H.R. 4674: To prohibit the return of persons by the United States, for purposes of detention, interrogation, or trial, to countries engaging in torture or other inhuman treatment of persons.

108th Congress · introduced 2004-06-23 · International Affairs · Latest: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1291)

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2004-06-23 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA-7] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1291) Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
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

To prohibit the return of persons by the United States, for purposes of detention, interrogation, or trial, to countries engaging in torture or other inhuman treatment of persons.

Plain summary

Directs the Secretary of State to submit to the appropriate congressional committees, every six months, a list of each country where torture or degrading treatment is commonly used in interrogation and detention. Prohibits, with specified waiver authority, the transfer of a person in U.S. custody to such a country. States that such prohibition shall not be construed to apply to the legal extradition of a person under a bilateral or multilateral extradition treaty if, prior to extradition, that person has recourse to a U.S. court to challenge the extradition on the basis that there are substantial grounds for believing that the person would be in danger of being subjected to torture or degrading treatment in the requesting country.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

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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

To prohibit the return of persons by the United States, for purposes of detention, interrogation, or trial, to countries engaging in torture or other inhuman treatment of persons.

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA-7] · 24 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Betty McCollum (D-MN), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Bernard Sanders (I-VT)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA-7] reported raising $6.0 million (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 (1)

Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-108hr4674.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/108/hr>

Record fed-us-cong108-hr4674 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong108 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong108