19–006

108TH CONGRESS REPT. 108–261 " HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ! 1st Session Part 2

TORTURE VICTIMS RELIEF REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 

2003

SEPTEMBER 17, 2003.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 

State of the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. TAUZIN, from the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 1813] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

The Committee on Energy and Commerce, to whom was referred 

the bill (H.R. 1813) to amend the Torture Victims Relief Act of 

1998 to authorize appropriations to provide assistance for domestic 

and foreign centers and programs for the treatment of victims of 

torture, and for other purposes, having considered the same, report 

favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill 

do pass. 

CONTENTS 

Page 

Purpose and Summary ............................................................................................ 2

Background and Need for Legislation .................................................................... 2

Hearings ................................................................................................................... 2

Committee Consideration ........................................................................................ 2

Committee Votes ...................................................................................................... 2

Committee Oversight Findings ............................................................................... 2

Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives .................................... 2

New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures ............. 2

Committee Cost Estimate ....................................................................................... 3

Congressional Budget Office Estimate ................................................................... 3

Federal Mandates Statement ................................................................................. 4

Advisory Committee Statement .............................................................................. 4

Constitutional Authority Statement ...................................................................... 5

Applicability to Legislative Branch ........................................................................ 5

Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation ...................................................... 5

Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported ..................................... 5

2

PURPOSE AND SUMMARY

H.R. 1813 reauthorizes the Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998 to 

support domestic and foreign centers for treatment of victims of 

torture. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

The Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998 authorizes the President 

make grants to treatment centers and programs in foreign countries that are carrying out projects or activities specifically designed to treat victims of torture. These rehabilitation activities include both physical and psychological treatment programs. The Act 

also authorizes appropriations to the United Nations Voluntary 

Fund for Victims of Torture. 

H.R. 1813 reauthorizes the Torture Victims Relief Act by increasing the level of funding that may be provided for programs to assist 

victims of torture for an additional three-year period. 

HEARINGS

The Committee on Energy and Commerce has not held hearings 

on the legislation. 

COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

On September 10, 2003, Full Committee met in open markup 

session and favorably ordered H.R. 1813 reported to the House by 

a voice vote, a quorum being present. 

COMMITTEE VOTES

Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives requires the Committee to list the record votes on the motion 

to report legislation and amendments thereto. There were no 

record votes taken in connection with ordering H.R. 1813 reported. 

A motion by Mr. Tauzin to order H.R. 1813 reported to the House, 

without amendment, was agreed to by a voice vote. 

COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the Committee has not held oversight or legislative hearings on this legislation. 

STATEMENT OF GENERAL PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The goal of H.R. 1813 is to reauthorize the Torture Victims Relief 

Act of 1998 to support domestic and foreign centers for treatment 

of victims of torture. 

NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY, ENTITLEMENT AUTHORITY, AND TAX

EXPENDITURES

In compliance with clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the Committee finds that H.R. 1813, the 

Torture Victims Relief Act 2003, would result in no new or increased budget authority, entitlement authority, or tax expenditures or revenues. 

3

COMMITTEE COST ESTIMATE

The Committee adopts as its own the cost estimate prepared by 

the Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 

402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE ESTIMATE

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the following is the cost estimate provided by 

the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the 

Congressional Budget Act of 1974:

U.S. CONGRESS, 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, 

Washington, DC, September 15, 2003. 

Hon. W.J. ‘‘BILLY’’ TAUZIN, 

Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, 

House of Representatives, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 1813, the Torture Victims 

Relief Reauthorization Act of 2003. 

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased 

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Joseph C. Whitehill. 

Sincerely, 

ROBERT A. SUNSHINE

(For Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Director). 

Enclosure.

H.R. 1813—Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act of 2003

Summary: H.R. 1813 would authorize the appropriation of $37 

million in 2004, $44 million in 2005, and $51 million in 2006 for 

programs to provide assistance for the treatment of victims of torture. The bill would authorize funding for the Department of 

Health and Human Services and the U.S. Agency for International 

Development for domestic and international centers and programs 

for the treatment of victims of torture. The bill also would authorize a contribution to the Untied Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture. CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 1813 

would cost $117 million over the 2004–2008 period, assuming the 

appropriation of the authorized amounts. The bill would not affect 

direct spending or receipts. 

H.R. 1813 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) 

and would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments. 

Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated budgetary impact of H.R. 1813 is shown in the following table. The estimate assumes the bill will be enacted late in fiscal year 2003; that 

the amounts authorized for 2004, 2005, and 2006 will be appropriated near the start of each fiscal year; and that spending will 

follow historical patterns. The costs of this legislation fall within 

budget functions 150 (international affairs) and 600 (income security).

4

By fiscal year, in millions of dollars—

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION

Spending under current law for victims of torture relief: 

Budget authority .................................................................. 23 0 0 0 0 0

Estimated outlays ................................................................ 22 15 7 4 2 2

Proposed changes: 

Authorizationl level .............................................................. 0 37 44 51 0 0

Estimated outlays ................................................................ 0 13 27 38 26 13

Spending under H.R. 1813 for victims of torture relief: 

Authorization level 1 ............................................................. 23 37 44 51 0 0

Estimated outlays ................................................................ 22 28 34 42 28 15

1 The 2003 level is the amount appropriated for that year. 

Basis of estimate: Section 2 would authorize appropriations of 

$20 million in 2004, $25 million in 2005, and $30 million in 2006 

for the Department of Health and Human Services to assist in the 

rehabilitation of victims of torture. These funds would support a 

variety of assistance programs for torture victims, including physical and psychological rehabilitation services and legal aid. 

Section 3 would authorize appropriations of $11 million in 2004, 

$12 million in 2005, and $13 million in 2006 for international programs for assistance for the rehabilitation of individual victims of 

torture and for professionals and organizations that provide treatment services to victims of torture, their families, and their communities. 

Section 4 would authorize appropriations of $6 million in 2004, 

$7 million in 2005, and $8 million in 2006 for a contribution to the 

United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture. 

Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: H.R. 1813 contains 

no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in 

UMRA and would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal 

governments. 

Previous CBO estimate: On August 7, 2003, CBO transmitted a 

cost estimate for H.R. 1813, the Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act of 2003, as ordered reported by the House Committee 

on International Relations on July 23, 2003. The two versions of 

the bill and their estimated costs are identical. 

Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: International Affairs Programs: Joseph C. Whitehill; Domestic Programs: Michael D. Carson. Impact on State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Melissa 

Merrell. Impact on the Private Sector: Paige Piper/Bach. 

Estimate approved by: Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT

The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office 

pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act. 

ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) of the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this legislation. 

5

CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

Pursuant to clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the Committee finds that the Constitutional authority for this legislation is provided in Article I, section 8, clause 

3, which grants Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations, among the several States, and with the Indian tribes. 

APPLICABILITY TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to the 

terms and conditions of employment or access to public services or 

accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS OF THE LEGISLATION

Section 1. Short title 

Section 1 designates the short title as the ‘‘Torture Victims Relief 

Reauthorization Act of 2003.’’ 

Section 2. Authorization of appropriations for domestic treatment 

centers for victims of torture 

Section 2 authorizes the appropriation of $20,000,000 for fiscal 

year 2004, $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2005, and $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2006 for the Department of Health and Human Services 

to manage domestic centers and programs for the treatment of victims of torture. 

Section 3. Authorization of appropriations for foreign treatment centers for victims of torture 

Section 3 authorizes the appropriation of $11,000,000 for fiscal 

year 2004, $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2005, and $13,000,000 for fiscal year 2006 to provide assistance for centers in foreign countries 

and programs for the treatment of victims of torture as authorized 

by the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. 

Section 4. Authorization of appropriations for the United States contribution to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of 

Torture 

Section 4 authorizes the appropriation of $6,000,000 for fiscal 

year 2004, $7,000,000 for fiscal year 2005, and $8,000,000 for fiscal 

year 2006 for the President to make a voluntary contribution to the 

United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture.

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by the bill, 

as reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is printed in italic, 

existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in roman): 

TORTURE VICTIMS RELIEF ACT OF 1998

* * * * * * *

6

SEC. 4. FOREIGN TREATMENT CENTERS. 

(a) * * *

(b) FUNDING.—

ø(1) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Of the amounts 

authorized to be appropriated for fiscal years 1999 and 2000 

pursuant to chapter 1 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act 

of 1961, there are authorized to be appropriated to the President $5,000,000 for fiscal year 1999 and $7,500,000 for fiscal 

year 2000 to carry out section 130 of the Foreign Assistance 

Act of 1961 (as redesignated by section 6(a) of the Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act of 1999).¿

(1) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated for fiscal years 2004, 2005, and 

2006 pursuant to chapter 1 of part I of the Foreign Assistance 

Act of 1961, there are authorized to be appropriated to the 

President to carry out section 130 of such Act (relating to assistance for centers in foreign countries and programs for the treatment of victims of torture) $11,000,000 for fiscal year 2004, 

$12,000,000 for fiscal year 2005, and $13,000,000 for fiscal year 

2006.

* * * * * * *

SEC. 5. DOMESTIC TREATMENT CENTERS. 

(a) * * *

* * * * * * *

(b) FUNDING.— ø(1) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Of the amounts 

authorized to be appropriated for the Department of Health 

and Human Services for fiscal years 1999 and 2000, there are 

authorized to be appropriated to carry out subsection (a) (relating to assistance for domestic centers and programs for the 

treatment of victims of torture) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 1999, 

and $7,500,000 for fiscal year 2000.¿

(1) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated for the Department of Health and 

Human Services for fiscal years 2004, 2005, and 2006, there are 

authorized to be appropriated to carry out subsection (a) (relating to assistance for domestic centers and programs for the 

treatment of victims of torture) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2004, 

$25,000,000 for fiscal year 2005, and $30,000,000 for fiscal year 

2006.

* * * * * * *

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