Human Rights Enforcement Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-1472
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2009-07-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Department of Justice
Executive agency funding and structure
Human rights
Immigration status and procedures
Military personnel and dependents
War crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity
Youth employment and child labor

Summary:
action_date: 2009-07-20
text: 
Human Rights Enforcement Act of 2009 - Eliminates the Office of Special Investigations within the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ). 
 
Directs the Attorney General to: (1) establish a section in DOJ to enforce human rights laws, which is authorized to identify individuals suspected of serious human rights offenses and to prosecute, denaturalize, or extradite such individuals; and (2) consult with the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security in making determinations regarding the prosecution, removal, denaturalization, extradition, or exclusion of naturalized citizens or aliens who are suspected of committing serious human rights offenses. Defines &quot;serious human rights offenses&quot; to include genocide, torture, war crimes, Nazi persecution, or the use or recruitment of child soldiers.
 
Amends the federal criminal code and the Immigration and Nationality Act to revise legal requirements relating to the crime of genocide.

action_date: 2009-11-06
text: 
Human Rights Enforcement Act of 2009 - Eliminates the Office of Special Investigations within the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ).
 
Directs the Attorney General to: (1) establish, within 90 days after the enactment of this Act, a section within the Criminal Division of DOJ with responsibility for the enforcement of laws against suspected participants in serious human rights offenses; and (2) consult with the Secretaries of Homeland Security and State in taking appropriate legal action against such individuals. Defines &quot;serious human rights offenses&quot; to include genocide, torture, war crimes, and the use or recruitment of child soldiers.
 
Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) to punish a conspiracy to commit genocide in the same manner as completed act of genocide; (2) eliminate the limitation period for prosecuting crimes of genocide; and (3) include genocide and recruitment of child soldiers as predicates for the crime of providing material support to terrorists.
 
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to broaden the basis for rendering aliens participating in genocide inadmissible.
 

action_date: 2009-11-21
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on November 6, 2009. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Human Rights Enforcement Act of 2009 - Eliminates the Office of Special Investigations within the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ).
 
Directs the Attorney General to: (1) establish, within 90 days after the enactment of this Act, a section within the Criminal Division of DOJ with responsibility for the enforcement of laws against suspected participants in serious human rights offenses; and (2) consult with the Secretaries of Homeland Security and State in taking appropriate legal action against such individuals. Defines &quot;serious human rights offenses&quot; to include genocide, torture, war crimes, and the use or recruitment of child soldiers.
 
Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) to punish a conspiracy to commit genocide in the same manner as completed act of genocide; (2) eliminate the limitation period for prosecuting crimes of genocide; and (3) include genocide and recruitment of child soldiers as predicates for the crime of providing material support to terrorists.
 
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to broaden the basis for rendering aliens participating in genocide inadmissible.
 

action_date: 2009-12-15
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on November 6, 2009. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Human Rights Enforcement Act of 2009 - Eliminates the Office of Special Investigations within the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ).
 
Directs the Attorney General to: (1) establish, within 90 days after the enactment of this Act, a section within the Criminal Division of DOJ with responsibility for the enforcement of laws against suspected participants in serious human rights offenses; and (2) consult with the Secretaries of Homeland Security and State in taking appropriate legal action against such individuals. Defines &quot;serious human rights offenses&quot; to include genocide, torture, war crimes, and the use or recruitment of child soldiers.
 
Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) to punish a conspiracy to commit genocide in the same manner as completed act of genocide; (2) eliminate the limitation period for prosecuting crimes of genocide; and (3) include genocide and recruitment of child soldiers as predicates for the crime of providing material support to terrorists.
 
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to broaden the basis for rendering aliens participating in genocide inadmissible.
 

action_date: 2009-12-22
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on November 6, 2009. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Human Rights Enforcement Act of 2009 - Eliminates the Office of Special Investigations within the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ).
 
Directs the Attorney General to: (1) establish, within 90 days after the enactment of this Act, a section within the Criminal Division of DOJ with responsibility for the enforcement of laws against suspected participants in serious human rights offenses; and (2) consult with the Secretaries of Homeland Security and State in taking appropriate legal action against such individuals. Defines &quot;serious human rights offenses&quot; to include genocide, torture, war crimes, and the use or recruitment of child soldiers.
 
Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) to punish a conspiracy to commit genocide in the same manner as completed act of genocide; (2) eliminate the limitation period for prosecuting crimes of genocide; and (3) include genocide and recruitment of child soldiers as predicates for the crime of providing material support to terrorists.
 
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to broaden the basis for rendering aliens participating in genocide inadmissible.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-12-22
text: Became Public Law No: 111-122.
action_date: 2009-12-22
text: Became Public Law No: 111-122.
action_date: 2009-12-22
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2009-12-22
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2009-12-17
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2009-12-17
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2009-12-15
text: Cleared for White House.
action_date: 2009-12-15
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2009-12-15
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by recorded vote (2/3 required): 416 - 3 (Roll no. 977). (text: CR H14892-14893)
action_date: 2009-12-15
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by recorded vote (2/3 required): 416 - 3 (Roll no. 977).(text: CR H14892-14893)
action_date: 2009-12-15
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H14944-14945)
action_date: 2009-12-15
text: At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Mr. Conyers objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was withdrawn.
action_date: 2009-12-15
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 1472.
action_date: 2009-12-15
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H14892-14894)
action_date: 2009-12-15
text: Mr. Conyers moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2009-12-01
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2009-12-01
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2009-11-30
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2009-11-21
text: Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S11974-11976; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S11974-11975; text as passed Senate: CR S11976)
action_date: 2009-11-21
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S11974-11976; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S11974-11975; text as passed Senate: CR S11976)
action_date: 2009-11-06
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 209.
action_date: 2009-11-06
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with amendments. Without written report.
action_date: 2009-11-06
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with amendments. Without written report.
action_date: 2009-11-05
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
action_date: 2009-07-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7703)
action_date: 2009-07-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7702-7703)
action_date: 2009-07-20
text: Introduced in Senate

Enacted as: number: 111-122