A bill to amend the International Claims Settlement Act of 1949 to allow recovery by United States nationals for losses incurred in Vietnam.
Public Law 96-606 · H.R. 5737 · 96th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Dec 28, 1980 · International Affairs
Sponsor: Rep. Jonathan Bingham (D-NY-22)
Cosponsors (11): Rep. Lester Wolff, Rep. Don Bonker,
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.
Amends the International Claims Settlement Act of 1949 to provide for the determination of claims against Vietnam arising out of the taking of U.S. property interests.
Requires the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States to receive and determine the validity and amounts of claims by U.S. nationals against Vietnam arising on or after April 29, 1975. Specifies the type of claims that may be considered. Directs the Commission to certify the amount of loss suffered by each claimant. Stipulates that the amount of any claim which has been assigned shall not exceed the amount of actual consideration paid by the last assignee.
Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to establish the Claims Fund for the payment of unsatisfied claims against Vietnam upon certification by the Commission. Specifies the priority of payments on such claims.
Requires the Commission to complete its duties under this Act within three years. Prohibits fees in excess of ten percent of the claim.
Makes specified provisions of existing law relating to the jurisdiction of the Commission, payment of claims, administrative procedure, and employee organizations applicable to the Commission.
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. 13 actions.
- Dec 28, 1980Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-606.
- Dec 16, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Dec 15, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate.
- Dec 2, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Foreign Relations Committee
- May 6, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Foreign Relations Committee
- May 5, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
- Apr 30, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Foreign Affairs Committee
- Oct 30, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Foreign Affairs 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.