H.R. 2017: Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act of 2005

109th Congress · introduced 2005-04-28 · International Affairs · Latest: Became Public Law No: 109-165.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2005-04-28 · 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: 109-165. (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 2005

Plain summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House passed version is repeated here.) Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act of 2005 - Amends the Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998 to authorize appropriations for FY2006-FY2007 to: (1) the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) 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), social and legal services, and research and training of health care providers outside of treatment centers or programs to enable them to provide such services; (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; and (3) the President for voluntary contributions to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed Senate without amendment), 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 2005

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed Senate without amendment)

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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] · 64 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 2017, Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act of 2005 (2005-07-26); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 2017, Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act of 2005 (2005-07-26)

Cosponsors on this site

Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA) and 4 more.

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 (2)

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.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed Senate without amendment)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-109hr2017.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/109/hr>

Record fed-us-cong109-hr2017 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong109 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong109