Skip to main content
HR 4875 108th Congress House Law Appellate courts Appellate procedure Civil actions and liability Crime and Law Enforcement Damages EBB Terrorism Finance and Financial Sector Foreign agents Foreign leaders Government Operations and Politics Government liability (International law) International Affairs Liens Limitation of actions Punitive damages State-sponsored terrorism Terrorism Torts Victims of terrorism

To amend title 28, United States Code, to clarify that persons may bring private rights of actions against foriegn states for certain terrorist acts, and for other purposes.

Introduced: July 20, 2004 See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 4, 2004
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims.
Jul 20, 2004
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jul 20, 2004
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Amends the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976 (FSIA) to require that a foreign state designated as a state sponsor of terrorism under specified laws, or an official, employee, or agent of such a foreign state, shall be liable to a U.S. national for the national's personal injury or death caused by acts of that state or official, employee, or agent acting within the scope of his or her duties.

Authorizes U.S. courts to exercise jurisdiction over such actions for money damages under a FSIA provision concerning acts of torture, extrajudicial killing, aircraft sabotage, hostage taking, and material support for such acts. Mandates that property interests of foreign states, or agencies or instrumentalities of foreign states, against which judgment is entered pursuant to such provision are subject to attachment execution.

Requires foreign states to be held vicariously liable for the actions of their officials, employees, or agents.

Revives previously dismissed causes of action that would be cognizable under this Act by retroactively tolling the applicable statute of limitations from the date of initial filing to 60 days after enactment of this Act.

What's happening now August 4, 2004

Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2