Title: Justice for Victims of War Crimes Act
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary:
Justice for Victims of War Crimes Act
This bill broadens the scope of individuals who are subject to federal prosecution for war crime offenses.
Currently, the federal war crimes statute provides federal jurisdiction over war crime offenses committed anywhere (i.e., inside or outside the United States) if the victim or offender is a member of the Armed Forces or a U.S. national.
First, this bill extends federal jurisdiction over war crime offenses committed anywhere to offenses where (1) the victim or offender is an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence; or (2) the offender is present in the United States, regardless of the nationality of the victim or the offender.
Second, the bill expands federal jurisdiction over war crime offenses to include offenses that occur in whole or in part within the United States, regardless of whether the victim or offender is a member of the Armed Forces, a U.S. national, or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7818 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7818

 To amend section 2441 of title 18, United States Code, to broaden the 
      scope of individuals subject to prosecution for war crimes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 18, 2022

 Mr. Cicilline (for himself and Mrs. Spartz) introduced the following 
       bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend section 2441 of title 18, United States Code, to broaden the 
      scope of individuals subject to prosecution for war crimes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Justice for Victims of War Crimes 
Act''.

SEC. 2. WAR CRIMES.

    Section 2441 of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
    ``(b) Jurisdiction.--There is jurisdiction over an offense 
described in subsection (a) if--
            ``(1) the offense occurs in whole or in part within the 
        United States; or
            ``(2) regardless of where the offense occurs--
                    ``(A) the victim or offender is--
                            ``(i) a national of the United States or an 
                        alien lawfully admitted for permanent 
                        residence; or
                            ``(ii) a member of the Armed Forces of the 
                        United States, regardless of nationality; or
                    ``(B) the offender is present in the United States, 
                regardless of the nationality of the victim or 
                offender.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(e) Nonapplicability of Certain Limitations.--In the case of an 
offense described in subsection (a), an indictment may be found or an 
information may be instituted at any time without limitation.
    ``(f) Certification Requirement.--No prosecution for an offense 
described in subsection (a) shall be undertaken by the United States 
except on written certification of the Attorney General or a designee 
that a prosecution by the United States is in the public interest and 
necessary to secure substantial justice.''.
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