Clayton Zook, a victim of the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia that killed 19 U.S airmen and injured hundreds, is leading the push to include a relief bill in Congress' stop-gap funding measure.
The United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund was established in 2015 and has paid out more than $6 billion to victims of state-sponsored terrorism.
But the fund, which is financed by criminal or civil fines from asset forfeitures, has struggled to receive the money needed, advocates say.
That has left behind many of the some 18,000 terrorism victims eligible for the fund after receiving court judgements.
"It's the only means of justice for people," said Zook. "This is the only way to collect funds [and] collect some degree of justice."
Zook, of Michigan, has for the past two years led a loose coalition of advocates, which includes victims of 9/11, to address the issues with the fund.
He has pushed for legislation introduced this year to be included in the stopgap spending bill known as a continuing resolution (CR) and claimed it has bipartisan support on Capitol Hill.
The bill would guarantee an annual payment to victims and increase congressional oversight of the fund.
Zook said there is resistance from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to include it in the CR, which Zook called "hurtful."
"This legislation is a no-brainer. It's bipartisan," he said. "It should be good for America."
Schumer's office did not respond to a request for comment. The office of Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) also did not respond.
Zook, 51, a veteran who now works for the Army's civilian branch, Tank-automotive and Armaments Command, was injured in the Khobar Towers bombing, which he described as "catastrophic" and a life-changing event. He struggled with PTSD afterward.
Zook said he has only received one small payment from the fund since becoming eligible after a judge ruled in favor of him for a $7 million judgement against Iran, which was behind the Khobar attack.
He said if the bill isn't passed this year, he was concerned it would never move through a second Trump administration.
"Trump's a wild card," he said, expressing concern that a long fight for justice has failed many victims and their families. "Some victims in my community [have] husbands who were stationed at Khobar that have gone on and committed suicide — and they've not received a payment yet."
