[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5500 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5500

     To require the Attorney General to establish an office in the 
   Department of Justice to monitor acts of international terrorism 
     alleged to have been committed by Palestinian individuals or 
individuals acting on behalf of Palestinian organizations and to carry 
                 out certain other related activities.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 19, 2000

 Mr. Andrews (for himself, Mr. Weiner, and Mr. Bentsen) introduced the 
  following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
     To require the Attorney General to establish an office in the 
   Department of Justice to monitor acts of international terrorism 
     alleged to have been committed by Palestinian individuals or 
individuals acting on behalf of Palestinian organizations and to carry 
                 out certain other related activities.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Justice for American Victims of 
Terrorism Act of 2000''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) Since 1948, many United States citizens have been 
        injured or killed in terrorist attacks committed by Palestinian 
        individuals and organizations in and outside of the Middle 
        East.
            (2) Under United States law, individuals who commit acts of 
        international terrorism outside of the United States against 
        nationals of the United States may be prosecuted for such acts 
        in the United States.
            (3) The United States has taken a special interest and 
        active role in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, 
        including numerous diplomatic efforts to facilitate a 
        resolution of the conflict and the provision of financial 
        assistance to Palestinian organizations.
            (4) However, despite these diplomatic efforts and financial 
        assistance, little has been done to apprehend, indict, 
        prosecute, and convict Palestinian individuals who have 
        committed terrorist attacks against nationals of the United 
        States.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO MONITOR 
              TERRORIST ACTS BY PALESTINIAN INDIVIDUALS AND 
              ORGANIZATIONS AND CARRY OUT RELATED ACTIVITIES.

    (a) In General.--The Attorney General shall establish within the 
Department of Justice an office to carry out the following activities:
            (1) Monitor acts of international terrorism alleged to have 
        been committed by Palestinian individuals or individuals acting 
        on behalf of Palestinian organizations.
            (2) Collect information against individuals alleged to have 
        committed acts of international terrorism described in 
        paragraph (1).
            (3) Offer rewards for information on individuals alleged to 
        have committed acts of international terrorism described in 
        paragraph (1), including the dissemination of information 
        relating to such rewards in the Arabic-language media.
            (4) Negotiate with the Palestinian Authority or related 
        entities to obtain financial compensation for nationals of the 
        United States, or their families, injured or killed by acts of 
        terrorism described in paragraph (1).
            (5) In conjunction with other appropriate Federal 
        departments and agencies, establish and implement alternative 
        methods to apprehend, indict, prosecute, and convict 
        individuals who commit acts of terrorism described in paragraph 
        (1).
            (6) Contact the families of victims of acts of terrorism 
        described in paragraph (1) and provide updates on the progress 
        to apprehend, indict, prosecute, and convict the individuals 
        who commit such acts.
            (7) In order to effectively carry out paragraphs (1) 
        through (6), provide for the permanent stationing of an 
        appropriate number of United States officials in Israel, in 
        territory administered by Israel, in territory administered by 
        the Palestinian Authority, and elsewhere, to the extent 
        practicable.
    (b) Definition.--In this section, the term ``international 
terrorism'' has the meaning given such term in section 2331(1) of title 
18, United States Code.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated for fiscal 
year 2001 and each subsequent fiscal year such sums as may be necessary 
to carry out this Act.
    (b) Availability.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to the 
authorization of appropriations under subsection (a) are authorized to 
remain available until expended.
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