Thread: Justice for Victims of Iranian Terror Act inroduced

http://www.toomey.senate.gov/?p=news&id=1614

9/30/15
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) are working to provide justice to victims of Iranian terrorism.
Sens. Toomey and Kirk introduced the Justice for Victims of Iranian Terror Act to prevent economic sanctions from being lifted on Iran until the Iranian government has paid all the judgements against it for acts of terrorism. To date, American courts have awarded nearly $43.5 billion in damages to American victims and their families, including several in Pennsylvania. Iran has never paid a single cent.


"Iran is the world's leading state-sponsor of terrorism," said Sen. Toomey. "If President Obama insists on lifting sanctions on Iran, providing them with billions of dollars that can be used to fund terrorism throughout the world, we must first ensure Iran is held accountable for its blatant disregard for American lives."


"Iran-sponsored terrorists have killed more Americans than the Islamic State," said Sen. Kirk. "Families of Americans killed by Iranian-backed terrorism have used U.S. laws to take Iran to court and lawfully win approximately $43.5 billion in unsatisfied damages, so if the United States fails to ensure Iran fully pays these judgments before Iranian terror financiers get over $100 billion in sanctions relief, we risk emboldening Iran and other state sponsors of terror to continue targeting and killing more Americans."


The Justice for Victims of Iranian Terror Act would require President Obama to certify to Congress that the victims have received their compensation before any sanctions on Iran could be lifted. Similar legislation was introduced by Rep. Patrick Meehan (R-Pa.) in the House.

That sounds pretty good, but the deal has already been signed. I think it's too late to do that, maybe not, hopefully not, but I've got a feeling it is. But at least they're trying, and I like that.