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United States · Law · HR

H.R. 4309 (105th)

Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998

enactedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

22 July 1998

Last action

30 October 1998 · President

Status

Became Public Law No: 105-320.

Sponsors

Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4], Rep. Lantos, Tom [D-CA-12], Rep. Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-NY-12], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Oberstar, James L. [D-MN-8], Rep. Minge, David [D-MN-2], Rep. Woolsey, Lynn C. [D-CA-6], Rep. Morella, Constance A. [R-MD-8], Rep. Lewis, John [D-GA-5], Rep. Diaz-Balart, Lincoln [R-FL-21], Rep. Sabo, Martin Olav [D-MN-5], Rep. Ramstad, Jim [R-MN-3], Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH], Rep. Engel, Eliot L. [D-NY-16], Rep. Porter, John Edward [R-IL-10], Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32], Rep. Gilman, Benjamin A. [R-NY-20], Rep. Bonior, David E. [D-MI-10], Rep. Owens, Major R. [D-NY-11], Rep. Saxton, Jim [R-NJ-3], Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2], Rep. Miller, George [D-CA-11], Del. Underwood, Robert A. [D-GU-At Large], Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA], Rep. Slaughter, Louise McIntosh [D-NY-25], Rep. Evans, Lane [D-IL-17], Sen. Blunt, Roy [R-MO], Rep. Clement, Bob [D-TN-5], Rep. Ackerman, Gary L. [D-NY-5], Rep. Berman, Howard L. [D-CA-28], Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]

Subjects

Healthcare

Source updated

3 June 2026

Healthcare

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

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.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 22 July 1998

    Introduced

    Referred to House International Relations

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 22 July 1998

    Introduced

    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.

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 22 July 1998

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 22 July 1998

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  5. 24 July 1998

    Committee

    Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.

    Source: Committee

  6. 24 July 1998

    Committee

    Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Source: Committee

  7. 24 July 1998

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights.

    Source: Committee

  8. 6 August 1998

    Reported

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

    Source: Committee

  9. 6 August 1998

    Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Source: Committee

  10. 17 August 1998

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment.

    Source: Committee

  11. 14 September 1998

    Passed

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

    Source: Floor

  12. 14 September 1998

    Passed

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

    Source: Floor

  13. 14 September 1998

    Passed

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

    Source: Floor

  14. 14 September 1998

    Floor

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.

    Source: Floor

  15. 14 September 1998

    Floor

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7661-7664)

    Source: Floor

  16. 14 September 1998

    Floor

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

    Source: Floor

  17. 14 September 1998

    Calendars

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 406.

    Source: Calendars

  18. 14 September 1998

    Discharge

    Committee on Commerce discharged.

    Source: Discharge

  19. 14 September 1998

    Committee

    Committee on Commerce discharged.

    Source: Committee

  20. 14 September 1998

    Introduced

    House Committee on Commerce Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than Sept. 14, 1998.

    Source: IntroReferral

  21. 14 September 1998

    Reported

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on International Relations. H. Rept. 105-709, Part I.

    Source: Committee

  22. 14 September 1998

    Reported

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on International Relations. H. Rept. 105-709, Part I.

    Source: Committee

  23. 15 September 1998

    Introduced

    Received in the Senate.

    Source: IntroReferral

  24. 8 October 1998

    Floor

    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S12044))

    Source: Floor

  25. 8 October 1998

    Passed

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

    Source: Floor

  26. 10 October 1998

    Passed

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

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  27. 10 October 1998

    Passed

    On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by voice vote. (consideration: CR H10447-10450)

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  28. 10 October 1998

    Passed

    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)

    Source: NotUsed

  29. 10 October 1998

    Floor

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.

    Source: Floor

  30. 10 October 1998

    ResolvingDifferences

    Mr. Gilman moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  31. 20 October 1998

    Floor

    Presented to President.

    Source: Floor

  32. 20 October 1998

    President

    Presented to President.

    Source: President

  33. 30 October 1998

    Became law

    Became Public Law No: 105-320.

    Source: President

  34. 30 October 1998

    Became law

    Signed by President.

    Source: BecameLaw

  35. 30 October 1998

    President

    Signed by President.

    Source: President

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

14 official files

Enrolled Bill (text)

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  • Enrolled Bill (text)

    Enrolled Bill · EN

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  • Enrolled Bill (PDF)

    Enrolled Bill · EN

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  • Public Law (text)

    Public Law · EN · 30 October 1998

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  • Public Law (PDF)

    Public Law · EN · 30 October 1998

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  • Passed Senate amended

    summary · EN · 8 October 1998

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  • Received in Senate (text)

    Received in Senate · EN · 15 September 1998

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  • Received in Senate (PDF)

    Received in Senate · EN · 15 September 1998

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  • Reported in House (text)

    Reported in House · EN · 14 September 1998

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  • Reported in House (PDF)

    Reported in House · EN · 14 September 1998

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  • Engrossed in House (text)

    Engrossed in House · EN · 14 September 1998

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  • Engrossed in House (PDF)

    Engrossed in House · EN · 14 September 1998

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  • Introduced in House (text)

    Introduced in House · EN · 22 July 1998

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  • Introduced in House (PDF)

    Introduced in House · EN · 22 July 1998

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  • Introduced in House

    summary · EN · 22 July 1998

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