By Brendan Scanland
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, lawmakers from both parties in both chambers are moving forward with new legislation aimed at helping American victims of terrorism finally receive the compensation they were promised.
The bipartisan, bicameral American Victims of Terrorism Compensation Act would strengthen the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund — also known as the USVSST Fund.
The fund was created a decade ago and was designed to help victims of attacks linked to state sponsors of terrorism such as Iran, Syria, North Korea and Cuba.
But since then, the fund has faced funding challenges. Over the past few years, it has only made one distribution—amounting to less than half a percent of the total court-awarded judgments.
The new legislation would establish guaranteed annual payments, expand staffing and increase congressional oversight.
Supporters say it will provide long-awaited transparency and reliability for tens of thousands of victims, including the families of more than three-thousand people killed on and after September 11, 2001.
“We can never forget what terrorism has done in this country. And we have to make whole those people that have suffered tremendous loss at the hands of terrorists,” said Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-NY.), a cosponsor of the legislation. “What this legislation would do is take this fund that’s in place for the victims of terrorist attacks and put a better framework in place… It just gives more certainty to the process, a better way forward for the survivors and victims of terrorism.”
The Senate has also introduced a version of the legislation with bipartisan support. Among the Democratic senators that support the bill, is Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY.).
The bill is backed by Americans impacted by attacks including Hamas’ assault on Israel in October 2023, IED blasts against U.S. troops, as well as the Sept. 11 attacks.
The legislative effort is one of many in Congress to help victims and first responders that changed forever on 9/11.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY.) is calling on Congress to fully fund the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) in any upcoming funding bills. The WTCHP was established in 2011 to provide medical assistance and monitoring to those suffering from exposure to toxins at Ground Zero on and after September 11, 2001
“Twenty-four years after the darkest day in our nation’s history, we must honor our promise to never forget,” said Sen. Gillibrand. “9/11 survivors and the first responders who put their lives on the line to come to our nation’s aid deserve our support as they battle horrific health conditions borne from the toxins ingested in the days and weeks after the towers fell. The World Trade Center Health Program is a lifeline for these heroes.”
