Fairness for Khobar Act of 2025

Sponsor: Pete Sessions (Republican-TX)August 1, 2025

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Introduced

In Committee

Passed One Chamber

Passed Both Chambers

Signed into Law

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Victims of Beirut and Khobar Towers bombings could get missed payments

This bill would let victims of the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing and 1996 Khobar Towers bombing apply for missed lump sum payments. Some victims missed these "lump sum catch-up payments" because older rules only allowed one application. This meant if they already got regular payments, they couldn't apply for the lump sum. This change would give them a new chance to get these funds.

What Would Change

Today, some victims of the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing and 1996 Khobar Towers bombing who got regular payments could not apply for extra lump sum payments. This was because of old Department of Justice guidance. If this bill becomes law, these victims would be able to apply for and get those lump sum payments. They would need to show they relied on the old guidance that stopped them from applying before.

Key Provisions

Lets certain 1983 Beirut barracks bombing victims apply for lump sum catch-up payments.
Lets certain 1996 Khobar Towers bombing victims apply for lump sum catch-up payments.
Requires the Special Master to create new rules within 30 days to allow these victims to apply.
Allows victims to prove they relied on old Department of Justice guidance through documentation, a sworn statement, or other methods.
Authorizes payments from a reserve fund or the main victim fund.

View on Congress.gov

HR 4863 · 119th Congress · August 1, 2025 · AI Summary by gemini-2.5-flash · 10/10

Fairness for Khobar Act of 2025

What Would Change

Key Provisions

Lobbying Activity