PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 678.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Apr 27, 1993
Amends the Federal judicial code to make an exception to the jurisdictional immunity of a foreign state in any case in which the action is based upon an act of international terrorism within the United States, or outside the United States if money damages are sought against a foreign state for personal injury or death to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien, that occurred not more than six years previously and that was committed, aided, or abetted by a foreign state designated by the Secretary of State as a state supporting international terrorism under the Arms Export Control Act. Specifies that: (1) the property of a foreign state used in the United States for commercial activity shall not be immune from attachment or execution based upon such an act; and (2) such property shall not be immune from attachment prior to the entry of judgment if the foreign state is not immune from jurisdiction by virtue of this Act.
People & committees
Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA] · R–PA
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 678.
Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Biden with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Biden with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Committee on Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Subcommittee on Courts and Administrative Practice. Approved for full committee consideration with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Subcommittee on Courts and Administrative Practice. Hearings held.
Referred to Subcommittee on Courts and Administrative Practice.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4924-4925)
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.
No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
AI Conversation Starters
Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.
Analyze S.825 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
Examine S.825 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.
Examine S.825 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.
Examine S.825 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.