Rep. Gillen Leads Bipartisan Letter Urging President Trump to Secure Justice for 9/11 Families and Victims of Iranian State-Sponsored Terrorism

Congresswoman Laura Gillen (D-NY-04), Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY-11), and Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY-17) urged President Donald Trump to secure justice and compensation for 9/11 victims and other Americans who have suffered from Iran’s state-sponsored terrorism through the U.S. Victims of State-Sponsored Terrorism Fund (USVSST Fund) as part of the ongoing negotiations over an agreement with Iran. More than 20,000 Americans currently hold unpaid judgments against perpetrators of state-sponsored terrorism, including Iran.

“As members of the New York Congressional Delegation, we urge you to secure justice for 9/11 victims and other Americans who have suffered from state-sponsored terrorism,” said the bipartisan group of lawmakers. “That is why we insist that any negotiation or agreement with Iran holds them accountable for terrorism and must not come at the expense of the families of the victims.”

The lawmakers highlight Iran’s decades-long legacy of state-sponsored terrorism, which has killed hundreds of Americans, and that Iran was found liable for providing material support to al-Qaeda in carrying out the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Victims and their families are still eligible for billions of dollars in compensation from Iran through the USVSST Fund.

“As you know, the June 17 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the U.S. and Iran issues waivers to allow the sale of oil and proposes providing Iran with access to frozen funds. As the Administration continues negotiations with Iran, including discussions involving sanctions relief and access to frozen assets, we cannot allow Iran to receive economic benefits without addressing its outstanding obligations to American victims of terrorism,” continued the group.

“As we approach the 25th anniversary of 9/11, New Yorkers will never forget the lives we lost to terrorism. That is why we insist that the victims’ and their families’ right to justice will be prioritized and protected in any negotiation or agreement with Iran,” concluded the lawmakers.

Established in 2015, the United States Victims of State-Sponsored Terrorism Fund is a federal program administered by the United States Department of Justice to provide financial compensation to American victims and families harmed by international terrorism. As Iran refuses to honor billions of dollars in outstanding American judicial judgments, the Fund relies on assets seized from federal enforcement actions and state sponsors to ensure victims receive a measure of justice. The families of 9/11 victims receive a dedicated 50 percent allocation of all money available for distributions from the USVSST Fund.