[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 66 (Tuesday, May 15, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4948-S4949]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. WELLSTONE:
  S. 887. A bill to amend the Torture Victims Relief Act of 1986 to 
authorize appropriations to provide assistance for domestic centers and 
programs for the treatment of victims of torture; to the Committee on 
the Judiciary.
  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I am introducing the Torture Victims 
Relief Act of 2001. This bill authorizes increased appropriations to 
provide assistance for domestic centers and programs for the treatment 
of victims of torture. The bill authorizes the authorization levels for 
domestic treatment centers for victims of torture to $20 million for 
fiscal year 2002, double the $10 million amount currently authorized 
for fiscal year 2002 by the Torture Relief Re-authorization Act of 
1999, and $25 million for fiscal year 2003 (an increase of $15 million 
over the current authorization) and establishes an authorization level 
of $30 million for fiscal year 2004.
  Repressive governments frequently make use of torture to silence 
those who are defending human rights and democracy in their own 
country. Many

[[Page S4949]]

of these people have sought refuge in the United States. The additional 
funding provided in the Torture Relief Act of 2001 recognizes the debt 
we own to those courageous people who have made extraordinary 
sacrifices by speaking out for their principles.
  We have come a long way in raising the awareness of torture and 
helping victims of torture since 1985 when the Center for Victims of 
Torture in Minnesota was founded and began its pioneering work with 
torture victims, but still much more needs to be done to stop this 
terrible practice.
  In 1998, as an outgrowth of my work with the Center for Victims of 
Torture, I introduced the Torture Victims Relief Act. It was adopted by 
Congress and became law, PL 105-320. The legislation authorized the 
Department of Health and Human Services to support U.S. treatment 
programs for victims of torture. For Fiscal Year 2000, Congress 
appropriated $7.2 million. The implementing agency, the Office of 
Refugee Settlement, provided 16 grants with this appropriation. About 
twice that number applied for funding with a total request several 
times the available amount. For Fiscal Year 2001, Congress appropriated 
$10 million for this program, the authorized amount. It has become 
obvious that the program is significantly underfunded and requires the 
additional support provided by this legislation.
  The funds will support treatment services to hundreds of victims each 
year in 23 treatment centers, located from New York to California and 
from Minnesota to Texas. The victims have suffered horrendous torture 
and as a consequence suffer from nightmares, anxiety attacks, 
flashbacks, depression and other mental health problems. With treatment 
they can become contributing members of our communities. Without 
treatment, victims potentially become burdens rather than contributors 
to our society.
  Since adoption of TVRA, the number of treatment programs for victims 
of torture has more than doubled. The National Consortium of Torture 
Treatment Programs now include 23 organizations and others are seeking 
membership.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 887

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Torture Victims Relief Act 
     of 2001''.

     SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR DOMESTIC 
                   TREATMENT CENTERS FOR VICTIMS OF TORTURE.

       (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 5(b)(1) of 
     the Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 2152 note) 
     is amended to read as follows:
       ``(b) Funding.--
       ``(1) Authorization of appropriations.--Of the amounts 
     authorized to be appropriated for the Department of Health 
     and Human Services for fiscal years 2002, 2003, and 2004, 
     there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
     subsection (a) (relating to assistance for domestic centers 
     and programs for the treatment of victims of torture) 
     $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2002, $25,000,000 for fiscal year 
     2003, and $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2004.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect October 1, 2001.
                                 ______