In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.

Input: Consider Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Readjustment Counseling Service 
Amendments of 1995''.

SEC. 2. ORGANIZATION OF THE READJUSTMENT COUNSELING SERVICE IN THE 
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) In General.--Section 7305 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (8); and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following new 
        paragraph (7):
            ``(7) A Readjustment Counseling Service.''.
    (b) Organization.--The Readjustment Counseling Service shall have 
the organizational structure and administrative structure of that 
service as such structures were in existence on January 1, 1993.
    (c) Revision of Organizational Structure.--(1) The Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs may not alter or revise the organizational structure 
or the administrative structure of the Readjustment Counseling Service 
until--
            (A) the Secretary has submitted to the Committees on 
        Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a 
        report containing a full and complete statement of the proposed 
        alteration or revision; and
            (B) a period of 60 days has elapsed after the date on which 
        the report is received by the committees.
    (2) In the computation of the 60-day period under paragraph (1)(B), 
there shall be excluded any day on which either House of Congress is 
not in session because of an adjournment of more than 3 calendar days 
to a day certain.
    (d) Budget Information Relating to the Service.--Each budget 
submitted to Congress by the President under section 1105 of title 31, 
United States Code, shall set forth the amount requested in the budget 
for the operation of the Readjustment Counseling Service in the fiscal 
year covered by the budget and shall set forth separately the amount 
requested for administrative oversight of the activities of the service 
(including the amount requested for funding of the Advisory Committee 
on Readjustment of Veterans).

SEC. 3. DIRECTOR OF THE READJUSTMENT COUNSELING SERVICE.

    (a) Director.--Section 7306(b) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) by striking out ``and'' at the end of paragraph (2);
            (2) by striking out the period at the end of paragraph (3) 
        and inserting in lieu thereof ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) one shall be a person who (A)(i) is a qualified 
        psychiatrist, (ii) is a qualified psychologist holding a 
        diploma as a doctorate in clinical or counseling psychology 
        from an authority approved by the American Psychological 
        Association and has successfully undergone an internship 
        approved by that association, (iii) is a qualified holder of a 
        master in social work degree, or (iv) is a registered nurse 
        holding a master of science in nursing degree in psychiatric 
        nursing or any other mental-health related degree approved by 
        the Secretary, and (B) has at least 3 years of clinical 
        experience and 2 years of administrative experience in the 
        Readjustment Counseling Service or other comparable mental 
        health care counseling service (as determined by the 
        Secretary), who shall be the director of the Readjustment 
        Counseling Service.''.
    (b) Status of Director.--Section 7306(a)(3) of such title is 
amended by striking out ``eight'' and inserting in lieu thereof 
``nine''.
    (c) Organizational Requirement.--The Director of the Readjustment 
Counseling Service shall report to the Under Secretary for Health of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs through the Associate Deputy Under 
Secretary for Health for Clinical Programs.

SEC. 4. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR READJUSTMENT COUNSELING AND 
              CERTAIN RELATED COUNSELING SERVICES.

    (a) Readjustment Counseling.--(1) Subsection (a) of section 1712A 
of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
    ``(a)(1)(A) Upon the request of any veteran referred to in 
subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, the Secretary shall furnish 
counseling to the veteran to assist the veteran in readjusting to 
civilian life.
    ``(B) A veteran referred to in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph 
is any veteran who--
            ``(i) served on active duty during the Vietnam era; or
            ``(ii) served on active military, naval, or air service in 
        a theater of combat operations (as determined by the Secretary, 
        in consultation with the Secretary of Defense) during a period 
        of war or in any other area during a period in which 
        hostilities (as defined in subparagraph (D) of this paragraph) 
        occurred in such area.
    ``(C) Upon the request of any veteran other than a veteran referred 
to in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, the Secretary may furnish 
counseling to the veteran to assist the veteran in readjusting to 
civilian life.
    ``(D) For the purposes of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, the 
term `hostilities' means an armed conflict in which the members of the 
Armed Forces are subjected to danger comparable to the danger to which 
members of the Armed Forces have been subjected in combat with enemy 
armed forces during a period of war, as determined by the Secretary in 
consultation with the Secretary of Defense.
    ``(2) The counseling referred to in paragraph (1) shall include a 
general mental and psychological assessment of a covered veteran to 
ascertain whether such veteran has mental or psychological problems 
associated with readjustment to civilian life.''.
    (2) Subsection (c) of such section is repealed.
    (b) Other Counseling.--Such section is further amended by inserting 
after subsection (b) the following new subsection (c):
    ``(c)(1) The Secretary shall provide the counseling services 
described in section 1701(6)(B)(ii) of this title to the surviving 
parents, spouse, and children of any member of the Armed Forces who is 
killed during service on active military, naval, or air service in a 
theater of combat operations (as determined by the Secretary, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Defense) during a period of war or 
in any other area during a period in which hostilities (as defined in 
subsection (a)(1)(D) of this section) occurred in such area.
    ``(2) The Secretary may provide the counseling services referred to 
in paragraph (1) to the surviving parents, spouse, and children of any 
member of the Armed Forces who dies while serving on active duty or 
from a condition (as determined by the Secretary) incurred in or 
aggravated by such service.''.
    (c) Authority To Contract for Counseling Services.--Subsection (e) 
of such section is amended by striking out ``subsections (a) and (b)'' 
each place it appears and inserting in lieu thereof ``subsections (a), 
(b), and (c)''.

SEC. 5. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE READJUSTMENT OF VETERANS.

    (a) In General.--(1) Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1712B the 
following:
``Sec. 1712C. Advisory Committee on the Readjustment of Veterans
    ``(a)(1) There is in the Department the Advisory Committee on the 
Readjustment of Veterans (hereafter in this section referred to as the 
`Committee').
    ``(2) The Committee shall consist of not more than 18 members 
appointed by the Secretary from among veterans who--
            ``(A) have demonstrated significant civic or professional 
        achievement; and
            ``(B) have experience with the provision of veterans 
        benefits and services by the Department.
    ``(3) The Secretary shall seek to ensure that members appointed to 
the Committee include persons from a wide variety of geographic areas 
and ethnic backgrounds, persons from veterans service organizations, 
and women.
    ``(4) The Secretary shall determine the terms of service and pay 
and allowances of the members of the Committee, except that a term of 
service may not exceed 2 years. The Secretary may reappoint any member 
for additional terms of service.
    ``(b)(1) The Secretary shall, on a regular basis, consult with and 
seek the advice of the Committee with respect to the provision by the 
Department of benefits and services to veterans in order to assist 
veterans in the readjustment to civilian life.
    ``(2)(A) In providing advice to the Secretary under this 
subsection, the Committee shall--
            ``(i) assemble and review information relating to the needs 
        of veterans in readjusting to civilian life;
            ``(ii) provide information relating to the nature and 
        character of psychological problems arising from service in the 
        Armed Forces;
            ``(iii) provide an on-going assessment of the effectiveness 
        of the policies, organizational structures, and services of the 
        Department in assisting veterans in readjusting to civilian 
        life; and
            ``(iv) provide on-going advice on the most appropriate 
        means of responding to the readjustment needs of veterans in 
        the future.
    ``(B) In carrying out its duties under subparagraph (A), the 
Committee shall take into special account veterans of the Vietnam era, 
and the readjustment needs of such veterans.
    ``(c)(1) Not later than March 31 of each year, the Committee shall 
submit to the Secretary a report on the programs and activities of the 
Department that relate to the readjustment of veterans to civilian 
life. Each such report shall include--
            ``(A) an assessment of the needs of veterans with respect 
        to readjustment to civilian life;
            ``(B) a review of the programs and activities of the 
        Department designed to meet such needs; and
            ``(C) such recommendations (including recommendations for 
        administrative and legislative action) as the Committee 
        considers appropriate.
    ``(2) Not later than 90 days after the receipt of each report under 
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall transmit to the Committees on 
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a copy of 
the report, together with any comments and recommendations concerning 
the report that the Secretary considers appropriate.
    ``(3) The Committee may also submit to the Secretary such other 
reports and recommendations as the Committee considers appropriate.
    ``(4) The Secretary shall submit with each annual report submitted 
to the Congress pursuant to section 529 of this title a summary of all 
reports and recommendations of the Committee submitted to the Secretary 
since the previous annual report of the Secretary submitted pursuant to 
that section.
    ``(d)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the provisions of the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall apply to the 
activities of the Committee under this section.
    ``(2) Section 14 of such Act shall not apply to the Committee.''.
    (2) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 17 of such 
title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1712B 
the following:

``1712C. Advisory Committee on the Readjustment of Veterans.''.
    (b) Original Members.--(1) Notwithstanding subsection (a)(2) of 
section 1712C of such title (as added by subsection (a)), the members 
of the Advisory Committee on the Readjustment of Vietnam and Other War 
Veterans on the date of the enactment of this Act shall be the original 
members of the advisory committee recognized under such section.
    (2) The original members shall so serve until the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs carries out appointments under such subsection (a)(2). 
The Secretary shall carry out such appointments as soon after such date 
as is practicable. The Secretary may make such appointments from among 
such original members.

SEC. 6. PLAN FOR EXPANSION OF VIETNAM VETERAN RESOURCE CENTER PILOT 
              PROGRAM.

    (a) Requirement.--(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House 
of Representatives a plan for the expansion of the Vietnam Veteran 
Resource Center program established pursuant to the amendment made by 
section 105 of the Veterans' Administration Health-Care Amendments of 
1985 (Public Law 99-166; 99 Stat. 944). The plan shall include a 
schedule for, and an assessment of the cost of, the implementation of 
the program at or through all Department of Veterans Affairs 
readjustment counseling centers.
    (2) The Secretary shall submit the plan not later than 4 months 
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (b) Definition.--In this section, the term ``Department of Veterans 
Affairs readjustment counseling centers'' has the same meaning given 
the term ``center'' in section 1712A(i)(1) of title 38, United States 
Code.

SEC. 7. REPORT ON COLLOCATION OF VET CENTERS AND DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
              AFFAIRS OUTPATIENT CLINICS.

    (a) Requirement.--(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House 
of Representatives a report on the feasibility and desirability of the 
collocation of Vet Centers and outpatient clinics (including rural 
mobile clinics) of the Department of Veterans Affairs as current leases 
for such centers and clinics expire.
    (2) The Secretary shall submit the report not later than 6 months 
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (b) Covered Matters.--The report under this section shall include 
an assessment of the following:
            (1) The results of any collocation of Vet Centers and 
        outpatient clinics carried out by the Secretary before the date 
        of the enactment of this Act, including the effects of such 
        collocation on the quality of care provided at such centers and 
        clinics.
            (2) The effect of such collocation on the capacity of such 
        centers to carry out their primary mission.
            (3) The extent to which such collocation will impair the 
        operational independence or administrative integrity of such 
        centers.
            (4) The feasibility of combining the services provided by 
        such centers and clinics in the course of the collocation of 
        such centers and clinics.
            (5) The advisability of the collocation of centers and 
        clinics of significantly different size.
            (6) The effect of the locations (including urban and rural 
        locations) of the centers and clinics on the feasibility and 
        desirability of such collocation.
            (7) The amount of any costs savings to be achieved by 
        Department as a result of such collocation.
            (8) The desirability of such collocation in light of plans 
        for the provision of health care services by the Department 
        under national health care reform.
            (9) Any other matters that the Secretary determines 
        appropriate.

SEC. 8. VET CENTER HEALTH CARE PILOT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out 
a pilot program for the provision of health-related services to 
eligible veterans at readjustment counseling centers. The Secretary 
shall carry out the pilot program in accordance with this section.
    (b) Services.--(1) In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary 
shall provide the services referred to in paragraph (2) at not less 
than 10 readjustment counseling centers in existence on the date of the 
enactment of this Act.
    (2) The Secretary shall provide basic ambulatory services and 
health care screening services by such personnel as the Secretary 
considers appropriate at each readjustment counseling center under the 
pilot program. The Secretary shall assign not less than one-half of a 
full-time employee equivalent at each such center in order to provide 
such services under the pilot program.
    (3) In determining the location of the readjustment counseling 
centers at which to provide services under the pilot program, the 
Secretary shall select centers that are located in a variety of 
geographic areas and that serve veterans of a variety of economic, 
social, and ethnic backgrounds.
    (c) Period of Operation.--(1) The Secretary shall commence the 
provision of health-related services at readjustment counseling centers 
under the pilot program not later than 4 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act.
    (2) The pilot program shall terminate 2 years after the date on 
which the Secretary commences the provision of services under paragraph 
(1).
    (d) Report.--(1) The Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on 
the pilot program established under this section. The report shall 
include the following:
            (A) A description of the program, including information 
        on--
                    (i) the number of veterans provided basic 
                ambulatory services and health care screening services 
                under the pilot program;
                    (ii) the number of such veterans referred to 
                Department of Veterans Affairs general health-care 
                facilities in order to provide such services to such 
                veterans; and
                    (iii) the cost to the Department of Veterans 
                Affairs of the pilot program.
            (B) An analysis of the effectiveness of the services 
        provided to veterans under the pilot program.
            (C) The recommendations of the Secretary for means of 
        improving the pilot program, and an estimate of the cost to the 
        Department of implementing such recommendations.
            (D) An assessment of the desirability of expanding the type 
        or nature of services provided under the pilot program in light 
        of plans for the provision of health care services by the 
        Department under national health care reform.
            (E) An assessment of the extent to which the provision of 
        services under the pilot program impairs the operational or 
        administrative independence of the readjustment counseling 
        centers at which such services are provided.
            (F) An assessment of the effect of the location of the 
        centers on the effectiveness for the Department and for 
        veterans of the services provided under the pilot program.
            (G) Such other information as the Secretary considers 
        appropriate.
    (2) The Secretary shall submit the report not later than 18 months 
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (e) Definitions.--For the purposes of this section:
            (1) The term ``Department of Veterans Affairs general 
        health-care facility'' has the meaning given such term in 
        section 1712A(i)(2) of title 38, United States Code.
            (2) The term ``eligible veteran'' means any veteran 
        eligible for outpatient services under paragraph (1), (2), or 
        (3) of section 1712(a) of such title.
            (3) The term ``readjustment counseling center'' has the 
        same meaning given the term ``center'' in section 1712A(i)(1) 
        of such title.
                                 
S 403 IS----2

Output: Readjustment Counseling Service Amendments of 1995 - Includes a Readjustment Counseling Service (RCS) as part of the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs.  Prohibits the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from altering or revising the organizational structure of RCS until the Secretary has notified specified congressional committees and 60 days have elapsed since such notification.  Requires RCS budget information to be included annually in the President's budget submitted to the Congress. 
Outlines eligibility requirements for one of the Assistant Under Secretaries for Health in the Department, including at least three years of clinical experience and two years of administrative experience in RCS or other comparable mental health care counseling service.  Makes such a qualified person the director of RCS. 
Increases from eight to nine the authorized number of Assistant Under Secretaries for Health. 
Directs the Secretary to furnish readjustment counseling to any veteran who:  (1) served on active duty during the Vietnam era; or (2) served on active duty in a theater of combat during a period of war (currently, only after May 7, 1975) in any area in which hostilities occurred.  Authorizes the Secretary to furnish such assistance to any other veteran upon request.   Directs the Secretary to provide counseling to survivors and dependents of members of the armed forces killed while performing such duty.  Allows the Secretary to provide such counseling to the survivors and dependents of other members killed during active duty or from a condition incurred in or aggravated by such service. 
Establishes in the Department the Advisory Committee on the Readjustment of Veterans to perform advisory services with respect to veterans' readjustment, taking into special account Vietnam era veterans.  Requires specified reports from the Advisory Committee and the Secretary. 
Directs the Secretary to report to the congressional veterans' affairs committees: (1) a plan for the expansion of the Vietnam Veteran Resource Center program; and (2) on the feasibility and desirability of the collocation of Vet Centers and outpatient clinics of the Department as current leases for such centers and clinics expire. 
Directs the Secretary to carry out and report to the Congress on a pilot program for the provision of health-related services to eligible veterans at readjustment counseling centers.


Input: Consider Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Law Enforcement Officers Pay 
Equity and Reform Act''.

SEC. 2. LIMITATION ON PREMIUM PAY.

    (a) In General.--Section 5547 of title 5, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``5545a,'';
            (2) in subsection (c), by striking ``or 5545a''; and
            (3) in subsection (d), by striking the period and inserting 
        ``or a criminal investigator who is paid availability pay under 
        section 5545a.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect as if included in the enactment of section 1114 of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002 (Public Law 107-107; 115 
Stat. 1239).

SEC. 3. SPECIAL PAY ADJUSTMENTS FOR FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN 
              CERTAIN AREAS.

    (a) In General.--Section 404(b)(1) of the Federal Law Enforcement 
Pay Reform Act of 1990 (5 U.S.C. 5305 note) is amended by striking the 
matter after the semicolon and inserting the following:

          ``Area                                           Differential
        Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA-NH Consolidated                24.4% 
            Metropolitan Statistical Area.
        Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN-WI Consolidated          24.5% 
            Metropolitan Statistical Area.
        Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI........................      18.5% 
        Hartford, CT.......................................      20.3% 
        Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, CA Consolidated           27.1% 
            Metropolitan Statistical Area.
        New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT       26.1% 
            Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area.
        Philadelphia-Wilmington-Trenton PA-NJ-DE-MD              20.3% 
            Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area.
        Portland-Salem, OR-WA..............................      18.5% 
        Sacramento-Yolo, CA................................        21% 
        San Diego, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area........      27.1% 
        San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA Consolidated         32.03% 
            Metropolitan Statistical Area.
        Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA.......................      27.5% 
        Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV Consolidated         24.3%''.
            Metropolitan Statistical Area.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply 
with respect to pay for service performed in pay periods beginning on 
or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 4. SEPARATE PAY, EVALUATION, AND PROMOTION SYSTEM FOR FEDERAL LAW 
              ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

    (a) Study.--Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Office of Personnel Management shall study and submit 
to Congress a report which shall contain its findings and 
recommendations regarding the need for, and the potential benefits to 
be derived from, the establishment of a separate pay, evaluation, and 
promotion system for Federal law enforcement officers. In carrying out 
this subsection, the Office of Personnel Management shall take into 
account the findings and recommendations contained in the September 
1993 report of the Office entitled ``A Plan to Establish a New Pay and 
Job Evaluation System for Federal Law Enforcement Officers''.
    (b) Demonstration Project.--
            (1) In general.--If, after completing its report under 
        subsection (a), the Office of Personnel Management considers it 
        to be appropriate, the Office shall implement, within 12 months 
        after the date of the enactment of this Act, a demonstration 
        project to determine whether a separate system for Federal law 
        enforcement officers (as described in subsection (a)) would 
        result in improved Federal personnel management.
            (2) Applicable provisions.--Any demonstration project under 
        this subsection shall be conducted in accordance with the 
        provisions of chapter 47 of title 5, United States Code, except 
        that a project under this subsection shall not be taken into 
        account for purposes of the numerical limitation under section 
        4703(d)(2) of such title.
            (3) Permanent changes.--Not later than 6 months before the 
        demonstration project's scheduled termination date, the Office 
        of Personnel Management shall submit to Congress--
                    (A) its evaluation of the system tested under the 
                demonstration project; and
                    (B) recommendations as to whether or not that 
                system (or any aspects of that system) should be 
                continued or extended to other Federal law enforcement 
                officers.
    (c) Federal Law Enforcement Officer Defined.--For purposes of this 
section, the term ``Federal law enforcement officer'' means a law 
enforcement officer as defined by section 8331 or 8401 of title 5, 
United States Code, and, subsection (b)(2) notwithstanding, includes 
any such officer serving in or under the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation.

Output: Federal Law Enforcement Officers Pay Equity and Reform Act - Excludes availability pay for Federal criminal investigators from premium pay limitations.Amends the Federal Law Enforcement Pay Reform Act of 1990 to increase the Federal special pay differential for Federal law enforcement officers employed in specified metropolitan statistical areas.Requires a study by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) regarding the need for, and potential benefits of, the establishment of a separate pay, evaluation, and promotion system for Federal law enforcement officers (including officers serving in or under the Federal Bureau of Investigation). Authorizes OPM to implement a demonstration project for such a system.


Input: Consider Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Torture Victims Relief Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) The American people abhor torture by any government or 
        person. The existence of torture creates a climate of fear and 
        international insecurity that affects all people.
            (2) Torture is the deliberate mental and physical damage 
        caused by governments to individuals to destroy individual 
        personality and terrorize society. The effects of torture are 
        long term. Those effects can last a lifetime for the survivors 
        and affect future generations.
            (3) By eliminating leadership of their opposition and 
        frightening the general public, repressive governments often 
        use torture as a weapon against democracy.
            (4) Torture survivors remain under physical and 
        psychological threats, especially in communities where the 
        perpetrators are not brought to justice. In many nations, even 
        those who treat torture survivors are threatened with 
        reprisals, including torture, for carrying out their ethical 
        duties to provide care. Both the survivors of torture and their 
        treatment providers should be accorded protection from further 
        repression.
            (5) A significant number of refugees and asylees entering 
        the United States have been victims of torture. Those claiming 
        asylum deserve prompt consideration of their applications for 
        political asylum to minimize their insecurity and sense of 
        danger. Many torture survivors now live in the United States. 
        They should be provided with the rehabilitation services which 
        would enable them to become productive members of our 
        communities.
            (6) The development of a treatment movement for torture 
        survivors has created new opportunities for action by the 
        United States and other nations to oppose state-sponsored and 
        other acts of torture.
            (7) There is a need for a comprehensive strategy to protect 
        and support torture victims and their treatment providers, 
        together with overall efforts to eliminate torture.
            (8) By acting to heal the survivors of torture and protect 
        their families, the United States can help to heal the effects 
        of torture and prevent its use around the world.
            (9) The United States became a party to the Convention 
        Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading 
        Treatment or Punishment on November 20, 1994, but has not 
        implemented Article 3 of the Convention.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    As used in this Act:
            (1) In general.--Except as otherwise provided, the terms 
        used in this Act have the meanings given those terms in section 
        101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
        1101(a)).
            (2) Torture.--The term ``torture'' has the meaning given 
        the term in section 2340(1) of title 18, United States Code, 
        and includes the use of rape and other forms of sexual violence 
        by a person acting under the color of law upon another person 
        under his custody or physical control.

SEC. 4. PROHIBITION ON INVOLUNTARY RETURN OF PERSONS FEARING SUBJECTION 
              TO TORTURE.

    (a) Prohibition.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
United States shall not expel, remove, extradite, or otherwise return 
involuntarily an individual to a country if there is substantial 
evidence that a reasonable person in the circumstances of that 
individual would fear subjection to torture in that country.
    (b) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term ``to return 
involuntarily'', in the case of an individual, means--
            (1) to return the individual without the individual's 
        consent, whether or not the return is induced by physical force 
        and whether or not the person is physically present in the 
        United States; or
            (2) to take an action by which it is reasonably foreseeable 
        that the individual will be returned, whether or not the return 
        is induced by physical force and whether or not the person is 
        physically present in the United States.

SEC. 5. IMMIGRATION PROCEDURES FOR TORTURE VICTIMS.

    (a) Covered Aliens.--An alien described in this section is any 
alien who presents a claim of having been subjected to torture, or whom 
there is reason to believe has been subjected to torture.
    (b) Consideration of the Effects of Torture.--In considering an 
application by an alien described in subsection (a) for refugee status 
under section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, asylum under 
section 208 of that Act, or withholding of removal under section 
241(b)(3) of that Act, the appropriate officials shall take into 
account--
            (1) the manner in which the effects of torture might affect 
        the applicant's responses in the application and in the 
        interview process or other immigration proceedings, as the case 
        may be;
            (2) the difficulties torture victims often have in 
        recounting their suffering under torture; and
            (3) the fear victims have of returning to their country of 
        nationality where, even if torture is no longer practiced or 
        the incidence of torture is reduced, their torturers may have 
        gone unpunished and may remain in positions of authority.
    (c) Expedited Processing of Refugee Admissions.--For purposes of 
section 207(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1157(c)), refugees who have been subjected to torture shall be 
considered to be refugees of special humanitarian concern to the United 
States and shall be accorded priority for resettlement at least as high 
as that accorded any other group of refugees.
    (d) Processing for Asylum and Withholding of Removal.--Section 
235(b)(1)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1225(b)(1)(A)) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
clause:
                            ``(iv) Special procedures for aliens who 
                        are the victims of torture.--
                                    ``(I) Expedited procedures.--With 
                                the consent of the alien, an asylum 
                                officer or immigration judge shall 
                                expedite the scheduling of an asylum 
                                interview or a removal proceeding for 
                                any alien who presents a claim of 
                                having been subjected to torture, 
                                unless the evidence indicates that a 
                                delay in making a determination 
                                regarding the granting of asylum under 
                                section 208 of the Immigration and 
                                Nationality Act or the withholding of 
                                removal under section 241(b)(3) of that 
                                Act with respect to the alien would not 
                                aggravate the physical or psychological 
                                effects of torture upon the alien.
                                    ``(II) Delay of proceedings.--With 
                                the consent of the alien, an asylum 
                                officer or immigration judge shall 
                                postpone an asylum interview or a 
                                removal proceeding for any alien who 
                                presents a claim of having been 
                                subjected to torture, if the evidence 
                                indicates that, as a result of the 
                                alien's mental or physical symptoms 
                                resulting from torture, including the 
                                alien's inability to recall or relate 
                                the events of the torture, the alien 
                                will require more time to recover or be 
                                treated before being required to 
                                testify.
    (e) Parole in Lieu of Detention.--The finding that an alien is a 
person described in subsection (a) shall be a strong presumptive basis 
for a grant of parole, under section 212(d)(5) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(d)(5)), in lieu of detention.
    (f) Exemption From Expedited Removal.--Section 235(b)(1)(F) of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1225(b)(1)(F)) is amended by 
inserting before the period at the end the following: ``, or to an 
alien described in section 5(a) of the Torture Victims Relief Act''.
    (g) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the 
Attorney General should allocate resources sufficient to maintain in 
the Resource Information Center of the Immigration and Naturalization 
Service current information relating to the use of torture in foreign 
countries.

SEC. 6. SPECIALIZED TRAINING FOR CONSULAR, IMMIGRATION, AND ASYLUM 
              PERSONNEL.

    (a) In General.--The Attorney General shall provide training for 
immigration inspectors and examiners, immigration officers, asylum 
officers, immigration judges, and all other relevant officials of the 
Department of Justice, and the Secretary of State shall provide 
training for consular officers, with respect to--
            (1) the identification of torture;
            (2) the identification of the surrounding circumstances in 
        which torture is most often practiced;
            (3) the long-term effects of torture upon a victim;
            (4) the identification of the physical, cognitive, and 
        emotional effects of torture, and the manner in which these 
        effects can affect the interview or hearing process; and
            (5) the manner of interviewing victims of torture so as not 
        to retraumatize them, eliciting the necessary information to 
        document the torture experience, and understanding the 
        difficulties victims often have in recounting their torture 
        experience.
    (b) Gender-Related Considerations.--In conducting training under 
subsection (a) (4) or (5), gender-specific training shall be provided 
on the subject of interacting with women and men who are victims of 
torture by rape or any other form of sexual violence.

SEC. 7. DOMESTIC TREATMENT CENTERS.

    (a) Amendment of the Immigration and Nationality Act.--Section 412 
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1522) is amended by 
adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(b) Assistance for Treatment of Torture Victims.--The Secretary 
may provide grants to programs in the United States to cover the cost 
of the following services:
            ``(1) Services for the rehabilitation of victims of 
        torture, including treatment of the physical and psychological 
        effects of torture.
            ``(2) Social and legal services for victims of torture.
            ``(3) Research and training for health care providers 
        outside of treatment centers, or programs for the purpose of 
        enabling such providers to provide the services described in 
        paragraph (1).''.
    (b) Funding.--
            (1) Authorization of appropriations.--Of the amounts 
        authorized to be appropriated for the Department of Health and 
        Human Services for fiscal years 1999, 2000, and 2001, but not 
        from funds made available to the Office of Refugee 
        Resettlement, there are authorized to be appropriated to carry 
        out section 412(g) of that Act (relating to assistance for 
        domestic centers and programs for the treatment of victims of 
        torture), as added by subsection (a), the following amounts for 
        the following fiscal years:
                    (A) For fiscal year 1999, $5,000,000.
                    (B) For fiscal year 2000, $7,500,000.
                    (C) For fiscal year 2001, $9,000,000.
            (2) Availability of funds.--Amounts appropriated pursuant 
        to this subsection shall remain available until expended.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on October 1, 1998.

SEC. 8. FOREIGN TREATMENT CENTERS.

    (a) Amendments of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.--Part I of 
the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.) is amended 
by adding at the end of chapter 1 the following new section:

``SEC. 129. ASSISTANCE FOR VICTIMS OF TORTURE.

    ``(a) In General.--The President is authorized to provide 
assistance for the rehabilitation of victims of torture.
    ``(b) Eligibility for Grants.--Such assistance shall be provided in 
the form of grants to treatment centers and programs in foreign 
countries that are carrying out projects or activities specifically 
designed to treat victims of torture for the physical and psychological 
effects of the torture.
    ``(c) Use of Funds.--Such assistance shall be available--
            ``(1) for direct services to victims of torture; and
            ``(2) to provide research and training to health care 
        providers outside of treatment centers or programs described in 
        subsection (b), for the purpose of enabling such providers to 
        provide the services described in paragraph (1).''.
    (b) Funding.--
            (1) Authorization of appropriations.--Of the amounts 
        authorized to be appropriated for fiscal years 1999, 2000, and 
        2001 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, $7,500,000 for 
        fiscal year 2000, and $9,000,000 for fiscal year 2001 to carry 
        out section 129 of the Foreign Assistance Act, as added by 
        subsection (a).
            (2) Availability of funds.--Amounts appropriated pursuant 
        to this subsection shall remain available until expended.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on October 1, 1998.

SEC. 9. MULTILATERAL ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Funding.--Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated for 
fiscal years 1999, 2000, and 2001 pursuant to chapter 1 of part I of 
the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, there are authorized to be 
appropriated to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of 
Torture (in this section referred to as the ``Fund'') the following 
amounts for the following fiscal years:
            (1) Fiscal year 1999.--For fiscal year 1999, $3,000,000.
            (2) Fiscal year 2000.--For fiscal year 2000, $3,000,000.
            (3) Fiscal year 2001.--For fiscal year 2001, $3,000,000.
    (b) Availability of Funds.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to 
subsection (a) shall remain available until expended.
    (c) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of 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 protect 
                treatment centers and programs that are carrying out 
                rehabilitative services for victims of torture; and
                    (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 established 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 procedural mechanism 
        to investigate human rights violations 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.


Output: Torture Victims Relief Act - Prohibits the United States from expelling, removing, extraditing, or otherwise involuntarily returning an individual to a country if there is substantial evidence that a reasonable person in the circumstances of that individual would fear subjection to torture in that country. 
(Sec. 5) Covers within this Act any alien presenting a claim of having been tortured, or whom there is reason to believe has been tortured. 
Sets forth provisions regarding:  (1) consideration by appropriate officials of the effects of torture; (2) expedited processing of refugee admissions and for asylum and withholding of removal; (3) granting parole in lieu of detention for such an individual under the Immigration and Nationality Act; and (4) exemption of such an individual from expedited removal pursuant to such Act. 
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Attorney General should allocate sufficient resources to maintain in the Immigration and Naturalization Service's Resource Information Center current information relating to the use of torture in foreign countries. 
(Sec. 6) Directs the Attorney General to provide training for immigration inspectors and examiners, immigration officers, asylum officers, immigration judges, and other relevant Department of Justice officials, and directs the Secretary of State to provide training for consular officers, regarding the identification of torture, the surrounding circumstances most often practiced, the long-term effects upon a victim, the identification of the physical, cognitive, and emotional effects of torture, and the appropriate manner of interviewing torture victims. 
(Sec. 7) Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide grants to programs in the United States to cover the cost of specified services for torture victims.  Authorizes the appropriation of funds for assistance for domestic centers and programs for the treatment of torture victims. 
(Sec. 8) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the President to provide grants to treatment centers and programs in foreign countries which are specifically carrying out projects or activities to treat victims of torture.  Authorizes appropriations. 
(Sec. 9) Authorizes appropriations to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture for FY 1999 through 2001.