15 U.S.C. § 4501 — Restitutionary amounts covered

(a) In general. Except for section 4504, this chapter: (1) sets the procedure for distributing funds, including interest, collected by the Secretary^* or courts under the Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act of 1973 or Economic Stabilization Act of 1970 and their regulations as restitution for actual or alleged violations; and (2), subject to (c), applies to (A) such funds held in Secretary-administered Treasury accounts on or after October 21, 1986, and (B) amounts ever determined in judicial or administrative proceedings, including settlements and declaratory judgments, to have been paid for such violations, including amounts held in court escrow. (b) Special rule. Amounts covered by (a)(2) and held by a court before October 21, 1986 may remain there, but the Secretary or court must distribute them, with interest, only under this chapter. (c) Exclusions. (a)(2) does not apply to (1) amounts actually distributed before October 21, 1986 under section 155 of Public Law 97-377 or a final order or judgment; (2) amounts to which a person^* or class has an enforceable right created, vested, or governed by the July 7, 1986 stripper-well settlement; or (3) amounts an order or judgment designates for distribution to a specific injured person or class, including persons identified as injured by an actual or alleged violation or persons identified before October 21, 1986 for indirect restitution. (d) Escrow. Subject to (b) and (c), covered amounts must be held in appropriate escrow accounts administered for the Secretary by the Treasury Secretary. (e) Interest. Consistently with this chapter's distribution rules, the Treasury Secretary must provide interest at the maximum rate earned on Federal trust-fund investments in short- and long-term Federal Government securities, including minority-bank investments.