HR 3338 114th Congress House International Affairs Civil actions and liability Crime victims Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad Government liability Government trust funds Income tax exclusion Iran Middle East Sanctions Transfer and inheritance taxes

Justice for Former American Hostages in Iran Act of 2015

Introduced: July 29, 2015 See on congress.gov

Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Sep 8, 2015

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.

Jul 29, 2015

Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Jul 29, 2015

Introduced in House

Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Justice for Former American Hostages in Iran Act of 2015

Establishes in the Treasury the American Hostages in Iran Compensation Fund to: (1) make payments to the Americans held hostage in Iran, and to their families, who are identified as members of the proposed class in case number 1:00-CV-03110 (ESG) of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia; and (2) satisfy their claims against Iran relating to the taking of hostages and treatment of personnel of the U.S. embassy in Tehran between November 4, 1979, and January 20, 1981.

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

Requires distribution of Fund payments to members of the proposed class in the following amounts:

to each living former hostage, $6,750 for each day of captivity;
to the estate of each deceased former hostage, $6,750 for each day of captivity;
to each spouse (who is also a member of the identified class) of a former hostage, $600,000, or to the estate of such spouse who is deceased, $600,000; and
to each child (who is also a member of the identified class) of a former hostage, $600,000, or to the estate of such child who is deceased, $600,000.

Specifies the order of payment distribution.

Prohibits a payment recipient from maintaining an action against Iran in any federal or state court for any claims relating to the hostage events. Deems waived and forever released all existing claims against Iran for those events upon payment from the Fund to all designated recipients.

Requires the Department of State to submit recommendations to Congress if Fund amounts will be insufficient to pay all recipients within 444 days after enactment of this Act.

What's happening now September 8, 2015

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.

Committees of jurisdiction 4