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S. 386Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Judgment Fund Transparency and Terrorism Financing Prevention Act of 2017

Sponsored by James LankfordSen. James Lankford (R-OK)
Introduced February 15, 2017

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 12:49 PM UTC

The Judgment Fund Transparency and Terrorism Financing Prevention Act of 2017 requires the Treasury to make detailed information about each payment from the Judgment Fund publicly available. It aims to increase openness about how the fund is used and to block payments that could support terrorism. The rule applies to federal agencies, claimants, and any foreign‑state payments, and it affects the general public who can view the disclosures.

Key Provisions

  • The Treasury must post on a website, within 30 days of a payment, the agency or entity involved, the plaintiff’s name, counsel’s name, payment amount (including fees and interest), a brief fact summary, and the agency that submitted the claim.
  • For payments to foreign states, the Treasury must also disclose the payment method, currency denominations, and the names and locations of any foreign‑controlled financial institutions used.
  • Disclosures are not considered a privacy violation under the Freedom of Information Act, except for information about children under 18.
  • No Judgment Fund payment may be made to a state sponsor of terrorism.
  • The Treasury must put these rules into effect within 60 days of the law’s enactment.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

February 15, 2017

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

February 15, 2017

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

February 15, 2017

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued February 15, 2017

II

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 386

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

February 15, 2017

Mr. Lankford (for himself, Mrs. Fischer, Mr. Cruz, and Mr. Inhofe) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To amend title 31, United States Code, to provide for transparency of payments made from the Judgment Fund.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Judgment Fund Transparency and Terrorism Financing Prevention Act of 2017.

2.

Judgment Fund transparency

(a)

Transparency requirement

Section 1304 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

(d)
(1)

Unless the disclosure of such information is otherwise prohibited by law or court order, the Secretary of the Treasury shall make available to the public on a website, as soon as practicable, but not later than 30 days after the date on which a payment under this section is tendered on or after January 1, 2016, the following information with regard to that payment:

(A)

The name of the specific agency or entity whose actions gave rise to the claim or judgment.

(B)

The name of the plaintiff or claimant.

(C)

The name of counsel for the plaintiff or claimant.

(D)

The amount paid representing principal liability, and any amounts paid representing any ancillary liability, including attorney fees, costs, and interest.

(E)

A brief description of the facts that gave rise to the claim.

(F)

The name of the agency that submitted the claim.

(G)

Any information available on reports generated by the Judgment Fund Payment Search administered by the Treasury Department.

(2)

In addition to the information described in paragraph (1), if a payment under this section is made to a foreign state on or after January 1, 2016, the Secretary of the Treasury shall make available to the public in accordance with paragraph (1), the following information with regard to that payment:

(A)

A description of the method of payment.

(B)

A description of the currency denominations used for the payment.

(C)

The name and location of each financial institution owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by a foreign state or an agent of a foreign state through which the payment passed or from which the payment was withdrawn, including any financial institution owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by a foreign state or an agent of a foreign state that is holding the payment as of the date on which the information is made available.

(3)

In this subsection, the term foreign state has the meaning given the term in section 1603 of title 28.

(e)

Except with regard to children under 18, the disclosure of information required in this section shall not be considered a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy for purposes of section 552 of title 5 (commonly known as the Freedom of Information Act).

(f)

No payment may be made under this section to a state sponsor of terrorism, as defined in section 1605A(h) of title 28.

.

(b)

Implementation

The Secretary of the Treasury shall carry out the amendment made by this section not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act.