[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 22 (Monday, February 3, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 6010]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-02082]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice:11018]


Covered Claims Under the Promoting Security and Justice for 
Victims of Terrorism Act of 2019

ACTION: Notice of identification of method for submission of covered 
claims.

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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 903(b)(4) of the Promoting Security 
and Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act of 2019 (Div. J, Pub. L. 116-
94) provides that it is the sense of Congress that (A) covered claims 
should be resolved in a manner that provides just compensation to the 
victims; (B) covered claims should be resolved and settled in favor of 
the victim to the fullest extent possible and without subjecting 
victims to unnecessary or protracted litigation; (C) the United States 
Government should take all practicable steps to facilitate the 
resolution and settlements of all covered claims, including engaging 
directly with the victims or their representatives and the Palestinian 
Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization; and (D) the United 
States Government should strongly urge the Palestinian Authority and 
the Palestine Liberation Organization to commit to good-faith 
negotiations to resolve and settle all covered claims.
    Section 903(b)(2)(A) provides that the Department of State shall 
publish a notice in the Federal Register identifying the method by 
which a national of the United States, or a representative of a 
national of the United States, who has a covered claim, may contact the 
Department of State to give notice of the covered claims. Section 
903(b)(2)(B) further provides that the Secretary of State, or a 
designee of the Secretary, shall meet (and make every effort to 
continue to meet on a regular basis thereafter) with any national of 
the United States, or a representative of a national of the United 
States, who has a covered claim and has informed the Department of 
State of the covered claim using the method established pursuant to 
subparagraph (A) to discuss the status of the covered claim, including 
the status of any settlement discussions with the Palestinian Authority 
or the Palestine Liberation Organization.
    Consistent with section 903(b)(2)(A), the Department of State 
hereby provides notice that nationals of the United States, or their 
representatives, may submit notice of and information concerning their 
covered claim to [email protected] by May 3, 2020. Such 
information shall include, at a minimum, the method by which the 
Department of State may contact a claimant, as well as sufficient 
documentation to establish that the claim constitutes a ``covered 
claim'' within the meaning of section 903. Section 903 defines a 
``covered claim'' to mean any pending action by, or final judgment in 
favor of, a national of the United States, or any action by a national 
of the United States dismissed for lack of personal jurisdiction, under 
section 2333 of title 18, United States Code, against the Palestinian 
Authority or the Palestine Liberation Organization. In the event notice 
and information of a covered claim is submitted by the representative 
of a national of the United States, the information provided shall also 
include such documentation as necessary to establish the 
representative's legal capacity to act on behalf of the national of the 
United States.
    Persons with questions about filing notice of a covered claim may 
contact the Palestinian Claims line at 202-776-8430.

Richard C. Visek,
Principal Deputy Legal Adviser, Office of the Legal Adviser, Department 
of State.
[FR Doc. 2020-02082 Filed 1-31-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4710-31-P