer was joined by Rep. Mike Lawler (NY-17), Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), Rep. Dan Goldman (NY-10), Rep. Grace Meng (NY-6), Rep. Nick LaLota (NY-1), Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Senator John Cornyn (R-TX). 

The American Victims of Terror Compensation Act has been broadly endorsed by 9/11 victims’ advocacy groups, including 9/11 Children for Justice, 9/11 Justice, 9/11 Families United, and the Family Steering Committee of the 9/11 Commission.

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