One Hundred Fourteenth Congress of the United States of America
2d Session
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday, the fourth day of January, two thousand and sixteen
S. 2040
AN ACT
To deter terrorism, provide justice for victims, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act
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Findings and purpose
Findings
Congress finds the following:
International terrorism is a serious and deadly problem that threatens the vital interests of the United States.
International terrorism affects the interstate and foreign commerce of the United States by harming international trade and market stability, and limiting international travel by United States citizens as well as foreign visitors to the United States.
Some foreign terrorist organizations, acting through affiliated groups or individuals, raise significant funds outside of the United States for conduct directed and targeted at the United States.
It is necessary to recognize the substantive causes of action for aiding and abetting and conspiracy liability under chapter 113B of title 18, United States Code.
The decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in Halberstam v. Welch, 705 F.2d 472 (D.C. Cir. 1983), which has been widely recognized as the leading case regarding Federal civil aiding and abetting and conspiracy liability, including by the Supreme Court of the United States, provides the proper legal framework for how such liability should function in the context of chapter 113B of title 18, United States Code.
Persons, entities, or countries that knowingly or recklessly contribute material support or resources, directly or indirectly, to persons or organizations that pose a significant risk of committing acts of terrorism that threaten the security of nationals of the United States or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States, necessarily direct their conduct at the United States, and should reasonably anticipate being brought to court in the United States to answer for such activities.
The United States has a vital interest in providing persons and entities injured as a result of terrorist attacks committed within the United States with full access to the court system in order to pursue civil claims against persons, entities, or countries that have knowingly or recklessly provided material support or resources, directly or indirectly, to the persons or organizations responsible for their injuries.
Purpose
The purpose of this Act is to provide civil litigants with the broadest possible basis, consistent with the Constitution of the United States, to seek relief against persons, entities, and foreign countries, wherever acting and wherever they may be found, that have provided material support, directly or indirectly, to foreign organizations or persons that engage in terrorist activities against the United States.
Responsibility of foreign states for international terrorism against the United States
In general
Chapter 97 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1605A the following:
Responsibility of foreign states for international terrorism against the United States
Definition
In this section, the term international terrorism—
has the meaning given the term in section 2331 of title 18, United States Code; and
does not include any act of war (as defined in that section).
Responsibility of foreign states
A foreign state shall not be immune from the jurisdiction of the courts of the United States in any case in which money damages are sought against a foreign state for physical injury to person or property or death occurring in the United States and caused by—
an act of international terrorism in the United States; and
a tortious act or acts of the foreign state, or of any official, employee, or agent of that foreign state while acting within the scope of his or her office, employment, or agency, regardless where the tortious act or acts of the foreign state occurred.
Claims by nationals of the United States
Notwithstanding section 2337(2) of title 18, a national of the United States may bring a claim against a foreign state in accordance with section 2333 of that title if the foreign state would not be immune under subsection (b).
Rule of construction
A foreign state shall not be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of the United States under subsection (b) on the basis of an omission or a tortious act or acts that constitute mere negligence.
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Technical and conforming amendments
The table of sections for chapter 97 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1605A the following:
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Subsection 1605(g)(1)(A) of title 28, United States Code, is amended by inserting or section 1605B
after but for section 1605A
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Aiding and abetting liability for civil actions regarding terrorist acts
In general
Section 2333 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
Liability
Definition
In this subsection, the term person has the meaning given the term in section 1 of title 1.
Liability
In an action under subsection (a) for an injury arising from an act of international terrorism committed, planned, or authorized by an organization that had been designated as a foreign terrorist organization under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189), as of the date on which such act of international terrorism was committed, planned, or authorized, liability may be asserted as to any person who aids and abets, by knowingly providing substantial assistance, or who conspires with the person who committed such an act of international terrorism.
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Effect on Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act
Nothing in the amendment made by this section affects immunity of a foreign state, as that term is defined in section 1603 of title 28, United States Code, from jurisdiction under other law.
Stay of actions pending state negotiations
Exclusive jurisdiction
The courts of the United States shall have exclusive jurisdiction in any action in which a foreign state is subject to the jurisdiction of a court of the United States under section 1605B of title 28, United States Code, as added by section 3(a) of this Act.
Intervention
The Attorney General may intervene in any action in which a foreign state is subject to the jurisdiction of a court of the United States under section 1605B of title 28, United States Code, as added by section 3(a) of this Act, for the purpose of seeking a stay of the civil action, in whole or in part.
Stay
In general
A court of the United States may stay a proceeding against a foreign state if the Secretary of State certifies that the United States is engaged in good faith discussions with the foreign state defendant concerning the resolution of the claims against the foreign state, or any other parties as to whom a stay of claims is sought.
Duration
In general
A stay under this section may be granted for not more than 180 days.
Extension
In general
The Attorney General may petition the court for an extension of the stay for additional 180-day periods.
Recertification
A court shall grant an extension under clause (i) if the Secretary of State recertifies that the United States remains engaged in good faith discussions with the foreign state defendant concerning the resolution of the claims against the foreign state, or any other parties as to whom a stay of claims is sought.
Severability
If any provision of this Act or any amendment made by this Act, or the application of a provision or amendment to any person or circumstance, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this Act and the amendments made by this Act, and the application of the provisions and amendments to any other person not similarly situated or to other circumstances, shall not be affected by the holding.
Effective date
The amendments made by this Act shall apply to any civil action—
pending on, or commenced on or after, the date of enactment of this Act; and
arising out of an injury to a person, property, or business on or after September 11, 2001.
Speaker of the House of Representatives
Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate