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S 559 113th Congress Senate International Affairs Civil actions and liability Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad Government liability Government trust funds Iran Middle East Sanctions

Justice for Former American Hostages in Iran Act of 2013

Introduced: March 13, 2013 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 113th Congress ended
It never became law before the 113th Congress (2013–2014) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Sep 12, 2013
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 183.
Sep 12, 2013
Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Menendez with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 113-104.
Jun 25, 2013
Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Mar 13, 2013
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Mar 13, 2013
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Justice for Former American Hostages in Iran Act of 2013 - Establishes in the Treasury the American Hostages in Iran Compensation Fund for the purpose of making payments to the 52 Americans held hostage in the U.S. embassy in Tehran, Iran, from November 3, 1979-January 20, 1981.

Imposes a surcharge, to be deposited into the Fund, of 30% on the amount of: (1) any fine or monetary penalty assessed on a person for violation of a law or regulation penalizing any economic activity relating to Iran that is administered by the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Justice (DOJ), or the Department of Commerce; or (2) the monetary amount of a settlement entered into by a person regarding a suspected violation of such a law or regulation.

Requires Fund payments of $150,000 plus $5,000 for each day of captivity first to each living former hostage and then to the estate of each deceased former hostage.

Requires a payment recipient to waive and forever release all existing claims against Iran and the United States arising out of the hostage events.

Directs the Secretary to notify each individual qualified to receive a payment of the individual's claim status.

States that: (1) if a claim is denied or approved for less than the full amount, the individual shall be entitled to submit additional information; (2) the Secretary may affirm, modify, or revise the former action; and (3) the Secretary's actions in identifying claimants and in disbursing Fund amounts shall be final on all questions of law and fact, and shall not be subject to review by any other U.S. official, agency, or court.

Directs the Secretary to report annually to Congress on the status of the Fund until the date: (1) on which all amounts have been made to all recipients, or (2) five years after the date of enactment of this Act.

What's happening now September 12, 2013

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 183.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 2 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 559: Justice for Former American Hostages in Iran Act of 2013. 113th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-559/
MLA
"S. 559: Justice for Former American Hostages in Iran Act of 2013." 113th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-559/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 559, 113th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-559/.
Markdown link
[S. 559: Justice for Former American Hostages in Iran Act of 2013](https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-559/)
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