HR 2050 · 108th Congress 2003–2005, ended

Universal Jurisdiction Rejection Act of 2003

Introduced May 9, 2003 Originated House Sponsor Gary L. Ackerman D-NY

Fact sheet

Latest action · May 9, 2003 Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.

Progress

Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.

  1. IntroducedMay 9, 2003
  2. Passed HouseNot reached
  3. Passed SenateNot reached
  4. To the PresidentNot reached
  5. Became lawNot reached

Summary

Universal Jurisdiction Rejection Act of 2003 - Declares that it is the policy of the United States to reject any foreign government's claim of universal jurisdiction and to refuse to assist any such government pursuing an investigation or prosecution under a universal jurisdiction act. Defines "universal jurisdiction act" as a statute of a foreign country that authorizes the investigation, prosecution, and punishment of genocide and other crimes that were not committed by or against citizens of such country, did not occur on the territory of such country, and are otherwise prosecutable by tribunals established by the United Nations Security Council.

Prohibits Federal, State and local government agencies, including any courts, from providing assistance to any investigation or prosecution by a foreign government under a universal jurisdiction act. Directs the Federal Government to exercise its rights under mutual legal assistance treaties to deny assistance to any investigation or prosecution under a universal jurisdiction act. Prohibits foreign agents from pursuing any investigation or prosecution under a universal jurisdiction act in the United States.

Directs the President to ensure implementation of procedures to prevent the transfer directly or indirectly of classified national security information to foreign governments that is relevant to any investigation or prosecution under a universal jurisdiction act. Allows the President to waive certain prohibitions under this Act.

Authorizes the President to use all means, including legal assistance, but not financial incentives, to secure the release of U.S. citizens and citizens of allies of the United States who are being detained or imprisoned by an investigation or prosecution under a universal jurisdiction act.

Cosponsors 2

Members who signed on, in the order they did. Signatures ran from May 9, 2003 to May 19, 2003, with 1 there on the day it was introduced.

SeatCosponsorSigned on
D-FLRobert WexlerOriginalMay 9, 2003
D-CABrad ShermanMay 19, 2003

Actions 2

Everything that happened, newest first.

  1. May 9, 2003Introduced in House
  2. May 9, 2003Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.

Subjects

Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: International Affairs.

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Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov.