Civilian Harm Review and Reassessment Act

Bill: 118-hr-5112
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51]
Introduced: 2023-08-01
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Latest action: action_date: 2023-08-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-08-01
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Civilian Harm Review and Reassessment Act</strong></p><p>This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to establish procedures under which it must review and reinvestigate allegations of civilian harm that resulted from military operations involving the U.S. Armed Forces between 2011 and 2023 and that DOD finds were likely incorrectly dismissed due to investigation errors or incomplete information.</p><p>In establishing the review procedures, DOD must consult with nongovernmental organizations that focus on civilian harm and human rights.</p><p>Additionally, DOD must report on any identified errors, steps taken to respond to such errors, and recommended steps to prevent similar errors in the future.</p>

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5112 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES August 1, 2023 Ms. Jacobs (for herself, Mr. Khanna , Mr. Crow , and Mr. Kim of New Jersey ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To direct the Secretary of Defense to establish procedures for the review and reinvestigation of certain allegations of civilian harm that resulted from United States military operations, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Civilian Harm Review and Reassessment Act . 2. Procedures for review and reinvestigation of allegations of civilian harm resulting from certain United States military operations (a) Procedures required Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall establish procedures under which the Secretary shall review and reinvestigate allegations of civilian harm that— (1) resulted from military operations involving the United States Armed Forces that were conducted between 2011 and 2023; and (2) the Secretary finds were likely incorrectly dismissed due to investigation errors or incomplete information. (b) Consultation In establishing the procedures under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall consult with nongovernmental organizations that focus on civilian harm and human rights. (c) Policy updates Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that includes— (1) a description of any errors identified during the review and re-investigation process required under subsection (a); (2) an identification of any revised credibility assessments and new credibility findings; (3) a description of steps taken in response to new credibility findings, including any offers of ex gratia payments; and (4) recommended steps to prevent similar errors in the future. (d) Congressional defense committees In this section, the term congressional defense committees means— (1) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and (2) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.