Jon Kyl: “I thank Senators Mack and Lautenberg for their leadership on this issue. I would like to add that from the beginning of…”

“I thank Senators Mack and Lautenberg for their leadership on this issue. I would like to add that from the beginning of my involvement on this issue in 1998, I have sought to help Senator Mack provide a mechanism which would not only help current victims, but also set in place a procedure to ensure future victims will be able to attain justice, provided blocked assets are held in the U.S. I do not appreciate seeing laws in effect vetoed through a waiver authority interpreted overly broadly. Indeed, the waiver used in this language should be exercised on a case-by-case basis only. Second, I would also like to point out the precedent being set and the reaffirmation of authority. The administration assures us via a private letter that the judgment creditors already holding final judgment will be paid their compensatory awards within 60 days of the enactment of this act. In addition, the Congress statutorily reaffirms the President's authority to vest and pay from blocked assets in the future to help future victims of terrorism. Let me state very clearly that there is no way, based upon the procedure now in place, that future victims will be forced to suffer the prolonged battle with their government that these first victims were forced to bear.”