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HR 4309 105th Congress House

Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998

Official title: To provide a comprehensive program of support for victims of torture.

Introduced: July 30, 1998 Introduced by: Smith, Christopher H. Republican · New Jersey See on congress.gov
Crime and Law Enforcement AliensAmerican economic assistanceAuthorizationCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
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 Everywhere this bill has been 35 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 30, 1998
Became Public Law No: 105-320.
Oct 30, 1998
Signed by President.
Oct 20, 1998
Presented to President.
Oct 10, 1998
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Oct 10, 1998
On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by voice vote. (consideration: CR H10447-10450)
Oct 10, 1998
Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by voice vote.(consideration: CR H10447-10450)
Oct 10, 1998
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.
Oct 10, 1998
Mr. Gilman moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment.
Oct 8, 1998
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Oct 8, 1998
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Oct 8, 1998
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Oct 8, 1998
Amendment SP 3792 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.
Oct 8, 1998
Amendment SP 3792 proposed by Senator Jeffords for Senator Grams.
Oct 8, 1998
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S12044))
Sep 15, 1998
Received in the Senate.
Sep 14, 1998
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Sep 14, 1998
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
Sep 14, 1998
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
Sep 14, 1998
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.
Sep 14, 1998
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7661-7664)
Sep 14, 1998
Mr. Gilman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Sep 14, 1998
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 406.
Sep 14, 1998
Committee on Commerce discharged.
Sep 14, 1998
House Committee on Commerce Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than Sept. 14, 1998.
Sep 14, 1998
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on International Relations. H. Rept. 105-709, Part I.
Aug 17, 1998
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment.
Aug 6, 1998
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Aug 6, 1998
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jul 24, 1998
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Jul 24, 1998
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jul 24, 1998
Referred to the Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights.
Jul 22, 1998
Referred to House Commerce
Jul 22, 1998
Referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committee on 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.
Jul 22, 1998
Referred to House International Relations
Jul 22, 1998
Introduced in House
 Amendments to this bill 1

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

1 agreed to

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
SAMDT 3,792 – In the nature of a substitute. Agreed to Oct 8, 1998
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 Latest action October 30, 1998

Became Public Law No: 105-320.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the President to provide assistance in the form of grants to treatment centers and programs in foreign countries that are carrying out projects or activities specifically designed to treat victims of torture for the physical and psychological effects of such torture.

Authorizes appropriations.

Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide grants to U.S. programs to cover the costs of services for: (1) the rehabilitation of victims of torture, including treatment of the physical and psychological effects of torture; (2) social and legal services for victims of torture; and (3) research and training for health care providers outside of treatment centers. Authorizes appropriations.

Authorizes appropriations to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture.

Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should: (1) request the Fund to find new ways to support and protect treatment centers and programs (including the development of new centers and programs) that are carrying out rehabilitative services for victims of torture; (2) use the U.S. vote to support the work of the Special Rapporteur on Torture and the Committee Against Torture established under the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; and (3) use the U.S. vote to establish a country rapporteur or similar procedural mechanism to investigate human rights violations in a country if either the Special Rapporteur or the Committee Against Torture indicates that a systematic practice of torture is prevalent in such country.

Directs the Secretary of State to provide training for consular officers with respect to torture victims, including gender-specific training on the subject of interacting with women and men who are victims of torture by rape or any other form of sexual violence.

 Bill text 6 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
 Cosponsors 5
All 5 Democratic 4 Independent 1
I
Sanders, Bernard
Vermont · Sep 9, 1998
 D
Markey, Edward J.
Massachusetts · Aug 5, 1998
 D
McGovern, James P.
Massachusetts · Jul 30, 1998
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Jul 22, 1998
 D
Sherman, Brad
California · Jul 22, 1998
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4309: Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-4309/
MLA
"H.R. 4309: Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-4309/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4309, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-4309/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4309: Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-4309/)
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