[Senate Report 111-186]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


                                                       Calendar No. 375
111th Congress                                                   Report
                                 SENATE
 2d Session                                                     111-186

======================================================================



 
                        TORTURE VICTIMS RELIEF 
                      REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2010

                                _______
                                

                  May 13, 2010.--Ordered to be printed

          Mr. Kerry, from the Committee on Foreign Relations,
                        submitted the following

                                 REPORT

                         [To accompany S. 2839]

    The Committee on Foreign Relations, having had under 
consideration the bill (S. 2839) to amend the Torture Victims 
Relief Act of 1998 to authorize appropriations to provide 
assistance for domestic and foreign programs and centers for 
the treatment of victims of torture, and for other purposes, 
reports favorably thereon, as amended in the nature of a 
substitute, and recommends that the bill (as amended) do pass.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page

  I. Purpose..........................................................1
 II. Committee Action.................................................1
III. Discussion.......................................................2
 IV. Cost Estimate....................................................2
  V. Evaluation of Regulatory Impact..................................3
 VI. Changes in Existing Law..........................................4

                               I. PURPOSE

    The purpose of S. 2839 is to amend the Torture Victims 
Relief Act of 1998 to authorize appropriations to provide 
assistance for domestic and foreign programs and centers for 
the treatment of victims of torture.

                          II. COMMITTEE ACTION

    S. 2839 was introduced by Senators Klobuchar, Graham, and 
Franken on December 4, 2009. On April 13, 2010, the committee 
ordered the bill, with an amendment in the nature of a 
substitute, reported favorably by voice vote. Changes in the 
substitute amendment included striking section four on U.S. 
contributions to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims 
of Torture.

                            III. DISCUSSION

    An increasing number of refugees and political asylees who 
arrive in the United States are victims of torture. These 
victims often suffer from flashbacks, nightmares, panic 
attacks, depression, and other symptoms in addition to the 
physical consequences of torture. With treatment, they stand a 
better chance of integrating into U.S. society and contributing 
to their families and communities.

    S. 2839 reaffirms that it is the policy of the United 
States to support programs to help these individuals obtain the 
treatment and other assistance they need to recover and 
reestablish a sense of stability. It authorizes $25 million for 
each of fiscal years 2011 and 2012 for grants to domestic 
treatment centers, including grants awarded for specialized 
treatment and training programs focused on the needs of torture 
victims. Pursuant to the same model, S. 2839 authorizes $12 
million for each of fiscal years 2011 and 2012 for grants to 
foreign treatment centers and programs.

                           IV. COST ESTIMATE

    In accordance with Rule XXVI, paragraph 11(a) of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, the committee provides this 
estimate of the costs of this legislation prepared by the 
Congressional Budget Office.


                            United States Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                    Washington, DC, April 20, 2010.

Hon. John F. Kerry, Jr.,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.

    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 2839, the Torture 
Victims Relief Authorization Act of 2010.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is John Chin.
          Sincerely,
                                      Douglas W. Elmendorf,
                                                          Director.

                                ------                                


               Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate

                                                    April 20, 2010.

                                S. 2839


            Torture Victims Relief Authorization Act of 2010


  AS ORDERED REPORTED BY THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS ON 
                             APRIL 13, 2010

    S. 2839 would authorize the appropriation of $37 million in 
both 2011 and 2012 for programs to assist victims of torture. 
CBO 
estimates that implementing the bill would cost $74 million 
over the 2011-2013 period, assuming that the authorized amounts 
are appropriated and that outlays will follow historical 
spending patterns for those programs.

    Enacting S. 2839 would not affect direct spending or 
revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply. 
S. 2839 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and 
would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. 
State governments could benefit from grant funds authorized by 
the bill. Any costs to states would be incurred voluntarily as 
conditions of federal assistance.

    The estimated budgetary impact of S. 2839 is shown in the 
following table. The costs of this legislation fall within 
budget functions 150 (international affairs) and 550 (health).

                          Changes in Spending, Subject to Appropriation, Due to S. 2839
                                     By Fiscal Year, in Millions of Dollars
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             2011    2012    2013    2014    2015     2011-2015
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Domestic Treatment Centers
Authorization Level.......................................     25      25       0       0       0            50
Estimated Outlays.........................................      1      25      24       0       0            50
                                                           -----------------------------------------------------
Foreign Treatment Centers
Authorization Level.......................................     12      12       0       0       0            24
Estimated Outlays.........................................      1      12      11       0       0            24
                                                           =====================================================
  Total Changes
    Authorization Level...................................     37      37       0       0       0            74
    Estimated Outlays.....................................      2      37      35       0       0            74
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



    Section 2 would authorize the appropriation of $25 million 
in both 2011 and 2012 for the Department of Health and Human 
Services (HHS) for domestic treatment of victims of torture. In 
2009 (the most recent year for which such data is available), 
HHS received an appropriation of $11 million to award grants to 
programs in the United States that provide psychological and 
physical rehabilitation, social services, and legal services to 
victims of torture.

    Section 3 would authorize the appropriation of $12 million 
in both 2011 and 2012 for the U.S. Agency for International 
Development (USAID) for foreign treatment of victims of 
torture. In 2009, USAID received an appropriation of $13 
million to award grants to programs in developing countries 
that provide psychological and physical rehabilitation, social 
services, and training and advocacy services to victims of 
torture.
    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is John Chin. This 
estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant 
Director for Budget Analysis.

                   V. EVALUATION OF REGULATORY IMPACT

    Pursuant to Rule XXVI, paragraph 11(b) of the Standing 
Rules of the Senate, the committee has determined that there is 
no regulatory impact as a result of this legislation.

                      VI. CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

    In compliance with Rule XXVI, paragraph 12 of the Standing 
Rules of the Senate, 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).

FOREIGN ASSISTANCE ACT OF 1961

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



TORTURE VICTIMS RELIEF ACT OF 1998

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



SEC. 4. FOREIGN TREATMENT CENTERS.

    (a) Amendments to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. * * *
    (b) Funding.--
          [(1) Authorization of appropriations.--Of the amounts 
        authorized to be appropriated for fiscal years 2006 and 
        2007 pursuant to chapter 1 of part I of the Foreign 
        Assistance Act of 1961 [22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.], there 
        are authorized to be appropriated to the President to 
        carry out section 130 of such Act [this section] 
        $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2006 and $13,000,000 for 
        fiscal year 2007.]
          (1) Authorization of Appropriations.--Of the amounts 
        authorized to be appropriated for fiscal years 2011 and 
        2012 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 $12,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 
        2011 and 2012.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 5. DOMESTIC TREATMENT CENTERS.

    (a) Assistance for Treatment of Torture Victims.--* * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

    (b) Funding.--
          [(1) Authorization of appropriations.--Of the amounts 
        authorized to be appropriated for the Department of 
        Health and Human Services for fiscal years 2006 and 
        2007, there are authorized to be appropriated to carry 
        out subsection (a) $25,000,000 for each of the fiscal 
        years 2006 and 2007.]
          (1) Authorization of Appropriations.--Of the amounts 
        authorized to be appropriated for the Department of 
        Health and Human Services for fiscal years 2011 and 
        2012, there are authorized to be appropriated to carry 
        out subsection (a) $25,000,000 for each of the fiscal 
        years 2011 and 2012.

                                  
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