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H.R. 5167: Justice for Victims of Torture and Terrorism Act

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H.R. 5167: Justice for Victims of Torture and Terrorism Act

110th Congress · introduced 2008-01-29 · Law · Latest: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2008-01-29 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Braley, Bruce L. [D-IA-1] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. 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

Justice for Victims of Torture and Terrorism Act

Plain summary

Justice for Victims of Torture and Terrorism Act - Terminates the authority of the President to grant the government of Iraq immunity from actions by victims of terrorism seeking compensation for injuries caused by officials, employees, or agents of the government of Iraq during the 1991 Gulf War when such government was classified as a state sponsor of terrorism, unless the President certifies to Congress that Iraq has adequately settled specified claims of U.S. soldiers and civilians held in Iraq as POWs and hostages and subject to state-sponsored torture and terrorism. Provides an exception to the termination of such authority if the President certifies that: (1) Iraq has not compensated any foreign persons or entities for claims or liabilities incurred by or under the control of the Saddam Hussein regime, including commercial or financial claims and claims for acts against individuals similar to those described above; or (2) negotiations are ongoing with Iraq to settle the American claims, and the President believes that those negotiations are being conducted in good faith and could lead to a satisfactory settlement. Limits the latter certification period to 180 days (with authorized renewals by the President). Defines various adequate settlement amounts, depending on the victim, length of torture or detainment, etc. Prohibits the use of any U.S. funds to pay any claim covered under this Act.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended), 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

Justice for Victims of Torture and Terrorism Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Alternatives

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Braley, Bruce L. [D-IA-1] · 38 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 5167, Justice for Victims of Torture and Terrorism Act (2008-09-09); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 5167, Justice for Victims of Torture and Terrorism Act (2008-09-09)

Cosponsors on this site

Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Peter Welch (D-VT), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Christopher Murphy (D-CT), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (D-GA), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Darrell Issa (R-CA)

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)
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

Record fed-us-cong110-hr5167 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong110 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong110