I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2367
To reauthorize a comprehensive program of support for victims of torture.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 29, 1999
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey (for himself, Mr. LANTOS, Mr. GILMAN, and Ms.
MCKINNEY) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee 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 juris-
diction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To reauthorize a comprehensive program of support for
victims of torture.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Torture Victims Relief
Reauthorization Act of 1999’’.
SEC. 2. FOREIGN TREATMENT CENTERS FOR VICTIMS OF
TORTURE.
(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Of the
amounts authorized to be appropriated for fiscal years
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2001, 2002, and 2003 pursuant to chapter 1 of part I
of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, there are author-
ized to be appropriated to the President $10,000,000 for
fiscal year 2001, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2002, and
$10,000,000 for fiscal year 2003 to carry out section 129
of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.
(b) AVAILABILITY
OF
FUNDS.—Amounts appro-
priated pursuant to this section shall remain available
until expended.
SEC. 3. DOMESTIC TREATMENT CENTERS FOR VICTIMS OF
TORTURE.
(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Of the
amounts authorized to be appropriated for the Depart-
ment of Health and Human Services for fiscal years 2001,
2002, and 2003, there are authorized to be appropriated
to carry out subsection (a) of section 5 of the Torture Vic-
tims Relief Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 2152) $10,000,000
for fiscal year 2001, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2002, and
$10,000,000 for fiscal year 2003.
(b) AVAILABILITY
OF
FUNDS.—Amounts appro-
priated pursuant to this section shall remain available
until expended.
SEC. 4. MULTILATERAL ASSISTANCE.
(a) FUNDING.—Of the amounts authorized to be ap-
propriated for fiscal years 2001, 2002, and 2003 for ‘‘Vol-
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untary Contributions to International Organizations’’ pur-
suant to chapter 3 of part I of the Foreign Assistance
Act of 1961, there are authorized to be appropriated only
for a United States contribution to the United Nations
Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture (in this section re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Fund’’) the following amounts for the
following fiscal years:
(1) FISCAL YEAR 2001.—For fiscal year 2001,
$5,000,000.
(2) FISCAL YEAR 2002.—For fiscal year 2002,
$5,000,000.
(3) FISCAL YEAR 2003.—For fiscal year 2003,
$5,000,000.
(b) AVAILABILITY
OF
FUNDS.—Amounts appro-
priated pursuant to subsection (a) shall remain available
until expended.
(c) SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.—It is the sense of the
Congress that the President, acting through the United
States Permanent Representative to the United Nations,
should—
(1) request the Fund—
(A) to find new ways to support and pro-
tect treatment centers and programs that are
carrying out rehabilitative services for victims
of torture; and
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(B) to encourage the development of new
such centers and programs;
(2) use the voice and vote of the United States
to support the work of the Special Rapporteur on
Torture and the Committee Against Torture estab-
lished under the Convention Against Torture and
Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment; and
(3) use the voice and vote of the United States
to establish a country rapporteur or similar proce-
dural mechanism to investigate human rights viola-
tions in a country if either the Special Rapporteur
or the Committee Against Torture indicates that a
systematic practice of torture is prevalent in that
country.
SEC. 5. REPORTING REQUIREMENT.
Not later than 90 days after the enactment of this
Act, the Secretary of State shall submit a report to the
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the
Committee on International Relations of the House of
Representatives on the specialized training for foreign
service officers required by section 7 of the Torture Vic-
tims Relief Act of 1998 (Public Law 105–320). The Re-
port shall include detailed information regarding—