Frank Lautenberg: “I rise to introduce the Justice for Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Act with my colleagues, Senators Specter…”

“I rise to introduce the Justice for Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Act with my colleagues, Senators Specter, Menendez, Cornyn, Coleman, Lott, Lieberman, Schumer, Clinton, Casey, Collins, Graham, Biden, Stevens, and Feinstein. I am proud to introduce this legislation on behalf of the many Americans who have suffered at the hands of State sponsors of terrorism. This important legislation will allow victims of state sponsored terrorism to have their day in court. It will do so by enabling these individuals to both sue for liability and seek financial compensation from the states, such as Iran, which committed these murderous acts, thereby starving them of the funds that they use to strike at innocent victims. In 1983, the U.S. Marine Corps barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, was bombed by the Lebanese terrorist organization Hezbollah, killing 241 servicemen and wounding 100 others. In 2003, the U.S. District Court in Washington, DC, found the Republic of Iran, which directly supports Hezbollah, guilty of masterminding that bombing. The victims and their families have the right to sue their tormentors and have judgments against Iran, yet the judgments are not being enforced.”