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Sunday, January 22, 2012

Pierluisi Leads Fight in Congress to Help Puerto Rican and Other American Victims of Libyan Terrorism Obtain Just Compensation

Pierluisi Leads Fight in Congress to Help Puerto Rican and Other American Victims of Libyan Terrorism Obtain Just Compensation

Over 70 Individuals from Puerto Rico Were Killed or Injured in 1972 Terrorist Attack Sponsored by the Qadhafi Regime

San Juan, Puerto Rico - Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi has urged U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner to utilize a portion of the assets that belonged to former Libyan leader Moammar Qadhafi and that were frozen by the U.S. government in early 2011 in order to make up for any shortfall in a settlement fund established to compensate American victims of Qadhafi-sponsored terrorism, a group that includes over 70 Puerto Ricans.

“Many U.S. citizens from Puerto Rico were killed or gravely injured at the hands of Qadhafi in 1972 and, 40 years later, too many of them have yet to receive justice,” said Pierluisi.

Since last year, the Resident Commissioner has been leading the battle in the U.S. House of Representatives to ensure that U.S. victims of terrorist attacks sponsored by Qadhafi can receive just compensation for the harm they suffered. Because of these efforts, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2012, signed into law in December 2011, includes language directing the U.S. State Department to work toward this end.

Pierluisi has taken a leadership role on this issue because it directly affects many of his constituents. On May 30, 1972, over 70 Puerto Ricans were victims of a terrorist attack at Lod Airport in Israel. 16 Puerto Ricans were killed in the attack, which was planned and supported by a group that received training and funding from Qadhafi.

In 2008, as part of an effort to improve relations between the two nations, the United States and Libya entered into a Claims Settlement Agreement. Under the Agreement, Libya agreed to provide $1.5 billion to create a humanitarian Settlement Fund that would be used to compensate U.S. victims of Qadhafi-sponsored terrorism, including victims of the Lod attack. The Secretary of State at the time, Condoleeza Rice, certified to Congress that $1.5 billion was sufficient to ensure fair compensation for U.S. victims.

Since 2008, the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission within the U.S. Department of Justice has been adjudicating claims made against Libya and certifying monetary awards for victims, which are then paid by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. While some victims have received full payments, many others have not, including Puerto Rican victims and families of deceased Puerto Rican victims.

“Unfortunately, it is very likely that the amount remaining in the Settlement Fund will not be sufficient to compensate all victims at the levels recommended as fair by the U.S. State Department. This is especially troubling because, pursuant to the terms of the Settlement Agreement, these victims are barred from seeking relief in court. Therefore, I have been working with my congressional colleagues on a bipartisan basis to urge the State Department to utilize a portion of the frozen Qadhafi family assets to replenish the victims’ fund,” said Pierluisi.

Pierluisi’s efforts—which include multiple letters to Secretary Clinton—have received the support of the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Howard Berman (D-CA), and the top Democrat on the Energy and Commerce Committee, Henry Waxman (D-CA). The Resident Commissioner’s efforts have also obtained the backing of Reps. Michael Grimm (R-NY), Robert Hurt (R-VA), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Tim Bishop (D-NY), and Jerrold Nadler (D-NY).

“I will continue my efforts on behalf of these victims in order to ensure that the delay of justice does not become the denial of justice,” said Pierluisi.