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H.R. 3338: Justice for Former American Hostages in Iran Act of 2015

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H.R. 3338: Justice for Former American Hostages in Iran Act of 2015

114th Congress · introduced 2015-07-29 · International Affairs · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2015-07-29 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Duffy, Sean P. [R-WI-7] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Justice for Former American Hostages in Iran Act of 2015

Plain summary

Justice for Former American Hostages in Iran Act of 2015 Establishes in the Treasury the American Hostages in Iran Compensation Fund to: (1) make payments to the Americans held hostage in Iran, and to their families, who are identified as members of the proposed class in case number 1:00-CV-03110 (ESG) of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia; and (2) satisfy their claims against Iran relating to the taking of hostages and treatment of personnel of the U.S. embassy in Tehran between November 4, 1979, and January 20, 1981. Imposes a surcharge, to be deposited into the Fund, of 30% on the amount of: (1) any fine or penalty imposed for a violation (committed on or after enactment of this Act) of a law or regulation penalizing any economic activity relating to Iran that is administered by the Departments of State, Treasury, Justice, Commerce, or Energy; or (2) the monetary amount of a settlement entered into by a person regarding a suspected violation of such a law or regulation. Requires distribution of Fund payments to members of the proposed class in the following amounts: to each living former hostage, $6,750 for each day of captivity; to the estate of each deceased former hostage, $6,750 for each day of captivity; to each spouse (who is also a member of the identified class) of a former hostage, $600,000, or to the estate of such spouse who is deceased, $600,000; and to each child (who is also a member of the identified class) of a former hostage, $600,000, or to the estate of such child who is deceased, $600,000. Specifies the order of payment distribution. Prohibits a payment recipient from maintaining an action against Iran in any federal or state court for any claims relating to the hostage events. Deems waived and forever released all existing claims against Iran for those events upon payment from the Fund to all designated recipients. Requires the Department of State to submit recommendations to Congress if Fund amounts will be insufficient to pay all recipients within 444 days after enactment of this Act.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Justice for Former American Hostages in Iran Act of 2015

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Duffy, Sean P. [R-WI-7] · 82 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Suzan K. DelBene (D-WA), Mark E. Amodei (R-NV), Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), James E. Clyburn (D-SC), Tom Cole (R-OK), Adrian Smith (R-NE), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Randy K. Weber, Sr. (R-TX), Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D-VA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-GA), David Rouzer (R-NC), Glenn Grothman (R-WI), H. Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Rick W. Allen (R-GA), Ami Bera (D-CA), Scott Perry (R-PA) and 22 more.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)
Rulemaking
The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong114-hr3338 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong114 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong114