Today, Congressman Bill Huizenga (MI-02) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3457, the Justice for Victims of Iranian Terrorism Act. This legislation requires that American victims and their families affected by Iranian linked terror attacks are compensated before the Iranian regime receives any of the $150 billion in sanction relief contained within the Iranian Nuclear Agreement.
Iran has accumulated a debt of $43.5 billion in unpaid court-ordered damages through more than 80 cases over the last 15 years. One of these cases involves the family of West Michigan native, U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer II Kenneth V. Welch, who was tragically killed in 1984 during the attack on the U.S. Embassy Annex in Beirut. In 2007, the Federal District Court in Washington, DC, ruled in favor of the Welch Family and stated that the Iranian government owed $32,698,304.00 in damages, which Iran has not paid.
Prior to today’s vote, Congressman Huizenga and Congressman Pat Meehan, the author of the legislation, met with Chief Warrant Officer Welch’s widow Linda and his son Brian.
“While I clearly disagree with President Obama on the Iranian Nuclear Agreement, I think there is no doubt that we should ensure those impacted by Iranian sponsored terrorism, receive the compensation owed to them before the Iranian regime receives a single cent of sanction relief,” said Congressman Huizenga. “It was moving to hear directly from Linda and Brian about their 31-year battle with our own government. I am hopeful that passage of this legislation will help the Welch family, the Stethem family, and all of the families across the country impacted by Iranian sponsored terrorism, find the closure they so desperately deserve.”
Chief Warrant Officer Kenneth Welch was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on May 23rd, 1951 and graduated from Kelloggsville High School. CWO II Welch earned several prestigious awards, ribbons, and medals including a bronze star and Purple Heart, while serving our nation. CWO II Welch is buried in Arlington National Cemetery and is one of only 25 Americans recognized on the Defense Intelligence Agency’s Patriots Memorial that identifies “extraordinary patriots who gave their own lives while executing missions to safeguard and secure the lives of others.”
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