Taylor Introduces Bill to Deliver Justice to Veterans and Victims of Terrorism
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Dave Taylor (OH-02) today introduced the Justice for Veterans and Victims of Terrorism Act, which would deliver justice to victims of attempted extrajudicial killing by state sponsors of terrorism. This bill would direct the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study assessing the cost of allowing victims of attempted extrajudicial killing to sue terrorists and receive compensation through the U.S. Victims of State-Sponsored Terrorism (USVSST) Fund.
“America’s veterans and citizens should not have to die to get their day in court. My Justice for Veterans and Victims of Terrorism Act will begin to close a loophole in our legal system that has disenfranchised Americans for too long, holding terrorists accountable and putting Americans first,” said Congressman Taylor. “Last week, on the 25th anniversary of 9/11, our nation honored the countless victims and heroes whose lives were forever changed by the heinous terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. America’s legal system should not leave behind those who have sacrificed to protect our nation or citizens who have fallen victim to terrorism. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress to restore justice to those who are owed it.”
“The Justice for Veterans and Victims of Terrorism Act sends a clear message that the United States will stand behind those who were injured by terrorism and the families of those who never came home,” said James L. McCormick II, Legislative Director of the Military Order of the Purple Heart and former National Commander. “Our veterans answered the call to defend this nation, often at tremendous personal cost. They should never be denied a meaningful opportunity to pursue justice against the individuals, organizations, financial institutions, or foreign sponsors responsible for supporting the terrorism that caused their injuries.”
“This study is an important first step for Congress to understand how many service members and civilians have been affected by a loophole in the law that has precluded them from justice, and to evaluate the fiscal requirements needed to responsibly implement a change to the FSIA,” said Traci Cutler-Nordmeyer, Member, American Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism United.
"Vietnam Veterans of America strongly supports this bill, which directs the GAO to study expanding the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act to cover non-fatal and psychiatric injuries sustained in state-sponsored acts of terror. Following a court ruling that restricted judicial recourse under the FSIA terrorism exception exclusively to cases involving death, American service members and citizens who survive horrific attacks are routinely blocked from holding hostile foreign regimes accountable. This study is a critical step toward closing that unjust legal loophole, ensuring our nation’s veterans and terror survivors finally get their day in court and access to the justice they deserve," said Michael Fimmano, Chief Legislative Officer of Vietnam Veterans of America.
Background:
The terrorism exception to the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976 allows American victims of terrorism to sue state sponsors of terrorism for certain acts, including torture, extrajudicial killing, and aircraft sabotage. Eligible victims can seek monetary compensation from the USVSST Fund.
In Borochov v. Islamic Republic of Iran, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the terrorism exception only applied in cases where death occurs, even if there were severe injuries sustained because of a terrorist attack. This decision was appealed to the Supreme Court, but the Court denied the petition in 2025, leaving countless American veterans and citizens without a legal forum to obtain justice. Congressman Taylor’s Justice for Veterans and Victims of Terrorism Act would bring victims one step closer to justice by directing a GAO study to be conducted on how these additional victims could be compensated for their injuries.
The Military Order of the Purple Heart, American Victims of State-Sponsored Terrorism United, and Vietnam Veterans of America are supporting organizations of this bill.
The full bill text for the Justice for Veterans and Victims of Terrorism Act is available here.
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