Bill > S868

This bill, titled the Justice for Former American Hostages in Iran Act of 2015, establishes the American Hostages in Iran Compensation Fund to provide payments to Americans held hostage in Iran between November 3, 1979, and January 20, 1981, and their families, who are identified in a specific court case (1:00-CV-03110 (ESG) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia). The fund will be financed by a 30 percent surcharge on fines, penalties, or settlements related to economic activities involving Iran, as administered by certain government departments, with these deposits terminating once all eligible payments are made. Payments from the fund will be administered by representatives of the class and will be distributed first to living former hostages, then to the estates of deceased former hostages, and finally to their spouses and children, with each receiving $10,000 per day of captivity for the hostage and $5,000 per day of captivity for eligible family members, provided they consent to receive the payment. Accepting these payments will preclude recipients from filing further lawsuits against Iran for claims related to the hostage crisis, and upon full distribution, all such claims against Iran will be considered waived and released. Any remaining funds after all payments are made will be deposited into the U.S. Treasury.