Justice for Victims of War Crimes Act

1/2
Status Signed into Law
Sponsor Charles Grassley
Citation 117-S-4240
Actions 16
Introduced May 18th, 2022
Cosponsors
4 3
Last Action Jan 5th, 2023
Policy Area
Introduced Senate May 18
Senate Passed Dec 21
House Passed Dec 22
President Presented Dec 28
Enacted Signed into Law Jan 5

Summary

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What this bill does

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Justice for Victims of War Crimes Act This act broadens the scope of individuals who are subject to federal prosecution for war crime offenses. Currently, the federal war crimes statute provides federal jurisdiction over war crime offenses committed anywhere (i.e., inside or outside the United States) if the victim or offender is a member of the Armed Forces or a U.S. national. First, this act extends federal jurisdiction over war crime offenses committed anywhere to offenses where (1) the victim or offender is an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence; or (2) the offender is present in the United States, regardless of the nationality of the victim or the offender. Second, the act expands federal jurisdiction over war crime offenses to include offenses that occur in whole or in part within the United States, regardless of whether the victim or offender is a member of the Armed Forces, a U.S. national, or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence. The act allows an indictment for certain war crime offenses to be instituted any time, making the statute of limitations inapplicable. To undertake a prosecution for war crime offenses, the act requires written certification that prosecution is in the public interest and is necessary to secure substantial justice. The certification is not subject to judicial review.

Actions

16
Senate House Executive
INTRODUCED
INTRODUCED
May 18, 2022
ON FLOOR
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE
COMMITTEE
COMMITTEE DISCHARGED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT
Dec 21, 2022
ON FLOOR
LAID BEFORE CHAMBER BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT
ON FLOOR
VOTE
PASSAGE
PASSED SENATE
MESSAGE SENATE SENT TO HOUSE
RECEIVED IN CHAMBER
RECEIVED IN CHAMBER
RECEIVED IN CHAMBER
HELD AT DESK
ON FLOOR
MOTION
SUSPEND RULES BILL
Dec 22, 2022
ON FLOOR
CONSIDERATION UNDER SUSPENSION OF RULES
ON FLOOR
DEBATE
ON FLOOR
VOTE
PASSAGE
PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS
VOTE
TABLE RECONSIDERATION
WITH PRESIDENT
PRESENTED TO PRESIDENT
Dec 28, 2022
ENACTED
SIGNED
Jan 5, 2023
ENACTED
LAW REGISTERED
Version
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Amendments

1
Amendment flow 1 merged from 1 voted amendments 1 terminal · 0 pending · 0 grouped below
1 passed 0 failed 0 ended
SAMDT 6590 Merged
Dec 21, 2022 Full page
In the nature of a substitute.
Sponsor Richard Durbin Democrat
Voted amendment Accepted into the bill text passed · amendment passage