DOJ Criminal Division is requesting
emergency approval of a new collection that would require
information necessary to determine claim eligibility from
applicants to the United States Victims of State Sponsored
Terrorism Fund.
The Special Master,
appointed by the U.S. Attorney General to administer the United
States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism (USVSST) Fund, requests
emergency review of the USVSST Fund Application Form. Emergency
processing is essential because compliance with normal ICR
procedures would cause several statutory deadlines to be missed.
Expedited approval of the application is necessary to achieve
compliance with the mandatory statutory deadlines in the Act. The
Justice for United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Act
(42 U.S.C. § 10609) imposes several short timelines for
compensating eligible victims of international terrorism: Under 42
U.S.C. § 10609(b)(2)(A), the Special Master must publish a notice
in the Federal Register specifying the procedures necessary to
apply and establish eligibility for payment. In accordance with 42
U.S.C. § 10609(c)(3)(A), applicants have 90 days thereafter to file
an application. The Special Master will review each claim with
regard to compensation from the fund and provide written
determinations to the Attorney General and each claimant. 42 U.S.C.
§ 10609(b)(4)(A) permits an applicant 30 days to request a hearing
after receipt of a decision denying the claim in whole or in part,
and allows the Special Master 90 days after the hearing to make a
final written determination. After all these procedures, all
initial payments must be authorized by December 18, 2016, in
accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 10609(d)(2). Adding the 90-day process
required under normal ICR procedures would prevent DOJ from meeting
the statutory deadline to authorize initial payments not later than
one year after the enactment of the Act on December 18, 2015, and
would cause a failure in an essential mission of the Department, to
expeditiously compensate victims of terrorism.
US Code:
42
USC 10609 Name of Law: Justice for United States Victims of
State Sponsored Terrorism Act
US Code: 42 USC 10609(b)(2)(B) Name of Law:
Justice for United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism
Act
US Code: 42 USC 10609(c)(3)(A) Name of Law: Justice for United
States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Act
US Code: 42 USC 10609(b)(4)(A) Name of Law: Justice for United
States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Act
US Code: 42 USC 10609(d)(2) Name of Law: Justice for United States
Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Act
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.