FOREIGN CLAIMS SETTLEMENT COMMISSION

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The Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States (FCSC) was established under Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1954. In 1980, pursuant to Public Law 96-209, the Commission was transferred to the Department of Justice as a separate agency within the Department.

The mission of the FCSC is to adjudicate claims against foreign governments for losses and injuries sustained by United States nationals, pursuant to programs authorized by statute or under international agreements.

The major functions of the FCSC are to:

• Determine claims of United States nationals for loss of property in specific foreign countries as the result of nationalization or other taking by the governments of those countries, as authorized by the International Claims Settlement Act of 1949, as amended (22 U.S.C. 1621-1645o), and other legislation.
• Determine claims of any previously unrecognized United States military personnel and civilian American citizens who were held in captured status in the Vietnam conflict, as authorized by the War Claims Act of 1948, as amended (50 U.S.C. App. 2001-2017p).
• Service information requests relating to the 43 completed international and war claims programs previously administered by the Commission, and report to Congress and executive departments on potential programs.

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