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HR 5460 110th Congress House Crime and Law Enforcement Armed Forces and National Security Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Human rights International Affairs Prisoners of war Prisoners' rights Punishment Torture

To amend the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 and title 18, United States Code, to include waterboarding in the definition of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment and in the definition…

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To amend the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 and title 18, United States Code, to include waterboarding in the definition of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment and in the definition of torture, and for other purposes.

Introduced: February 14, 2008 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 110th Congress ended
It never became law before the 110th Congress (2007–2008) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 17, 2008
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Feb 14, 2008
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Intelligence (Permanent Select), and Armed Services, 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 14, 2008
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Amends the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 and the federal criminal code to include waterboarding (simulated drowning) within the definitions of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, and torture.

Includes individuals under the custody or physical control of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) within the protection against cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by the government.

What's happening now March 17, 2008

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Democratic 1
D
Thompson, Mike
California · Feb 14, 2008
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5460: To amend the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 and title 18, United States Code, to include waterboarding in the definition of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment and in the definition of torture, and for other purposes.. 110th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/110-HR-5460/
MLA
"H.R. 5460: To amend the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 and title 18, United States Code, to include waterboarding in the definition of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment and in the definition of torture, and for other purposes.." 110th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/110-HR-5460/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5460, 110th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/110-HR-5460/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5460: To amend the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 and title 18, United States Code, to include waterboarding in the definition of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment and in the definition of torture, and for other purposes.](https://openamerica.io/bill/110-HR-5460/)
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