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Torture Victims Relief Act

Introduced: February 4, 1998 Introduced by: Smith, Christopher H. Republican · New Jersey See on congress.gov

Everywhere this bill has been 7 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Feb 11, 1998

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.

Feb 10, 1998

Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims.

Feb 4, 1998

Referred to House Commerce

Feb 4, 1998

Referred to House International Relations

Feb 4, 1998

Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on International Relations, and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Feb 4, 1998

Referred to House Judiciary

Feb 4, 1998

Introduced in House

Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Torture Victims Relief Act - Prohibits the United States from expelling, removing, extraditing, or otherwise involuntarily returning an individual to a country if there is substantial evidence that a reasonable person in the circumstances of that individual would fear subjection to torture in that country.

(Sec. 5) Covers within this Act any alien presenting a claim of having been tortured, or whom there is reason to believe has been tortured.

Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) consideration by appropriate officials of the effects of torture; (2) expedited processing of refugee admissions and for asylum and withholding of removal; (3) granting parole in lieu of detention for such an individual under the Immigration and Nationality Act; and (4) exemption of such an individual from expedited removal pursuant to such Act.

Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Attorney General should allocate sufficient resources to maintain in the Immigration and Naturalization Service's Resource Information Center current information relating to the use of torture in foreign countries.

(Sec. 6) Directs the Attorney General to provide training for immigration inspectors and examiners, immigration officers, asylum officers, immigration judges, and other relevant Department of Justice officials, and directs the Secretary of State to provide training for consular officers, regarding the identification of torture, the surrounding circumstances most often practiced, the long-term effects upon a victim, the identification of the physical, cognitive, and emotional effects of torture, and the appropriate manner of interviewing torture victims.

(Sec. 7) Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide grants to programs in the United States to cover the cost of specified services for torture victims. Authorizes the appropriation of funds for assistance for domestic centers and programs for the treatment of torture victims.

(Sec. 8) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the President to provide grants to treatment centers and programs in foreign countries which are specifically carrying out projects or activities to treat victims of torture. Authorizes appropriations.

(Sec. 9) Authorizes appropriations to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture for FY 1999 and 2000.

What's happening now February 11, 1998

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.

Committees of jurisdiction 5