Child Soldiers Accountability Act of 2008
Latest action · Oct 3, 2008 Became Public Law No: 110-340.
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.
- IntroducedOct 3, 2007
- Passed SenateDec 19, 2007
- Passed HouseSep 8, 2008
- To the PresidentSep 25, 2008
- Became lawOct 3, 2008Public Law 110-340
Summary
(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on September 8, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
Child Soldiers Accountability Act of 2008- Amends the federal criminal code to impose a fine and/or 20-year prison term for knowingly recruiting, enlisting, or conscripting a person under 15 years of age into an armed force or group (other than a group assembled solely for nonviolent political association) or using such person to participate actively in combat hostilities, or attempting or conspiring to do so, knowing such person is under 15 years of age. Imposes a life sentence if the death of any person results from a violation of this Act. Provides for: (1) expanded jurisdiction for prosecuting U.S. nationals and resident aliens who violate this Act; and (2) a 10-year limitation period for prosecuting violations.
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to render any alien who has recruited or used child soldiers inadmissible or deportable.
Directs the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security to promulgate final regulations to deny asylum or withholding of removal to aliens who are either inadmissible to the United States or deportable for recruiting or using child soldiers.
Recorded votes 1
Newest first. Open one to see how every member voted.
| Roll call | Question | Result | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| House 569 | On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended | Passed371–0 | Sep 8, 2008 |
Cosponsors 9
Members who signed on, in the order they did. Signatures ran from Oct 3, 2007 to Dec 14, 2007; 3 are original cosponsors, there from the day it was introduced.
| Seat | Cosponsor | Signed on | |
|---|---|---|---|
| D-WI | Russell D. Feingold | Original | Oct 3, 2007 |
| R-KS | Sam Brownback | Original | Oct 3, 2007 |
| R-OK | Tom Coburn | Original | Oct 3, 2007 |
| D-IL | Barack Obama | Oct 15, 2007 | |
| D-CT | Christopher J. Dodd | Oct 15, 2007 | |
| D-MA | John F. Kerry | Oct 15, 2007 | |
| D-NJ | Robert Menendez | Oct 17, 2007 | |
| D-AR | Blanche L. Lincoln | Dec 10, 2007 | |
| D-VT | Patrick J. Leahy | Dec 14, 2007 |
Committees 2
Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.
| Chamber | Committee | What it did |
|---|---|---|
| Senate | Judiciary Committee | Referred Oct 3, 2007Markup Nov 8, 2007Reported Dec 11, 2007 |
| House | Judiciary Committee | Referred Dec 19, 2007 |
| Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee | Referred Feb 4, 2008 | |
| Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee | Referred Feb 4, 2008Hearings Apr 8, 2008Markup May 6, 2008 |
Actions 29
Everything that happened, newest first.
- Oct 3, 2008Signed by President.
- Oct 3, 2008Became Public Law No: 110-340.
- Sep 25, 2008Presented to President.
- Sep 16, 2008Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Sep 15, 2008Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to House amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8513-8516; text as Senate agreed to House amendment: CR S8515-8516)
- Sep 15, 2008Cleared for White House.
- Sep 9, 2008Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.
- Sep 8, 2008Ms. Jackson-Lee moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Sep 8, 2008Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7820-7823)
- Sep 8, 2008DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2135.
- Sep 8, 2008At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
- Sep 8, 2008Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H7825)
- Sep 8, 2008Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 371 - 0 (Roll no. 569). (text: CR H7820)
- Sep 8, 2008Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- May 6, 2008Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
- Apr 8, 2008Subcommittee Hearings Held.
- Feb 4, 2008Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.
- Feb 4, 2008Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
- Dec 19, 2007Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR 12/18/2007 S15941-15943; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR 12/18/2007 S15943; text as passed Senate: CR 12/18/2007 S15941)
- Dec 19, 2007Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent.
- Dec 19, 2007Received in the House.
- Dec 19, 2007Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Dec 19, 2007Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Dec 11, 2007Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with an amendment. Without written report.
- Dec 11, 2007Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 532.
- Nov 8, 2007Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
- Oct 3, 2007Introduced in Senate
- Oct 3, 2007Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S12535)
- Oct 3, 2007Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S12535-12536)
In the Congressional Record 4
Days the Record’s own index lists this bill, newest first, with the pages and the members it names. Pages starting H are the House, S the Senate, E Extensions of Remarks.
| Where | In the Record | Members | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senate | Debate and remarks S8513–S8516Text printed S8515Amendments S8515 | Patrick J. Leahy D-VT, Richard J. Durbin D-IL | Sep 15, 2008 |
| House | Debate and remarks H7820–H7823Text printed H7820Recorded votes H7825enact | Michael M. Honda D-CA, Robert C. "Bobby" Scott D-VA, Sheila Jackson Lee D-TX, Steve King R-IA | Sep 8, 2008 |
| Senate | Debate and remarks S15941–S15943Text printed S15941, S15943Amendments S15934, S15943 | Mark L. Pryor D-AR, Patrick J. Leahy D-VT, Richard J. Durbin D-IL, Russell D. Feingold D-WI (amendment) | Dec 18, 2007 |
| Senate | Debate and remarks S12535Text printed S12535 | Richard J. Durbin D-IL (text) | Oct 3, 2007 |
Research
What has been written about this bill: committee reports, cost estimates, the sponsor’s authority statement, printed hearings and the Congressional Research Service’s work.
Congressional Budget Office cost estimates 2
- Nov 27, 2007S. 2135, Child Soldiers Accountability Act of 2007<p>Cost estimate for the bill as ordered reported by the Senate Committee on the Judiciary on November 8, 2007</p>
- Nov 27, 2007S. 2135, Child Soldiers Accountability Act of 2007Cost estimate for the bill as ordered reported by the Senate Committee on the Judiciary on November 8, 2007
Printed hearings 1
Hearings whose printed record names this bill, newest first: hearings on it, and wider hearings where it came up.
| Number | Hearing | Committee | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serial No. 110-140 | CHILD SOLDIERS ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2007190 pages | Judiciary Committee | Apr 8, 2008 |
CRS reports 2
Congressional Research Service work that CRS links to this bill or the law it became, newest first.
Cite it 2
Products on other subjects that cite it, usually among other measures.
| Product | Title | Kind | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| R46226 | Liberia: Background and U.S. Relations Archived | Report | Feb 14, 2020 |
| RL32044 | Immigration: Policy Considerations Related to Guest Worker Programs Archived | Report | Mar 16, 2010 |
Amendments 1
Amendments offered to this bill.
| Amendment | Description | Offered by | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| SA 3882 | To exclude groups assembled solely for non-violent political association from the definition of an armed force or group. | Russell D. Feingold D-WI | Amendment SA 3882 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent. |
Related bills 3
Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.
| Bill | Title | Relationship | Latest action |
|---|---|---|---|
| S 1175 | Child Soldier Prevention Act of 2007 | Related bill | Apr 24, 2007 |
| HR 2620 | Child Soldier Prevention Act of 2007 | Related bill | Jun 7, 2007 |
| HR 3028 | Child Soldier Prevention Act of 2007 | Related bill | Jul 12, 2007 |
Titles 6
Every title it has carried, official and short, at each stage.
- Official Title as Introduced
- A bill to prohibit the recruitment or use of child soldiers, to designate persons who recruit or use child soldiers as inadmissible aliens, to allow the deportation of persons who recruit or use child soldiers, and for other purposes.
- Short Titles as Introduced
- Child Soldiers Accountability Act of 2007
- Short Titles as Reported to Senate
- Child Soldiers Accountability Act of 2007
- Short Titles as Passed House
- Child Soldiers Accountability Act of 2008
- Short Titles as Passed Senate
- Child Soldiers Accountability Act of 2007
- Short Titles as Enacted
- Child Soldiers Accountability Act of 2008
Subjects
Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement.
- Americans in foreign countries
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Children's rights
- Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
- Conspiracy
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Criminal aliens
- Deportation
- Families
- Human rights
- Immigration
- International Affairs
- Jurisdiction
- Law
- Limitation of actions
- Military personnel
- Prosecution
- Recruiting and enlistment
- Right of asylum
- Sentences (Criminal procedure)
Text 6
Each version as it was printed, newest first.
- Sep 19, 2008Enrolled Bill
- Sep 9, 2008Engrossed Amendment House
- Dec 19, 2007Referred in House
- Dec 19, 2007Engrossed in Senate
- Dec 11, 2007Reported to Senate
- Oct 3, 2007Introduced in Senate
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; cost estimates are the Congressional Budget Office's, and the hearings are the printed hearings GovInfo publishes, which can appear months after the hearing.
