H.R. 1813: Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act of 2003

108th Congress · introduced 2003-04-11 · International Affairs · Latest: Became Public Law No: 108-179.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2003-04-11 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Became Public Law No: 108-179. (final step reached)
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act of 2003

Plain summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act of 2003 - Amends the Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998 to authorize appropriations for FY 2004 through 2006 to: (1) the Department of Health and Human Services to provide grants to programs in the United States to cover the costs of services provided by domestic treatment centers in the rehabilitation of victims of torture (including treatment of the physical and psychological effects of torture); (2) the President for grants to treatment centers and programs in foreign countries that carry out projects and activities specifically designed to treat victims of torture for the physical and psychological effects of torture (including research and training for health care providers outside such treatment centers or programs in order to enable them to provide such services); and (3) the U.S. voluntary contribution to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House without amendment, Part II), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act of 2003

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House without amendment, Part II)

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The strongest published arguments

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4] · 59 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 1813, Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act of 2003 (2003-08-07); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 1813, Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act of 2003 (2003-08-07); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 1813, Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act of 2003 (2003-09-15); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 1813, Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act of 2003 (2003-09-15)

Cosponsors on this site

James P. McGovern (D-MA), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4] reported raising $797,217 (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (3)

Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Authorization: A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Fiscal year: The 12-month period a government uses for its budget. The federal fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30 and is named for the calendar year in which it ends. Most states use July 1 to June 30.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House without amendment, Part II)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-108hr1813.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/108/hr>

Record fed-us-cong108-hr1813 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong108 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong108