$42 million fund proposed for former Pan Am workers tied to Libya terrorism suit

What does this do?

HR 6527 would establish a federal trust fund of $42,066,338 to compensate a narrowly defined group of former Pan American World Airways employees connected to Libyan state-sponsored terrorism, including the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. The Foreign Claims Settlement Commission would open a claims window within 30 days of enactment, and eligible individuals would have 60 days to file. Approved claims would be forwarded to the Treasury Department for payment, with estates of deceased qualifying individuals also permitted to file.

Who does it affect?

Eligible claimants must have been employed by Pan Am on December 3, 1991, been at least 45 years old on that date, participated in a specific federal lawsuit against Libya, and been alive as of August 14, 2008. Because the total fund is fixed, each person's individual payment depends on how many approved claims are ultimately submitted.

Why does it matter?

The individual payout per claimant is variable and cannot be determined until the total number of approved claims is known. U.S. taxpayers would bear the full cost of the payments through the federal Treasury.

What does it cost, and who pays?

• Total fund: $42,066,338
• Split equally among approved claims
• Funded by U.S. taxpayers