Congressman Lance: 'It's Past Time for Justice for Victims of Iranian Terrorism'

According to the office of Congressman Leonard Lance:

Congressman Leonard Lance (NJ-07), co-chair of the Republican Israel Caucus, today joined a strong bipartisan majority in the House of Representatives in passing H.R. 3457, the Justice for Victims of Iranian Terrorism Act, a measure Lance cosponsored which would prevent the President from lifting sanctions on Iran until all judgments are paid by Iran for its acts of terrorism.

Victims of state-sponsored terrorism are allowed to bring suit in U.S. Courts to collect damages and the victims, including many New Jersey residents, are owed over $40 billion in damages.

“We cannot allow Iran to be handed billions of dollars in sanctions relief without ensuring the victims of Iranian terror finally see justice. There are many reasons to oppose lifting sanctions on Iran, not the least of which is because countless victims of terror and their families have never been compensated for heinous Iranian crimes. Billions of dollars in judgments have been rendered, including many to New Jersey families, but they and countless others across the United States continue to wait,” said Lance following passage.

H.R. 3457 would prevent U.S. sanctions from being lifted until the President certifies to Congress that all victims have received all the damages Iran owes them. New Jersey victims with outstanding judgments include:

• Alisa Flatow of West Orange, NJ was killed in a 1995 bus bombing while traveling to the former Jewish settlement of Kfar Darom on a teaching mission. $247 million judgment.

• David Goldman, originally of East Orange, NJ was killed in a 1992 suicide attack in Buenos Aires. $19.5million judgment.

• Judy Greenbaum of Passaic, NJ, was killed in the 2001 Jerusalem Sbarro pizza restaurant bombing. $19 million judgment.

• Leah Stern of Passaic, NJ was killed in a Jerusalem bombing in 1997. $313 million judgment.

• American University in Beirut President David Dodge of Princeton, NJ was abducted in 1982 and tortured in captivity for over a year. $5.6 million judgment.