Justice for US Marines Act Introduced

By Elizabeth Saloom, August 21, 2003

Families of the 241 marines killed in a bombing of their barracks in Beirut in 1983 might have a new chance to use money from the Crime Victims Fund. The Victims of Crime Act currently only applies to attacks in 1988 or later. An amendment authored by Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-NJ, extends it back to Oct. 23, 1983, the date of the terrorist attack on the marines.

Lautenberg said his amendment titled "The Justice for US Marines Act" enables the families to finally receive compensation 20 years after their loved ones were killed.

Lautenberg's legislation is an amendment to a larger bill, the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2004 (S.925) (also known as the State Department Authorizations Bill), which is still pending; it's not law yet. The Senate agreed to add the amendment to its version of the bill by voice vote on July 10th. The full Senate and House still have to approve the legislation before it will be official.

At around 6:20 am on Oct. 23, 1983, a truck packed with more than 2000 lbs. of explosives broke through security and crashed into the first floor of the marine barracks where about 300 service members were quartered. The servicemen were part of a peacekeeping force. Most who were killed were stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC. Many family members who lost loved ones in the bombings make a pilgrimage to Camp Lejeune every year on the anniversary of the attack.

On May 30th this year the US District Court for the District of Columbia found Iran liable for the Beirut bombing, which was carried out by the Hezbollah. The court declared that the Iranian government approved and funded the terrorist act.

There is a trial now pending for the 153 families - 600 surviving family members - to establish what amount of compensatory and punitive damages they should be awarded. The court is petitioning for money from the Crime Victims Fund to pay for the assessment of individual damages, but this fund could not be used to complete the trial unless Lautenberg's Justice for US Marines Act is passed. It would allow the marines' families the same rights as other terror victims' families.

There has also been a proposal introduced in the House to create a commemorative postage stamp in honor of the marines.