HR 5167 · 110th Congress 2007–2009, ended

Justice for Victims of Torture and Terrorism Act

Introduced Jan 29, 2008 Originated House Sponsor Bruce L. Braley D-IA

Fact sheet

Latest action · Sep 16, 2008 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

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. IntroducedJan 29, 2008
  2. Passed HouseSep 15, 2008
  3. Passed SenateNot reached
  4. To the PresidentNot reached
  5. Became lawNot reached

Summary

Justice for Victims of Torture and Terrorism Act - Terminates the authority of the President to grant the government of Iraq immunity from actions by victims of terrorism seeking compensation for injuries caused by officials, employees, or agents of the government of Iraq during the 1991 Gulf War when such government was classified as a state sponsor of terrorism, unless the President certifies to Congress that Iraq has adequately settled specified claims of U.S. soldiers and civilians held in Iraq as POWs and hostages and subject to state-sponsored torture and terrorism.

Provides an exception to the termination of such authority if the President certifies that: (1) Iraq has not compensated any foreign persons or entities for claims or liabilities incurred by or under the control of the Saddam Hussein regime, including commercial or financial claims and claims for acts against individuals similar to those described above; or (2) negotiations are ongoing with Iraq to settle the American claims, and the President believes that those negotiations are being conducted in good faith and could lead to a satisfactory settlement. Limits the latter certification period to 180 days (with authorized renewals by the President).

Defines various adequate settlement amounts, depending on the victim, length of torture or detainment, etc.

Prohibits the use of any U.S. funds to pay any claim covered under this Act.

Cosponsors 38

Members who signed on, in the order they did. Signatures ran from Jan 29, 2008 to Sep 15, 2008, with 28 there on the day it was introduced.

SeatCosponsorSigned on
D-CABarbara LeeOriginalJan 29, 2008
D-MABarney FrankOriginalJan 29, 2008
D-OHBetty SuttonOriginalJan 29, 2008
D-NHCarol Shea-PorterOriginalJan 29, 2008
D-MICarolyn C. KilpatrickOriginalJan 29, 2008
D-TXCharles A. GonzalezOriginalJan 29, 2008
D-CTChristopher MurphyOriginalJan 29, 2008
D-ORDarlene HooleyOriginalJan 29, 2008
D-COEd PerlmutterOriginalJan 29, 2008
D-MDElijah E. CummingsOriginalJan 29, 2008
D-CAGeorge MillerOriginalJan 29, 2008
D-GAHenry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr.OriginalJan 29, 2008
D-VAJames P. MoranOriginalJan 29, 2008
D-CTJoe CourtneyOriginalJan 29, 2008
D-PAJoe SestakOriginalJan 29, 2008
Show all 38 cosponsors

Actions 16

Everything that happened, newest first.

  1. Sep 16, 2008Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
  2. Sep 15, 2008Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8098-8103)
  3. Sep 15, 2008DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5167.
  4. Sep 15, 2008Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  5. Sep 15, 2008Mr. Scott (VA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Show all 16 actions

Subjects

Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Law.

Text 3

Each version as it was printed, newest first.

  1. Sep 15, 2008Reported in House
  2. Sep 15, 2008Engrossed in House
  3. Jan 29, 2008Introduced in House

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