U.S. lawmakers propose $3 billion annual funding for terrorism victims fund

A bipartisan group of lawmakers, led by Representatives Laura Gillen (D-NY) and Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), has introduced HR 9795 to address the chronic underfunding of the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund (USVSST Fund).

Created in 2015, the fund has faced inconsistent payouts, leaving many victims who have won legal judgments against terrorists without compensation. The proposed legislation seeks to mandate an annual transfer of $3 billion to the fund and establish a mechanism to ensure that those holding unpaid terrorism judgments are paid. The bill is currently awaiting action in the House Judiciary Committee.

Advocates, including Angela Mistrulli of American Victims of State-Sponsored Terrorism United, emphasize that an estimated 18,000 to 22,000 American victims of various terrorist acts—ranging from the September 11 attacks to the 1983 Beirut Embassy bombing—rely on this support. Previous attempts to strengthen the fund, such as the American Victims of Terrorism Compensation Act (HR 8419) introduced in 2024, failed to advance.