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Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 460.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Oct 26, 1999

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.

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Who introduced it

Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ] · D–NJ

Committees

  • Judiciary Committee
25 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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  1. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 460.

  2. Committee on the Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Hatch without amendment. Without written report.

  3. Committee on the Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Hatch without amendment. Without written report.

  4. Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

  5. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

  6. Introduced in Senate

Bill text & related measures

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Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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