[House Report 108-261]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]




108th Congress                                            Rept. 108-261
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session                                                     Part 2
======================================================================
 
           TORTURE VICTIMS RELIEF REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2003

                                _______
                                

 September 17, 2003.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on 
            the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

 Mr. Tauzin, from the Committee on Energy and Commerce, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 1813]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Energy and Commerce, to whom was referred 
the bill (H.R. 1813) to amend the Torture Victims Relief Act of 
1998 to authorize appropriations to provide assistance for 
domestic and foreign centers and programs for the treatment of 
victims of torture, and for other purposes, having considered 
the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and 
recommend that the bill do pass.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page
Purpose and Summary..............................................     2
Background and Need for Legislation..............................     2
Hearings.........................................................     2
Committee Consideration..........................................     2
Committee Votes..................................................     2
Committee Oversight Findings.....................................     2
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives............     2
New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures     2
Committee Cost Estimate..........................................     3
Congressional Budget Office Estimate.............................     3
Federal Mandates Statement.......................................     4
Advisory Committee Statement.....................................     4
Constitutional Authority Statement...............................     5
Applicability to Legislative Branch..............................     5
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation...................     5
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............     5

[[Page 2]]

                          Purpose and Summary

    H.R. 1813 reauthorizes the Torture Victims Relief Act of 
1998 to support domestic and foreign centers for treatment of 
victims of torture.

                  Background and Need for Legislation

    The Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998 authorizes the 
President make grants to treatment centers and programs in 
foreign countries that are carrying out projects or activities 
specifically designed to treat victims of torture. These 
rehabilitation activities include both physical and 
psychological treatment programs. The Act also authorizes 
appropriations to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims 
of Torture.
    H.R. 1813 reauthorizes the Torture Victims Relief Act by 
increasing the level of funding that may be provided for 
programs to assist victims of torture for an additional three-
year period.

                                Hearings

    The Committee on Energy and Commerce has not held hearings 
on the legislation.

                        Committee Consideration

    On September 10, 2003, Full Committee met in open markup 
session and favorably ordered H.R. 1813 reported to the House 
by a voice vote, a quorum being present.

                            Committee Votes

    Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives requires the Committee to list the record votes 
on themotion to report legislation and amendments thereto. 
There were no record votes taken in connection with ordering H.R. 1813 
reported. A motion by Mr. Tauzin to order H.R. 1813 reported to the 
House, without amendment, was agreed to by a voice vote.

                      Committee Oversight Findings

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the Committee has not held oversight 
or legislative hearings on this legislation.

         Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives

    The goal of H.R. 1813 is to reauthorize the Torture Victims 
Relief Act of 1998 to support domestic and foreign centers for 
treatment of victims of torture.

   New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures

    In compliance with clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules 
of the House of Representatives, the Committee finds that H.R. 
1813, the Torture Victims Relief Act 2003, would result in no 
new or increased budget authority, entitlement authority, or 
tax expenditures or revenues.

[[Page 3]]

                        Committee Cost Estimate

    The Committee adopts as its own the cost estimate prepared 
by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to 
section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.

                  Congressional Budget Office Estimate

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the following is the cost estimate 
provided by the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 
402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974:

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                Washington, DC, September 15, 2003.
Hon. W.J. ``Billy'' Tauzin,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 1813, the Torture 
Victims Relief Reauthorization Act of 2003.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Joseph C. 
Whitehill.
            Sincerely,
                                         Robert A. Sunshine
                               (For Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Director).
    Enclosure.

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

    Summary: H.R. 1813 would authorize the appropriation of $37 
million in 2004, $44 million in 2005, and $51 million in 2006 
for programs to provide assistance for the treatment of victims 
of torture. The bill would authorize funding for the Department 
of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Agency for 
International Development for domestic and international 
centers and programs for the treatment of victims of torture. 
The bill also would authorize a contribution to the Untied 
Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture. CBO estimates 
that implementing H.R. 1813 would cost $117 million over the 
2004-2008 period, assuming the appropriation of the authorized 
amounts. The bill would not affect direct spending or receipts.
    H.R. 1813 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) 
and would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal 
governments.
    Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated 
budgetary impact of H.R. 1813 is shown in the following table. 
The estimate assumes the bill will be enacted late in fiscal 
year 2003; that the amounts authorized for 2004, 2005, and 2006 
will be appropriated near the start of each fiscal year; and 
that spending will follow historical patterns. The costs of 
this legislation fall within budget functions 150 
(international affairs) and 600 (income security).

[[Page 4]]



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  By fiscal year, in millions of dollars--
                                                           -----------------------------------------------------
                                                              2003     2004     2005     2006     2007     2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION

Spending under current law for victims of torture relief:
    Budget authority......................................       23        0        0        0        0        0
    Estimated outlays.....................................       22       15        7        4        2        2
Proposed changes:
    Authorizationl level..................................        0       37       44       51        0        0
    Estimated outlays.....................................        0       13       27       38       26       13
Spending under H.R. 1813 for victims of torture relief:
    Authorization level \1\...............................       23       37       44       51        0        0
    Estimated outlays.....................................       22       28       34       42       28       15
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The 2003 level is the amount appropriated for that year.

    Basis of estimate: Section 2 would authorize appropriations 
of $20 million in 2004, $25 million in 2005, and $30 million in 
2006 for the Department of Health and Human Services to assist 
in the rehabilitation of victims of torture. These funds would 
support a variety of assistance programs for torture victims, 
including physical and psychological rehabilitation services 
and legal aid.
    Section 3 would authorize appropriations of $11 million in 
2004, $12 million in 2005, and $13 million in 2006 for 
international programs for assistance for the rehabilitation of 
individual victims of torture and for professionals and 
organizations that provide treatment services to victims of 
torture, their families, and their communities.
    Section 4 would authorize appropriations of $6 million in 
2004, $7 million in 2005, and $8 million in 2006 for a 
contribution to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims 
of Torture.
    Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: H.R. 1813 
contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as 
defined in UMRA and would not affect the budgets of state, 
local, or tribal governments.
    Previous CBO estimate: On August 7, 2003, CBO transmitted a 
cost estimate for H.R. 1813, the Torture Victims Relief 
Reauthorization Act of 2003, as ordered reported by the House 
Committee on International Relations on July 23, 2003. The two 
versions of the bill and their estimated costs are identical.
    Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: International Affairs 
Programs: Joseph C. Whitehill; Domestic Programs: Michael D. 
Carson. Impact on State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Melissa 
Merrell. Impact on the Private Sector: Paige Piper/Bach.
    Estimate approved by: Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant 
Director for Budget Analysis.

                       Federal Mandates Statement

    The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal 
mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget 
Office pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform 
Act.

                      Advisory Committee Statement

    No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) 
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this 
legislation.

[[Page 5]]

                   Constitutional Authority Statement

    Pursuant to clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the Committee finds that the 
Constitutional authority for this legislation is provided in 
Article I, section 8, clause 3, which grants Congress the power 
to regulate commerce with foreign nations, among the several 
States, and with the Indian tribes.

                  Applicability to Legislative Branch

    The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to 
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public 
services or accommodations within the meaning of section 
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.

             Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation


Section 1. Short title

    Section 1 designates the short title as the ``Torture 
Victims Relief Reauthorization Act of 2003.''

Section 2. Authorization of appropriations for domestic treatment 
        centers for victims of torture

    Section 2 authorizes the appropriation of $20,000,000 for 
fiscal year 2004, $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2005, and 
$30,000,000 for fiscal year 2006 for the Department of Health 
and Human Services to manage domestic centers and programs for 
the treatment of victims of torture.

Section 3. Authorization of appropriations for foreign treatment 
        centers for victims of torture

    Section 3 authorizes the appropriation of $11,000,000 for 
fiscal year 2004, $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2005, and 
$13,000,000 for fiscal year 2006 to provide assistance for 
centers in foreign countries and programs for the treatment of 
victims of torture as authorized by the Foreign Assistance Act 
of 1961.

Section 4. Authorization of appropriations for the United States 
        contribution to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims 
        of Torture

    Section 4 authorizes the appropriation of $6,000,000 for 
fiscal year 2004, $7,000,000 for fiscal year 2005, and 
$8,000,000 for fiscal year 2006 for the President to make a 
voluntary contribution to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for 
Victims of Torture.

         Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported

  In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law 
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new 
matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is 
proposed is shown in roman):

TORTURE VICTIMS RELIEF ACT OF 1998

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



[[Page 6]]



SEC. 4. FOREIGN TREATMENT CENTERS.

  (a)  * * *
  (b) Funding.--
          [(1) Authorization of appropriations.--Of the amounts 
        authorized to be appropriated for fiscal years 1999 and 
        2000 pursuant to chapter 1 of part I of the Foreign 
        Assistance Act of 1961, there are authorized to be 
        appropriated to the President $5,000,000 for fiscal 
        year 1999 and $7,500,000 for fiscal year 2000 to carry 
        out section 130 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 
        (as redesignated by section 6(a) of the Torture Victims 
        Relief Reauthorization Act of 1999).]
          (1) Authorization of appropriations.--Of the amounts 
        authorized to be appropriated for fiscal years 2004, 
        2005, and 2006 pursuant to chapter 1 of part I of the 
        Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, there are authorized to 
        be appropriated to the President to carry out section 
        130 of such Act (relating to assistance for centers in 
        foreign countries and programs for the treatment of 
        victims of torture) $11,000,000 for fiscal year 2004, 
        $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2005, and $13,000,000 for 
        fiscal year 2006.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 5. DOMESTIC TREATMENT CENTERS.

  (a)  * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

  (b) Funding.--
          [(1) Authorization of appropriations.--Of the amounts 
        authorized to be appropriated for the Department of 
        Health and Human Services for fiscal years 1999 and 
        2000, 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) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 1999, and 
        $7,500,000 for fiscal year 2000.]
          (1) Authorization of appropriations.--Of the amounts 
        authorized to be appropriated for the Department of 
        Health and Human Services for fiscal years 2004, 2005, 
        and 2006, 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 2004, 
        $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2005, and $30,000,000 for 
        fiscal year 2006.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


                                
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