HR 2092 102th Congress House

Torture Victim Protection Act of 1991

Official title: To carry out obligations of the United States under the United Nations Charter and other international agreements pertaining to the protection of human rights … Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To carry out obligations of the United States under the United Nations Charter and other international agreements pertaining to the protection of human rights by establishing a civil action for recovery of damages from an individual who engages in torture or extrajudicial killing.

Introduced: July 31, 1991 See on congress.gov

International Affairs Civil actions and liabilityCrime and Law EnforcementHuman rightsLimitation of actions

More subjectsShow fewer subjects

MurderTortsTortureVictims of crimes

Everywhere this bill has been 27 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Mar 12, 1992

Became Public Law No: 102-256.

Mar 12, 1992

Signed by President.

Mar 4, 1992

Presented to President.

Mar 4, 1992

Measure Signed in Senate.

Mar 3, 1992

Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.

Mar 3, 1992

Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.

Jan 21, 1992

Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 392.

Nov 26, 1991

Received in the Senate, read the first time.

Nov 25, 1991

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Nov 25, 1991

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

Nov 25, 1991

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

Nov 25, 1991

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.

Nov 25, 1991

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Nov 25, 1991

Mr. Mazzoli moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

Nov 25, 1991

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 102-367, Part I.

Nov 19, 1991

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Nov 19, 1991

Ordered to be Reported (Amended).

Sep 12, 1991

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

Sep 11, 1991

Executive Comment Received from State.

Aug 6, 1991

Referred to the Subcommittee on International Law, Immigration, and Refugees.

Jul 29, 1991

Referred jointly to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Jul 29, 1991

Referred jointly to the House Committee on Judiciary.

Jul 29, 1991

JOINT REFERRAL - Mr. Fascell asked unanimous consent that the bill be jointly referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on the Judiciary. Agreed to without objection.

Jul 25, 1991

Executive Comment Requested from State.

May 7, 1991

Referred to the Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Organizations.

Apr 24, 1991

Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Apr 24, 1991

Introduced in House

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Latest action March 12, 1992

Became Public Law No: 102-256.

Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Torture Victim Protection Act of 1991 - Imposes civil liability on anyone who, under actual or apparent authority or under color of law of any foreign nation, subjects any individual to torture or extrajudicial killing. Directs a court to decline to hear a claim under this Act if the claimant has not exhausted adequate and available remedies in the place where the conduct giving rise to the claim occurred.

Specifies that no action shall be maintained under this Act unless it is commenced within ten years after the cause of action arose.

Related & companion bills 1

Bill text 6 versions

Engrossed in House Formatted Text
Enrolled Bill Formatted Text
Introduced in House Formatted Text
Placed on Calendar Senate Formatted Text
Public Law PDF
Received in Senate Formatted Text

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

Committees of jurisdiction 4

Foreign Affairs Committee
House of Representatives
Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations Subcommittee
House of Representatives · subcommittee of Foreign Affairs Committee
Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee
House of Representatives · subcommittee of Judiciary Committee
Judiciary Committee
House of Representatives

Cosponsors 3

Pelosi, Nancy

California · Jul 31, 1991

Schumer, Charles E.

New York · Jul 31, 1991

Smith, Christopher H.

New Jersey · Jul 22, 1991

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APA

U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2092: Torture Victim Protection Act of 1991. 102nd Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-2092/

MLA

"H.R. 2092: Torture Victim Protection Act of 1991." 102nd Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-2092/.

Bluebook (legal)

H.R. 2092, 102nd Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-2092/.

Markdown link

[H.R. 2092: Torture Victim Protection Act of 1991](https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-2092/)