[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 138 (Saturday, October 28, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2014-E2015]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      VICTIMS OF TERRORISM CLAIMS

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                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Saturday, October 28, 2000

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, following enactment of the Justice for 
Victims of Terrorism

[[Page E2015]]

Act, to provide payment by the U.S. Government to persons holding final 
judgments pursuant to the 1996 Anti-Terrorism Act against the 
governments of Iran and Cuba for complicity in terrorist acts, many 
questions have been raised about the impact of this legislation on 
other pending claims, especially those of the families of the victims 
of Pan Am Flight 103 against Libya.
  In this regard, I wish to reaffirm the statement contained in the 
Conference Report to the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Act of 
2000, which provides that ``The Committee intends that this legislation 
will similarly help other pending and future Antiterrorism Act 
plaintiffs as and when U.S. courts issue judgments against the foreign 
state sponsors of specific terrorist acts. The Committee shares the 
particular interest of the sponsors of this legislation in ensuring 
that the families of the victims of Pan Am Flight 103 should be able to 
collect damages promptly if they can demonstrate to the satisfaction of 
a U.S. court that Libya is indeed responsible for that heinous 
bombing.''
  The families of the victims of Pam Am Flight 103 were instrumental in 
their pursuit of justice in supporting enactment of the 1996 Anti-
Terrorism Act. Because of this law, U.S. courts are now empowered to 
take jurisdiction over claims against foreign governments accused of 
state sponsored terrorism. We continuously have these families in our 
minds, as well as their loved ones who died in what President Clinton 
justly called a ``direct attack on America''.
  It was the intention of the 106th Congress, in enacting The Justice 
for Victims of Terrorism Act that these same enforcement of judgment 
opportunities should apply equally to any final judgments that may be 
obtained by the families of the victims of Pan Am Flight 103 in pending 
or future litigation, if they so desire to pursue that civil course of 
action, along with our nation's own efforts to bring all those 
responsible to justice.

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