Bill > HR7818

This bill, the Civil Justice for Victims of China-Originated Viral Infections Diseases Act or the Civil Justice for Victims of COVID Act, aims to amend U.S. law to allow U.S. courts to exercise jurisdiction over foreign states for reckless actions or omissions that caused or substantially contributed to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. The key provisions include: stripping foreign sovereign immunity for such cases, giving U.S. courts exclusive jurisdiction and additional authority to enforce the law, allowing the Attorney General to intervene and seek a temporary stay of proceedings, removing immunity from attachment or execution of foreign state property used for commercial activities in the U.S., creating a private right of action for U.S. citizens or residents injured by the pandemic, and allowing state attorneys general to bring civil actions on behalf of their states and residents. The bill also expands the time limit for filing such civil actions up to 20 years.