An act to provide for the settlement and payment of claims of United States civilian and military personnel against the United States for losses resulting from acts of violence directed against the United States Government or its representatives in a foreign country or from an authorized evacuation of personnel from a foreign country.
Public Law 96-519 · H.R. 6086 · 96th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Dec 12, 1980 · Government Operations and Politics
Sponsor: Rep. George Danielson (D-CA-30)
Cosponsors (12): Rep. Carlos Moorhead, Rep. Herbert Harris,
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
(House disagreed to Senate amendments)
Amends the Military Personnel and Civilian Employees' Claims Act of 1964 to provide for maximum payment by the United States of $40,000 in personal property claims by members of the uniformed services or civilian employees of the United States incident to evacuations from a foreign country after December 31, 1978.
Requires: (1) that the evacuation after December 31, 1978, was authorized by competent authority which was in response to political unrest or hostile acts, and that damage or loss resulted from such evacuation; or (2) that damage or loss resulted from acts of mob violence, terrorist attacks, or other hostile acts directed against the U.S. government or its officers or employees.
Sets forth the order and priority of payment in the event the claimant is deceased.
States that such claim must be submitted in writing within two years after it accrues, or within one year after enactment of this Act, whichever is later.
Requires each agency to issue regulations governing claims settlements. Prohibits further adjudication of specified claims settled under this Act, unless such claims have not been paid.
Subrogates the United States to any rights or claims the claimant may have against the foreign country in which the damage or loss occurred, upon payment of such claim.
States that no funds may be obligated or expended pursuant to this Act before fiscal year 1981, except to the extent provided in advance in appropriation Acts. Requires that any payments made pursuant to this Act before fiscal year 1981 be made from funds appropriated before the date of enactment of this Act.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 15 actions.
- Dec 12, 1980Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-519.
- Dec 3, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Dec 1, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate receded from its amendments.
- Oct 2, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · House disagreed to Senate amendments.
- Oct 1, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Aug 1, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Judiciary Committee
- Apr 22, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee
- Apr 21, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
- Mar 27, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Judiciary Committee
- Dec 11, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Judiciary Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.