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67 108
106 th Congress
Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session
106 939
VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING AND VIOLENCE PROTECTION ACT OF 200)
October 5, 2000.--Ordered to be printed
Mr. Smith of New Jersey, from the committee of conference, submitted the following
CONFERENCE REPORT
[To accompany H.R. 3244]
The committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the amendment of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 3244), an Act to
combat trafficking of persons, especially into the sex trade, slavery,
and slavery-like conditions, in the United States and countries around
the world through prevention, through prosecution and enforcement
against traffickers, and through protection and assistance to victims of
trafficking, having met, after full and free conference, have agreed to
recommend and do recommend to their respective Houses as follows:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the amendment of the
Senate and agree to the same with an amendment as follows:
In lieu of the matter proposed to be inserted by the Senate
amendment, insert the following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Victims of Trafficking and Violence
Protection Act of 2000''.
SEC. 2. ORGANIZATION OF ACT INTO DIVISIONS; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Divisions.--This Act is organized into three divisions, as
follows:
(1) Division a.--Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000.
(2) Division b.--Violence Against Women Act of 2000.
(3) Division c.--Miscellaneous Provisions.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Organization of Act into divisions; table of contents.
DIVISION A--TRAFFICKING VICTIMS PROTECTION ACT OF 2000
Sec. 101. Short title.
Sec. 102. Purposes and findings.
Sec. 103. Definitions.
Sec. 104. Annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.
Sec. 105. Interagency Task Force To Monitor and Combat Trafficking.
Sec. 106. Prevention of trafficking.
Sec. 107. Protection and assistance for victims of trafficking.
Sec. 108. Minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.
Sec. 109. Assistance to foreign countries to meet minimum standards.
Sec. 110. Actions against governments failing to meet minimum standards.
Sec. 111. Actions against significant traffickers in persons.
Sec. 112. Strengthening prosecution and punishment of traffickers.
Sec. 113. Authorizations of appropriations.
DIVISION B--VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT OF 2000
Sec. 1001. Short title.
Sec. 1002. Definitions.
Sec. 1003. Accountability and oversight.
TITLE I--STRENGTHENING LAW ENFORCEMENT TO REDUCE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
Sec. 1101. Full faith and credit enforcement of protection orders.
Sec. 1102. Role of courts.
Sec. 1103. Reauthorization of STOP grants.
Sec. 1104. Reauthorization of grants to encourage arrest policies.
Sec. 1105. Reauthorization of rural domestic violence and child
abuse enforcement grants.
Sec. 1106. National stalker and domestic violence reduction.
Sec. 1107. Amendments to domestic violence and stalking offenses.
Sec. 1108. School and campus security.
Sec. 1109. Dating violence.
TITLE II--STRENGTHENING SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE
Sec. 1201. Legal assistance for victims.
Sec. 1202. Shelter services for battered women and children.
Sec. 1203. Transitional housing assistance for victims of domestic
violence.
Sec. 1204. National domestic violence hotline.
Sec. 1205. Federal victims counselors.
Sec. 1206. Study of State laws regarding insurance discrimination
against victims of violence against women.
Sec. 1207. Study of workplace effects from violence against women.
Sec. 1208. Study of unemployment compensation for victims of
violence against women.
Sec. 1209. Enhancing protections for older and disabled women from
domestic violence and sexual assault.
TITLE III--LIMITING THE EFFECTS OF VIOLENCE ON CHILDREN
Sec. 1301. Safe havens for children pilot program.
Sec. 1302. Reauthorization of victims of child abuse programs.
Sec. 1303. Report on effects of parental kidnapping laws in
domestic violence cases.
TITLE IV--STRENGTHENING EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO COMBAT VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
Sec. 1401. Rape prevention and education.
Sec. 1402. Education and training to end violence against and
abuse of women with disabilities.
Sec. 1403. Community initiatives.
Sec. 1404. Development of research agenda identified by the
Violence Against Women Act of 1994.
Sec. 1405. Standards, practice, and training for sexual assault
forensic examinations.
Sec. 1406. Education and training for judges and court personnel.
Sec. 1407. Domestic Violence Task Force.
TITLE V--BATTERED IMMIGRANT WOMEN
Sec. 1501. Short title.
Sec. 1502. Findings and purposes.
Sec. 1503. Improved access to immigration protections of the
Violence Against Women Act of 1994 for battered immigrant women.
Sec. 1504. Improved access to cancellation of removal and
suspension of deportation under the Violence Against Women Act of 1994.
Sec. 1505. Offering equal access to immigration protections of the
Violence Against Women Act of 1994 for all qualified battered immigrant
self-petitioners.
Sec. 1506. Restoring immigration protections under the Violence
Against Women Act of 1994.
Sec. 1507. Remedying problems with implementation of the
immigration provisions of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994.
Sec. 1508. Technical correction to qualified alien definition for
battered immigrants.
Sec. 1509. Access to Cuban Adjustment Act for battered immigrant
spouses and children.
Sec. 1510. Access to the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central
American Relief Act for battered spouses and children.
Sec. 1511. Access to the Haitian Refugee Fairness Act of 1998 for
battered spouses and children.
Sec. 1512. Access to services and legal representation for
battered immigrants.
Sec. 1513. Protection for certain crime victims including victims
of crimes against women.
TITLE VI--MISCELLANEOUS
Sec. 1601. Notice requirements for sexually violent offenders.
Sec. 1602. Teen suicide prevention study.
Sec. 1603. Decade of pain control and research.
DIVISION C--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Sec. 2001. Aimee's law.
Sec. 2002. Payment of anti-terrorism judgments.
Sec. 2003. Aid to victims of terrorism.
Sec. 2004. Twenty-first century amendment.
DIVISION A--TRAFFICKING VICTIMS PROTECTION ACT OF 2000
SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.
This division may be cited as the ``Trafficking Victims Protection
Act of 2000''.
SEC. 102. PURPOSES AND FINDINGS.
(a) Purposes.--The purposes of this division are to combat
trafficking in persons, a contemporary manifestation of slavery whose
victims are predominantly women and children, to ensure just and
effective punishment of traffickers, and to protect their victims.
(b) Findings.--Congress finds that:
(1) As the 21st century begins, the degrading institution of slavery
continues throughout the world. Trafficking in persons is a modern form
of slavery, and it is the largest manifestation of slavery today. At
least 700,000 persons annually, primarily women and children, are
trafficked within or across international borders. Approximately 50,000
women and children are trafficked into the United States each year.
(2) Many of these persons are trafficked into the international sex
trade, often by force, fraud, or coercion. The sex industry has rapidly
expanded over the past several decades. It involves sexual exploitation
of persons, predominantly women and girls, involving activities related
to prostitution, pornography, sex tourism, and other commercial sexual
services. The low status of women in many parts of the world has
contributed to a burgeoning of the trafficking industry.
(3) Trafficking in persons is not limited to the sex industry. This
growing transnational crime also includes forced labor and involves
significant violations of labor, public health, and human rights
standards worldwide.
(4) Traffickers primarily target women and girls, who are
disproportionately affected by poverty, the lack of access to education,
chronic unemployment, discrimination, and the lack of economic
opportunities in countries of origin. Traffickers lure women and girls
into their networks through false promises of decent working conditions
at relatively good pay as nannies, maids, dancers, factory workers,
restaurant workers, sales clerks, or models. Traffickers also buy
children from poor families and sell them into prostitution or into
various types of forced or bonded labor.
(5) Traffickers often transport victims from their home communities
to unfamiliar destinations, including foreign countries away from family
and friends, religious institutions, and other sources of protection and
support, leaving the victims defenseless and vulnerable.
(6) Victims are often forced through physical violence to engage in
sex acts or perform slavery-like labor. Such force includes rape and
other forms of sexual abuse, torture, starvation, imprisonment, threats,
psychological abuse, and coercion.
(7) Traffickers often make representations to their victims that
physical harm may occur to them or others should the victim escape or
attempt to escape. Such representations can have the same coercive
effects on victims as direct threats to inflict such harm.
(8) Trafficking in persons is increasingly perpetrated by organized,
sophisticated criminal enterprises. Such trafficking is the fastest
growing source of profits for organized criminal enterprises worldwide.
Profits from the trafficking industry contribute to the expansion of
organized crime in the United States and worldwide. Trafficking in
persons is often aided by official corruption in countries of origin,
transit, and destination, thereby threatening the rule of law.
(9) Trafficking includes all the elements of the crime of forcible
rape when it involves the involuntary participation of another person in
sex acts by means of fraud, force, or coercion.
(10) Trafficking also involves violations of other laws, including
labor and immigration codes and laws against kidnapping, slavery, false
imprisonment, assault, battery, pandering, fraud, and extortion.
(11) Trafficking exposes victims to serious health risks. Women and
children trafficked in the sex industry are exposed to deadly diseases,
including HIV and AIDS. Trafficking victims are sometimes worked or
physically brutalized to death.
(12) Trafficking in persons substantially affects interstate and
foreign commerce. Trafficking for such purposes as involuntary
servitude, peonage, and other forms of forced labor has an impact on the
nationwide employment network and labor market. Within the context of
slavery, servitude, and labor or services which are obtained or
maintained through coercive conduct that amounts to a condition of
servitude, victims are subjected to a range of violations.
(13) Involuntary servitude statutes are intended to reach cases in
which persons are held in a condition of servitude through nonviolent
coercion. In United States v. Kozminski, 487 U.S. 931 (1988), the
Supreme Court found that section 1584 of title 18, United States Code,
should be narrowly interpreted, absent a definition of involuntary
servitude by Congress. As a result, that section was interpreted to
criminalize only servitude that is brought about through use or
threatened use of physical or legal coercion, and to exclude other
conduct that can have the same purpose and effect.
(14) Existing legislation and law enforcement in the United States
and other countries are inadequate to deter trafficking and bring
traffickers to justice, failing to reflect the gravity of the offenses
involved. No comprehensive law exists in the United States that
penalizes the range of offenses involved in the trafficking scheme.
Instead, even the most brutal instances of trafficking in the sex
industry are often punished under laws that also apply to lesser
offenses, so that traffickers typically escape deserved punishment.
(15) In the United States, the seriousness of this crime and its
components is not reflected in current sentencing guidelines, resulting
in weak penalties for convicted traffickers.
(16) In some countries, enforcement against traffickers is also
hindered by official indifference, by corruption, and sometimes even by
official participation in trafficking.
(17) Existing laws often fail to protect victims of trafficking, and
because victims are often illegal immigrants in the destination country,
they are repeatedly punished more harshly than the traffickers
themselves.
(18) Additionally, adequate services and facilities do not exist to
meet victims' needs regarding health care, housing, education, and legal
assistance, which safely reintegrate trafficking victims into their home
countries.
(19) Victims of severe forms of trafficking should not be
inappropriately incarcerated, fined, or otherwise penalized solely for
unlawful acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked, such as
using false documents, entering the country without documentation, or
working without documentation.
(20) Because victims of trafficking are frequently unfamiliar with
the laws, cultures, and languages of the countries into which they have
been trafficked, because they are often subjected to coercion and
intimidation including physical detention and debt bondage, and because
they often fear retribution and forcible removal to countries in which
they will face retribution or other hardship, these victims often find
it difficult or impossible to report the crimes committed against them
or to assist in the investigation and prosecution of such crimes.
(21) Trafficking of persons is an evil requiring concerted and
vigorous action by countries of origin, transit or destination, and by
international organizations.
(22) One of the founding documents of the United States, the
Declaration of Independence, recognizes the inherent dignity and worth
of all people. It states that all men are created equal and that they
are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights. The right
to be free from slavery and involuntary servitude is among those
unalienable rights. Acknowledging this fact, the United States outlawed
slavery and involuntary servitude in 1865, recognizing them as evil
institutions that must be abolished. Current practices of sexual slavery
and trafficking of women and children are similarly abhorrent to the
principles upon which the United States was founded.
(23) The United States and the international community agree that
trafficking in persons involves grave violations of human rights and is
a matter of pressing international concern. The international community
has repeatedly condemned slavery and involuntary servitude, violence
against women, and other elements of trafficking, through declarations,
treaties, and United Nations resolutions and reports, including the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights; the 1956 Supplementary Convention
on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade, and Institutions and
Practices Similar to Slavery; the 1948 American Declaration on the
Rights and Duties of Man; the 1957 Abolition of Forced Labor Convention;
the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; the Convention
Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment; United Nations General Assembly Resolutions 50/167, 51/66,
and 52/98; the Final Report of the World Congress against Sexual
Exploitation of Children (Stockholm, 1996); the Fourth World Conference
on Women (Beijing, 1995); and the 1991 Moscow Document of the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
(24) Trafficking in persons is a transnational crime with national
implications. To deter international trafficking and bring its
perpetrators to justice, nations including the United States must
recognize that trafficking is a serious offense. This is done by
prescribing appropriate punishment, giving priority to the prosecution
of trafficking offenses, and protecting rather than punishing the
victims of such offenses. The United States must work bilaterally and
multilaterally to abolish the trafficking industry by taking steps to
promote cooperation among countries linked together by international
trafficking routes. The United States must also urge the international
community to take strong action in multilateral fora to engage
recalcitrant countries in serious and sustained efforts to eliminate
trafficking and protect trafficking victims.
SEC. 103. DEFINITIONS.
In this division:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term ``appropriate
congressional committees'' means the Committee on Foreign Relations and
the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on
International Relations and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House
of Representatives.
(2) Coercion.--The term ``coercion'' means--
(A) threats of serious harm to or physical restraint against any
person;
(B) any scheme, plan, or pattern intended to cause a person to
believe that failure to perform an act would result in serious harm to
or physical restraint against any person; or
(C) the abuse or threatened abuse of the legal process.
(3) Commercial sex act.--The term ``commercial sex act'' means any
sex act on account of which anything of value is given to or received by
any person.
(4) Debt bondage.--The term ``debt bondage'' means the status or
condition of a debtor arising from a pledge by the debtor of his or her
personal services or of those of a person under his or her control as a
security for debt, if the value of those services as reasonably assessed
is not applied toward the liquidation of the debt or the length and
nature of those services are not respectively limited and defined.
(5) Involuntary servitude.--The term ``involuntary servitude''
includes a condition of servitude induced by means of--
(A) any scheme, plan, or pattern intended to cause a person to
believe that, if the person did not enter into or continue in such
condition, that person or another person would suffer serious harm or
physical restraint, or
(B) the abuse or threatened abuse of the legal process.
(6) Minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.--The term
``minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking'' means the
standards set forth in section 108.
(7) Nonhumanitarian, nontrade-related foreign assistance.--The term
``nonhumanitarian, nontrade-related foreign assistance'' means--
(A) any assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, other
than--
(i) assistance under chapter 4 of part II of that Act that is made
available for any program, project, or activity eligible for assistance
under chapter 1 of part I of that Act;
(ii) assistance under chapter 8 of part I of that Act;
(iii) any other narcotics-related assistance under part I of that
Act or under chapter 4 or 5 part II of that Act, but any such assistance
provided under this clause shall be subject to the prior notification
procedures applicable to reprogrammings pursuant to section 634A of that
Act;
(iv) disaster relief assistance, including any assistance under
chapter 9 of part I of that Act;
(v) antiterrorism assistance under chapter 8 of part II of that Act;
(vi) assistance for refugees;
(vii) humanitarian and other development assistance in support of
programs of nongovernmental organizations under chapters 1 and 10 of
that Act;
(viii) programs under title IV of chapter 2 of part I of that Act,
relating to the Overseas Private Investment Corporation; and
(ix) other programs involving trade-related or humanitarian
assistance; and
(B) sales, or financing on any terms, under the Arms Export Control
Act, other than sales or financing provided for narcotics-related
purposes following notification in accordance with the prior
notification procedures applicable to reprogrammings pursuant to section
634A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.
(8) Severe forms of trafficking in persons.--The term ``severe forms
of trafficking in persons'' means--
(A) sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by
force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform
such act has not attained 18 years of age; or
(B) the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or
obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force,
fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary
servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.
(9) Sex trafficking.--The term ``sex trafficking'' means the
recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a
person for the purpose of a commercial sex act.
(10) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several States of
the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and territories and
possessions of the United States.
(11) Task force.--The term ``Task Force'' means the Interagency Task
Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking established under section 105.
(12) United states.--The term ``United States'' means the fifty
States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the territories and
possessions of the United States.
(13) Victim of a severe form of trafficking.--The term ``victim of a
severe form of trafficking'' means a person subject to an act or
practice described in paragraph (8).
(14) Victim of trafficking.--The term ``victim of trafficking''
means a person subjected to an act or practice described in paragraph
(8) or (9).
SEC. 104. ANNUAL COUNTRY REPORTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES.
(a) Countries Receiving Economic Assistance.--Section 116(f) of the
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151(f)) is amended to read as
follows:
``(f)(1) The report required by subsection (d) shall include the
following:
``(A) A description of the nature and extent of severe forms of
trafficking in persons, as defined in section 103 of the Trafficking
Victims Protection Act of 2000, in each foreign country.
``(B) With respect to each country that is a country of origin,
transit, or destination for victims of severe forms of trafficking in
persons, an assessment of the efforts by the government of that country
to combat such trafficking. The assessment shall address the following:
``(i) Whether government authorities in that country participate in,
facilitate, or condone such trafficking.
``(ii) Which government authorities in that country are involved in
activities to combat such trafficking.
``(iii) What steps the government of that country has taken to
prohibit government officials from participating in, facilitating, or
condoning such trafficking, including the investigation,
prosecution, and conviction of such officials.
``(iv) What steps the government of that country has taken to
prohibit other individuals from participating in such trafficking,
including the investigation, prosecution, and conviction of individuals
involved in severe forms of trafficking in persons, the criminal and
civil penalties for such trafficking, and the efficacy of those
penalties in eliminating or reducing such trafficking.
``(v) What steps the government of that country has taken to assist
victims of such trafficking, including efforts to prevent victims from
being further victimized by traffickers, government officials, or
others, grants of relief from deportation, and provision of humanitarian
relief, including provision of mental and physical health care and
shelter.
``(vi) Whether the government of that country is cooperating with
governments of other countries to extradite traffickers when requested,
or, to the extent that such cooperation would be inconsistent with the
laws of such country or with extradition treaties to which such country
is a party, whether the government of that country is taking all
appropriate measures to modify or replace such laws and treaties so as
to permit such cooperation.
``(vii) Whether the government of that country is assisting in
international investigations of transnational trafficking networks and
in other cooperative efforts to combat severe forms of trafficking in
persons.
``(viii) Whether the government of that country refrains from
prosecuting victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons due to
such victims having been trafficked, and refrains from other
discriminatory treatment of such victims.
``(ix) Whether the government of that country recognizes the rights
of victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons and ensures their
access to justice.
``(C) Such other information relating to trafficking in persons as
the Secretary of State considers appropriate.
``(2) In compiling data and making assessments for the purposes of
paragraph (1), United States diplomatic mission personnel shall consult
with human rights organizations and other appropriate nongovernmental
organizations.''.
(b) Countries Receiving Security Assistance.--Section 502B of the
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2304) is amended by adding at
the end the following new subsection:
``(h)(1) The report required by subsection (b) shall include the
following:
``(A) A description of the nature and extent of severe forms of
trafficking in persons, as defined in section 103 of the Trafficking
Victims Protection Act of 2000, in each foreign country.
``(B) With respect to each country that is a country of origin,
transit, or destination for victims of severe forms of trafficking in
persons, an assessment of the efforts by the government of that country
to combat such trafficking. The assessment shall address the following:
``(i) Whether government authorities in that country participate in,
facilitate, or condone such trafficking.
``(ii) Which government authorities in that country are involved in
activities to combat such trafficking.
``(iii) What steps the government of that country has taken to
prohibit government officials from participating in, facilitating, or
condoning such trafficking, including the investigation, prosecution,
and conviction of such officials.
``(iv) What steps the government of that country has taken to
prohibit other individuals from participating in such trafficking,
including the investigation, prosecution, and conviction of individuals
involved in severe forms of trafficking in persons, the criminal and
civil penalties for such trafficking, and the efficacy of those
penalties in eliminating or reducing such trafficking.
``(v) What steps the government of that country has taken to assist
victims of such trafficking, including efforts to prevent victims from
being further victimized by traffickers, government officials, or
others, grants of relief from deportation, and provision of humanitarian
relief, including provision of mental and physical health care and
shelter.
``(vi) Whether the government of that country is cooperating with
governments of other countries to extradite traffickers when requested,
or, to the extent that such cooperation would be inconsistent with the
laws of such country or with extradition treaties to which such country
is a party, whether the government of that country is taking all
appropriate measures to modify or replace such laws and treaties so as
to permit such cooperation.
``(vii) Whether the government of that country is assisting in
international investigations of transnational trafficking networks and
in other cooperative efforts to combat severe forms of trafficking in
persons.
``(viii) Whether the government of that country refrains from
prosecuting victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons due to
such victims having been trafficked, and refrains from other
discriminatory treatment of such victims.
``(ix) Whether the government of that country recognizes the rights
of victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons and ensures their
access to justice.
``(C) Such other information relating to trafficking in persons as
the Secretary of State considers appropriate.
``(2) In compiling data and making assessments for the purposes of
paragraph (1), United States diplomatic mission personnel shall consult
with human rights organizations and other appropriate nongovernmental
organizations.''.
SEC. 105. INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE TO MONITOR AND COMBAT TRAFFICKING.
(a) Establishment.--The President shall establish an Interagency Task
Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking.
(b) Appointment.--The President shall appoint the members of the Task
Force, which shall include the Secretary of State, the Administrator of
the United States Agency for International Development, the Attorney
General, the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Health and Human
Services, the Director of Central Intelligence, and such other officials
as may be designated by the President.
(c) Chairman.--The Task Force shall be chaired by the Secretary of
State.
(d) Activities of the Task Force.--The Task Force shall carry out the
following activities:
(1) Coordinate the implementation of this division.
(2) Measure and evaluate progress of the United States and other
countries in the areas of trafficking prevention, protection, and
assistance to victims of trafficking, and prosecution and enforcement
against traffickers, including the role of public corruption in
facilitating trafficking. The Task Force shall have primary
responsibility for assisting the Secretary of State in the preparation
of the reports described in section 110.
(3) Expand interagency procedures to collect and organize data,
including significant research and resource information on domestic and
international trafficking. Any data collection procedures established
under this subsection shall respect the confidentiality of victims of
trafficking.
(4) Engage in efforts to facilitate cooperation among countries of
origin, transit, and destination. Such efforts shall aim to strengthen
local and regional capacities to prevent trafficking, prosecute
traffickers and assist trafficking victims, and shall include
initiatives to enhance cooperative efforts between destination countries
and countries of origin and assist in the appropriate reintegration of
stateless victims of trafficking.
(5) Examine the role of the international ``sex tourism'' industry
in the trafficking of persons and in the sexual exploitation of women
and children around the world.
(6) Engage in consultation and advocacy with governmental and
nongovernmental organizations, among other entities, to advance the
purposes of this division.
(e) Support for the Task Force.--The Secretary of State is authorized
to establish within the Department of State an Office to Monitor and
Combat Trafficking, which shall provide assistance to the Task Force.
Any such Office shall be headed by a Director. The Director shall have
the primary responsibility for assisting the Secretary of State in
carrying out the purposes of this division and may have additional
responsibilities as determined by the Secretary. The Director shall
consult with nongovernmental organizations and multilateral
organizations, and with trafficking victims or other affected persons.
The Director shall have the authority to take evidence in public
hearings or by other means. The agencies represented on the Task Force
are authorized to provide staff to the Office on a nonreimbursable
basis.
SEC. 106. PREVENTION OF TRAFFICKING.
(a) Economic Alternatives To Prevent and Deter Trafficking.--The
President shall establish and carry out international initiatives to
enhance economic opportunity for potential victims of trafficking as a
method to deter trafficking. Such initiatives may include--
(1) microcredit lending programs, training in business development,
skills training, and job counseling;
(2) programs to promote women's participation in economic
decisionmaking;
(3) programs to keep children, especially girls, in elementary and
secondary schools, and to educate persons who have been victims of
trafficking;
(4) development of educational curricula regarding the dangers of
trafficking; and
(5) grants to nongovernmental organizations to accelerate and
advance the political, economic, social, and educational roles and
capacities of women in their countries.
(b) Public Awareness and Information.--The President, acting through
the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the
Attorney General, and the Secretary of State, shall establish and carry
out programs to increase public awareness, particularly among potential
victims of trafficking, of the dangers of trafficking and the
protections that are available for victims of trafficking.
(c) Consultation Requirement.--The President shall consult with
appropriate nongovernmental organizations with respect to the
establishment and conduct of initiatives described in subsections (a)
and (b).
SEC. 107. PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE FOR VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING.
(a) Assistance for Victims in Other Countries.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of State and the Administrator of the
United States Agency for International Development, in consultation with
appropriate nongovernmental organizations, shall establish and carry out
programs and initiatives in foreign countries to assist in the safe
integration, reintegration, or resettlement, as appropriate, of victims
of trafficking. Such programs and initiatives shall be designed to meet
the appropriate assistance needs of such persons and their children, as
identified by the Task Force.
(2) Additional requirement.--In establishing and conducting programs
and initiatives described in paragraph (1), the Secretary of State and
the Administrator of the United States Agency for International
Development shall take all appropriate steps to enhance cooperative
efforts among foreign countries, including countries of origin of
victims of trafficking, to assist in the integration, reintegration, or
resettlement, as appropriate, of victims of trafficking, including
stateless victims.
(b) Victims in the United States.--
(1) Assistance.--
(A) Eligibility for benefits and services.--Notwithstanding title IV
of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act
of 1996, an alien who is a victim of a severe form of trafficking in
persons shall be eligible for benefits and services under any Federal or
State program or activity funded or administered by any official or
agency described in subparagraph (B) to the same extent as an alien who
is admitted to the United States as a refugee under section 207 of the
Immigration and Nationality Act.
(B) Requirement to expand benefits and services.--Subject to
subparagraph (C) and, in the case of nonentitlement programs, to the
availability of appropriations, the Secretary of Health and Human
Services, the Secretary of Labor, the Board of Directors of the Legal
Services Corporation, and the heads of other Federal agencies shall
expand benefits and services to victims of severe forms of trafficking
in persons in the United States, without regard to the immigration
status of such victims.
(C) Definition of victim of a severe form of trafficking in
persons.--For the purposes of this paragraph, the term ``victim of a
severe form of trafficking in persons'' means only a person--
(i) who has been subjected to an act or practice described in
section 103(8) as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act;
and
(ii)(I) who has not attained 18 years of age; or
(II) who is the subject of a certification under subparagraph (E).
(D) Annual report.--Not later than December 31 of each year, the
Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the
Secretary of Labor, the Board of Directors of the Legal Services
Corporation, and the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies shall
submit a report, which includes information on the number of persons who
received benefits or other services under this paragraph in connection
with programs or activities funded or administered by such agencies or
officials during the preceding fiscal year, to the Committee on Ways and
Means, the Committee on International Relations, and the Committee on
the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Finance, the Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Committee on the
Judiciary of the Senate.
(E) Certification.--
(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii), the certification referred
to in subparagraph (C) is a certification by the Secretary of Health and
Human Services, after consultation with the Attorney General, that the
person referred to in subparagraph (C)(ii)(II)--
(I) is willing to assist in every reasonable way in the
investigation and prosecution of severe forms of trafficking in persons;
and
(II)(aa) has made a bona fide application for a visa under section
101(a)(15)(T) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as added by
subsection (e), that has not been denied; or
(bb) is a person whose continued presence in the United States the
Attorney General is ensuring in order to effectuate prosecution of
traffickers in persons.
(ii) Period of effectiveness.--A certification referred to in
subparagraph (C), with respect to a person described in clause
(i)(II)(bb), shall be effective only for so long as the Attorney General
determines that the continued presence of such person is necessary to
effectuate prosecution of traffickers in persons.
(iii) Investigation and prosecution defined.--For the purpose of a
certification under this subparagraph, the term ``investigation and
prosecution'' includes--
(I) identification of a person or persons who have committed severe
forms of trafficking in persons;
(II) location and apprehension of such persons; and
(III) testimony at proceedings against such persons.
(2) Grants.--
(A) In general.--Subject to the availability of appropriations, the
Attorney General may make grants to States, Indian tribes, units of
local government, and nonprofit, nongovernmental victims' service
organizations to develop, expand, or strengthen victim service programs
for victims of trafficking.
(B) Allocation of grant funds.--Of amounts made available for grants
under this paragraph, there shall be set aside--
(i) three percent for research, evaluation, and statistics;
(ii) two percent for training and technical assistance; and
(iii) one percent for management and administration.
(C) Limitation on federal share.--The Federal share of a grant made
under this paragraph may not exceed 75 percent of the total costs of the
projects described in the application submitted.
(c) Trafficking Victim Regulations.--Not later than 180 days after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General and the
Secretary of State shall promulgate regulations for law enforcement
personnel, immigration officials, and Department of State officials to
implement the following:
(1) Protections while in custody.--Victims of severe forms of
trafficking, while in the custody of the Federal Government and to the
extent practicable, shall--
(A) not be detained in facilities inappropriate to their status as
crime victims;
(B) receive necessary medical care and other assistance; and
(C) be provided protection if a victim's safety is at risk or if
there is danger of additional harm by recapture of the victim by a
trafficker, including--
(i) taking measures to protect trafficked persons and their family
members from intimidation and threats of reprisals and reprisals from
traffickers and their associates; and
(ii) ensuring that the names and identifying information of
trafficked persons and their family members are not disclosed to the
public.
(2) Access to information.--Victims of severe forms of trafficking
shall have access to information about their rights and translation
services.
(3) Authority to permit continued presence in the united
states.--Federal law enforcement officials may permit an alien
individual's continued presence in the United States, if after an
assessment, it is determined that such individual is a victim of a
severe form of trafficking and a potential witness to such trafficking,
in order to effectuate prosecution of those responsible, and such
officials in investigating and prosecuting traffickers shall protect the
safety of trafficking victims, including taking measures to protect
trafficked persons and their family members from intimidation, threats
of reprisals, and reprisals from traffickers and their associates.
(4) Training of government personnel.--Appropriate personnel of the
Department of State and the Department of Justice shall be trained in
identifying victims of severe forms of trafficking and providing for the
protection of such victims.
(d) Construction.--Nothing in subsection (c) shall be construed as
creating any private cause of action against the United States or its
officers or employees.
(e) Protection From Removal for Certain Crime Victims.--
(1) In general.--Section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)) is amended--
(A) by striking ``or'' at the end of subparagraph (R);
(B) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (S) and
inserting ``; or''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(T)(i) subject to section 214(n), an alien who the Attorney
General determines--
``(I) is or has been a victim of a severe form of trafficking in
persons, as defined in section 103 of the Trafficking Victims Protection
Act of 2000,
``(II) is physically present in the United States, American Samoa,
or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or at a port of
entry thereto, on account of such trafficking,
``(III)(aa) has complied with any reasonable request for assistance
in the investigation or prosecution of acts of trafficking, or
``(bb) has not attained 15 years of age, and
``(IV) the alien would suffer extreme hardship involving unusual and
severe harm upon removal; and
``(ii) if the Attorney General considers it necessary to avoid
extreme hardship--
``(I) in the case of an alien described in clause (i) who is under
21 years of age, the spouse, children, and parents of such alien; and
``(II) in the case of an alien described in clause (i) who is 21
years of age or older, the spouse and children of such alien,
if accompanying, or following to join, the alien described in clause
(i).''.
(2) Conditions of nonimmigrant status.--Section 214 of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184) is amended--
(A) by redesignating the subsection (l) added by section 625(a) of
the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996
(Public Law 104 208; 110 Stat. 3009 1820) as subsection (m); and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(n)(1) No alien shall be eligible for admission to the United
States under section 101(a)(15)(T) if there is substantial reason to
believe that the alien has committed an act of a severe form of
trafficking in persons (as defined in section 103 of the Trafficking
Victims Protection Act of 2000).
``(2) The total number of aliens who may be issued visas or otherwise
provided nonimmigrant status during any fiscal year under section
101(a)(15)(T) may not exceed 5,000.
``(3) The numerical limitation of paragraph (2) shall only apply to
principal aliens and not to the spouses, sons, daughters, or parents of
such aliens.''.
(3) Waiver of grounds for ineligibility for admission.--Section
212(d) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(d)) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(13)(A) The Attorney General shall determine whether a ground for
inadmissibility exists with respect to a nonimmigrant described in
section 101(a)(15)(T).
``(B) In addition to any other waiver that may be available under
this section, in the case of a nonimmigrant described in section
101(a)(15)(T), if the Attorney General considers it to be in the
national interest to do so, the Attorney General, in the Attorney
General's discretion, may waive the application of--
``(i) paragraphs (1) and (4) of subsection (a); and
``(ii) any other provision of such subsection (excluding paragraphs
(3), (10)(C), and (10(E)) if the activities rendering the alien
inadmissible under the provision were caused by, or were incident to,
the victimization described in section 101(a)(15)(T)(i)(I).''.
(4) Duties of the attorney general with respect to ``t'' visa
nonimmigrants.--Section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1101) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
``(i) With respect to each nonimmigrant alien described in subsection
(a)(15)(T)(i)--
``(1) the Attorney General and other Government officials, where
appropriate, shall provide the alien with a referral to a
nongovernmental organization that would advise the alien regarding the
alien's options while in the United States and the resources available
to the alien; and
``(2) the Attorney General shall, during the period the alien is in
lawful temporary resident status under that subsection, grant the alien
authorization to engage in employment in the United States and provide
the alien with an `employment authorized' endorsement or other
appropriate work permit.''.
(5) Statutory construction.--Nothing in this section, or in the
amendments made by this section, shall be construed as prohibiting the
Attorney General from instituting removal proceedings under section 240
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1229a) against an alien
admitted as a nonimmigrant under section 101(a)(15)(T)(i) of that Act,
as added by subsection (e), for conduct committed after the alien's
admission into the United States, or for conduct or a condition that was
not disclosed to the Attorney General prior to the alien's admission as
a nonimmigrant under such section 101(a)(15)(T)(i).
(f) Adjustment to Permanent Resident Status.--Section 245 of such Act
(8 U.S.C 1255) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
``(l)(1) If, in the opinion of the Attorney General, a nonimmigrant
admitted into the United States under section 101(a)(15)(T)(i)--
``(A) has been physically present in the United States for a
continuous period of at least 3 years since the date of admission as a
nonimmigrant under section 101(a)(15)(T)(i),
``(B) has, throughout such period, been a person of good moral
character, and
``(C)(i) has, during such period, complied with any reasonable
request for assistance in the investigation or prosecution of acts of
trafficking, or
``(ii) the alien would suffer extreme hardship involving unusual and
severe harm upon removal from the United States,
the Attorney General may adjust the status of the alien (and any
person admitted under that section as the spouse, parent, or child of
the alien) to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent
residence.
``(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to an alien admitted under
section 101(a)(15)(T) who is inadmissible to the United States by reason
of a ground that has not been waived under section 212, except that, if
the Attorney General considers it to be in the national interest to do
so, the Attorney General, in the Attorney General's discretion, may
waive the application of--
``(A) paragraphs (1) and (4) of section 212(a); and
``(B) any other provision of such section (excluding paragraphs (3),
(10)(C), and (10(E)), if the activities rendering the alien inadmissible
under the provision were caused by, or were incident to, the
victimization described in section 101(a)(15)(T)(i)(I).
``(2) An alien shall be considered to have failed to maintain
continuous physical presence in the United States under paragraph (1)(A)
if the alien has departed from the United States for any period in
excess of 90 days or for any periods in the aggregate exceeding 180
days.
``(3)(A) The total number of aliens whose status may be adjusted
under paragraph (1) during any fiscal year may not exceed 5,000.
``(B) The numerical limitation of subparagraph (A) shall only apply
to principal aliens and not to the spouses, sons, daughters, or parents
of such aliens.
``(4) Upon the approval of adjustment of status under paragraph (1),
the Attorney General shall record the alien's lawful admission for
permanent residence as of the date of such approval.''.
(g) Annual Reports.--On or before October 31 of each year, the
Attorney General shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional
committees setting forth, with respect to the preceding fiscal year, the
number, if any, of otherwise eligible applicants who did not receive
visas under section 101(a)(15)(T) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act, as added by subsection (e), or who were unable to adjust their
status under section 245(l) of such Act, solely on account of the
unavailability of visas due to a limitation imposed by section 214(n)(1)
or 245(l)(4)(A) of such Act.
SEC. 108. MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR THE ELIMINATION OF TRAFFICKING.
(a) Minimum Standards.--For purposes of this division, the minimum
standards for the elimination of trafficking applicable to the
government of a country of origin, transit, or destination for a
significant number of victims of severe forms of trafficking are the
following:
(1) The government of the country should prohibit severe forms of
trafficking in persons and punish acts of such trafficking.
(2) For the knowing commission of any act of sex trafficking
involving force, fraud, coercion, or in which the victim of sex
trafficking is a child incapable of giving meaningful consent, or of
trafficking which includes rape or kidnapping or which causes a death,
the government of the country should prescribe punishment commensurate
with that for grave crimes, such as forcible sexual assault.
(3) For the knowing commission of any act of a severe form of
trafficking in persons, the government of the country should prescribe
punishment that is sufficiently stringent to deter and that adequately
reflects the heinous nature of the offense.
(4) The government of the country should make serious and sustained
efforts to eliminate severe forms of trafficking in persons.
(b) Criteria.--In determinations under subsection (a)(4), the
following factors should be considered as indicia of serious and
sustained efforts to eliminate severe forms of trafficking in persons:
(1) Whether the government of the country vigorously investigates
and prosecutes acts of severe forms of trafficking in persons that take
place wholly or partly within the territory of the country.
(2) Whether the government of the country protects victims of severe
forms of trafficking in persons and encourages their assistance in the
investigation and prosecution of such trafficking, including provisions
for legal alternatives to their removal to countries in which they would
face retribution or hardship, and ensures that victims are not
inappropriately incarcerated, fined, or otherwise penalized solely for
unlawful acts as a direct result of being trafficked.
(3) Whether the government of the country has adopted measures to
prevent severe forms of trafficking in persons, such as measures to
inform and educate the public, including potential victims, about the
causes and consequences of severe forms of trafficking in persons.
(4) Whether the government of the country cooperates with other
governments in the investigation and prosecution of severe forms of
trafficking in persons.
(5) Whether the government of the country extradites persons charged
with acts of severe forms of trafficking in persons on substantially the
same terms and to substantially the same extent as persons charged with
other serious crimes (or, to the extent such extradition would be
inconsistent with the laws of such country or with international
agreements to which the country is a party, whether the government is
taking all appropriate measures to modify or replace such laws and
treaties so as to permit such extradition).
(6) Whether the government of the country monitors immigration and
emigration patterns for evidence of severe forms of trafficking in
persons and whether law enforcement agencies of the country respond to
any such evidence in a manner that is consistent with the vigorous
investigation and prosecution of acts of such trafficking, as well as
with the protection of human rights of victims and the internationally
recognized human right to leave any country, including one's own, and to
return to one's own country.
(7) Whether the government of the country vigorously investigates
and prosecutes public officials who participate in or facilitate severe
forms of trafficking in persons, and takes all appropriate measures
against officials who condone such trafficking.
SEC. 109. ASSISTANCE TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES TO MEET MINIMUM STANDARDS.
Chapter 1 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C.
2151 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``SEC. 134. ASSISTANCE TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES TO MEET MINIMUM
STANDARDS FOR THE ELIMINATION OF TRAFFICKING.
``(a) Authorization.--The President is authorized to provide
assistance to foreign countries directly, or through nongovernmental and
multilateral organizations, for programs, projects, and activities
designed to meet the minimum standards for the elimination of
trafficking (as defined in section 103 of the Trafficking Victims
Protection Act of 2000), including--
``(1) the drafting of laws to prohibit and punish acts of trafficking;
``(2) the investigation and prosecution of traffickers;
``(3) the creation and maintenance of facilities, programs,
projects, and activities for the protection of victims; and
``(4) the expansion of exchange programs and international visitor
programs for governmental and nongovernmental personnel to combat
trafficking.
``(b) Funding.--Amounts made available to carry out the other
provisions of this part (including chapter 4 of part II of this Act) and
the Support for East European Democracy (SEED) Act of 1989 shall be made
available to carry out this section.''.
SEC. 110. ACTIONS AGAINST GOVERNMENTS FAILING TO MEET MINIMUM STANDARDS.
(a) Statement of Policy.--It is the policy of the United States not
to provide nonhumanitarian, nontrade-related foreign assistance to any
government that--
(1) does not comply with minimum standards for the elimination of
trafficking; and
(2) is not making significant efforts to bring itself into
compliance with such standards.
(b) Reports to Congress.--
(1) Annual report.--Not later than June 1 of each year, the
Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional
committees a report with respect to the status of severe forms of
trafficking in persons that shall include--
(A) a list of those countries, if any, to which the minimum
standards for the elimination of trafficking are applicable and whose
governments fully comply with such standards;
(B) a list of those countries, if any, to which the minimum
standards for the elimination of trafficking are applicable and whose
governments do not yet fully comply with such standards but are making
significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance; and
(C) a list of those countries, if any, to which the minimum
standards for the elimination of trafficking are applicable and whose
governments do not fully comply with such standards and are not making
significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance.
(2) Interim reports.--In addition to the annual report under
paragraph (1), the Secretary of State may submit to the appropriate
congressional committees at any time one or more interim reports with
respect to the status of severe forms of trafficking in persons,
including information about countries whose governments--
(A) have come into or out of compliance with the minimum standards
for the elimination of trafficking; or
(B) have begun or ceased to make significant efforts to bring
themselves into compliance,
since the transmission of the last annual report.
(3) Significant efforts.--In determinations under paragraph (1) or
(2) as to whether the government of a country is making significant
efforts to bring itself into compliance with the minimum standards for
the elimination of trafficking, the Secretary of State shall consider--
(A) the extent to which the country is a country of origin, transit,
or destination for severe forms of trafficking;
(B) the extent of noncompliance with the minimum standards by the
government and, particularly, the extent to which officials or employees
of the government have participated in, facilitated, condoned, or are
otherwise complicit in severe forms of trafficking; and
(C) what measures are reasonable to bring the government into
compliance with the minimum standards in light of the resources and
capabilities of the government.
(c) Notification.--Not less than 45 days or more than 90 days after
the submission, on or after January 1, 2003, of an annual report under
subsection (b)(1), or an interim report under subsection (b)(2), the
President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a
notification of one of the determinations listed in subsection (d) with
respect to each foreign country whose government, according to such
report--
(A) does not comply with the minimum standards for the elimination
of trafficking; and
(B) is not making significant efforts to bring itself into
compliance, as described in subsection (b)(1)(C).
(d) Presidential Determinations.--The determinations referred to in
subsection (c) are the following:
(1) Withholding of nonhumanitarian, nontrade-related
assistance.--The President has determined that--
(A)(i) the United States will not provide nonhumanitarian,
nontrade-related foreign assistance to the government of the country for
the subsequent fiscal year until such government complies with the
minimum standards or makes significant efforts to bring itself into
compliance; or
(ii) in the case of a country whose government received no
nonhumanitarian, nontrade-related foreign assistance from the United
States during the previous fiscal year, the United States will not
provide funding for participation by officials or employees of such
governments in educational and cultural exchange programs for the
subsequent fiscal year until such government complies with the minimum
standards or makes significant efforts to bring itself into compliance;
and
(B) the President will instruct the United States Executive Director
of each multilateral development bank and of the International Monetary
Fund to vote against, and to use the Executive Director's best efforts
to deny, any loan or other utilization of the funds of the respective
institution to that country (other than for humanitarian assistance, for
trade-related assistance, or for development assistance which directly
addresses basic human needs, is not administered by the government of
the sanctioned country, and confers no benefit to that government) for
the subsequent fiscal year until such government complies with the
minimum standards or makes significant efforts to bring itself into
compliance.
(2) Ongoing, multiple, broad-based restrictions on assistance in
response to human rights violations.--The President has determined that
such country is already subject to multiple, broad-based restrictions on
assistance imposed in significant part in response to human rights
abuses and such restrictions are ongoing and are comparable to the
restrictions provided in paragraph (1). Such determination shall be
accompanied by a description of the specific restriction or restrictions
that were the basis for making such determination.
(3) Subsequent compliance.--The Secretary of State has determined
that the government of the country has come into compliance with the
minimum standards or is making significant efforts to bring itself into
compliance.
(4) Continuation of assistance in the national
interest.--Notwithstanding the failure of the government of the country
to comply with minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and
to make significant efforts to bring itself into compliance, the
President has determined that the provision to the country of
nonhumanitarian, nontrade-related foreign assistance, or the
multilateral assistance described in paragraph (1)(B), or both, would
promote the purposes of this division or is otherwise in the national
interest of the United States.
(5) Exercise of waiver authority.--
(A) In general.--The President may exercise the authority under
paragraph (4) with respect to--
(i) all nonhumanitarian, nontrade-related foreign assistance to a
country;
(ii) all multilateral assistance described in paragraph (1)(B) to a
country; or
(iii) one or more programs, projects, or activities of such
assistance.
(B) Avoidance of significant adverse effects.--The President shall
exercise the authority under paragraph (4) when necessary to avoid
significant adverse effects on vulnerable populations, including women
and children.
(6) Definition of multilateral development bank.--In this
subsection, the term ``multilateral development bank'' refers to any of
the following institutions: the International Bank for Reconstruction
and Development, the International Development Association, the
International Finance Corporation, the Inter-American Development Bank,
the Asian Development Bank, the Inter-American Investment Corporation,
the African Development Bank, the African Development Fund, the European
Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the Multilateral Investment
Guaranty Agency.
(e) Certification.--Together with any notification under subsection
(c), the President shall provide a certification by the Secretary of
State that, with respect to any assistance described in clause (ii),
(iii), or (v) of section 103(7)(A), or with respect to any assistance
described in section 103(7)(B), no assistance is intended to be received
or used by any agency or official who has participated in, facilitated,
or condoned a severe form of trafficking in persons.
SEC. 111. ACTIONS AGAINST SIGNIFICANT TRAFFICKERS IN PERSONS.
(a) Authority To Sanction Significant Traffickers in Persons.--
(1) In general.--The President may exercise the authorities set
forth in section 203 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act
(50 U.S.C. 1701) without regard to section 202 of that Act (50 U.S.C.
1701) in the case of any of the following persons:
(A) Any foreign person that plays a significant role in a severe
form of trafficking in persons, directly or indirectly in the United
States.
(B) Foreign persons that materially assist in, or provide financial
or technological support for or to, or provide goods or services in
support of, activities of a significant foreign trafficker in persons
identified pursuant to subparagraph (A).
(C) Foreign persons that are owned, controlled, or directed by, or
acting for or on behalf of, a significant foreign trafficker identified
pursuant to subparagraph (A).
(2) Penalties.--The penalties set forth in section 206 of the
International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) apply to
violations of any license, order, or regulation issued under this
section.
(b) Report to Congress on Identification and Sanctioning of
Significant Traffickers in Persons.--
(1) In general.--Upon exercising the authority of subsection (a),
the President shall report to the appropriate congressional committees--
(A) identifying publicly the foreign persons that the President
determines are appropriate for sanctions pursuant to this section and
the basis for such determination; and
(B) detailing publicly the sanctions imposed pursuant to this section.
(2) Removal of sanctions.--Upon suspending or terminating any action
imposed under the authority of subsection (a), the President shall
report to the committees described in paragraph (1) on such suspension
or termination.
(3) Submission of classified information.--Reports submitted under
this subsection may include an annex with classified information
regarding the basis for the determination made by the President under
paragraph (1)(A).
(c) Law Enforcement and Intelligence Activities Not
Affected.--Nothing in this section prohibits or otherwise limits the
authorized law enforcement or intelligence activities of the United
States, or the law enforcement activities of any State or subdivision
thereof.
(d) Exclusion of Persons Who Have Benefited From Illicit Activities
of Traffickers in Persons.--Section 212(a)(2) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(2)) is amended by inserting at the end
the following new subparagraph:
``(H) Significant traffickers in persons.--
``(i) In general.--Any alien who is listed in a report submitted
pursuant to section 111(b) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of
2000, or who the consular officer or the Attorney General knows or has
reason to believe is or has been a knowing aider, abettor, assister,
conspirator, or colluder with such a trafficker in severe forms of
trafficking in persons, as defined in the section 103 of such Act, is
inadmissible.
``(ii) Beneficiaries of trafficking.--Except as provided in clause
(iii), any alien who the consular officer or the Attorney General knows
or has reason to believe is the spouse, son, or daughter of an alien
inadmissible under clause (i), has, within the previous 5 years,
obtained any financial or other benefit from the illicit activity of
that alien, and knew or reasonably should have known that the financial
or other benefit was the product of such illicit activity, is
inadmissible.
``(iii) Exception for certain sons and daughters.--Clause (ii) shall
not apply to a son or daughter who was a child at the time he or she
received the benefit described in such clause.''.
(e) Implementation.--
(1) Delegation of authority.--The President may delegate any
authority granted by this section, including the authority to designate
foreign persons under paragraphs (1)(B) and (1)(C) of subsection (a).
(2) Promulgation of rules and regulations.--The head of any agency,
including the Secretary of Treasury, is authorized to take such actions
as may be necessary to carry out any authority delegated by the
President pursuant to paragraph (1), including promulgating rules and
regulations.
(3) Opportunity for review.--Such rules and regulations shall
include procedures affording an opportunity for a person to be heard in
an expeditious manner, either in person or through a representative, for
the purpose of seeking changes to or termination of any determination,
order, designation or other action associated with the exercise of the
authority in subsection (a).
(f) Definition of Foreign Persons.--In this section, the term
``foreign person'' means any citizen or national of a foreign state or
any entity not organized under the laws of the United States, including
a foreign government official, but does not include a foreign state.
(g) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be construed as
precluding judicial review of the exercise of the authority described in
subsection (a).
SEC. 112. STRENGTHENING PROSECUTION AND PUNISHMENT OF TRAFFICKERS.
(a) Title 18 Amendments.--Chapter 77 of title 18, United States Code,
is amended--
(1) in each of sections 1581(a), 1583, and 1584--
(A) by striking ``10 years'' and inserting ``20 years''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following: ``If death results from the
violation of this section, or if the violation includes kidnapping or an
attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or the attempt to commit
aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, the defendant shall be
fined under this title or imprisoned for any term of years or life, or
both.'';
(2) by inserting at the end the following:
``1589. Forced labor
``Whoever knowingly provides or obtains the labor or services of a
person--
``(1) by threats of serious harm to, or physical restraint against,
that person or another person;
``(2) by means of any scheme, plan, or pattern intended to cause the
person to believe that, if the person did not perform such labor or
services, that person or another person would suffer serious harm or
physical restraint; or
``(3) by means of the abuse or threatened abuse of law or the legal
process,
shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years,
or both. If death results from the violation of this section, or if the
violation includes kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual
abuse or the attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to
kill, the defendant shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for
any term of years or life, or both.
``1590. Trafficking with respect to peonage, slavery,
involuntary servitude, or forced labor
``Whoever knowingly recruits, harbors, transports, provides, or
obtains by any means, any person for labor or services in violation of
this chapter shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than
20 years, or both. If death results from the violation of this section,
or if the violation includes kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap,
aggravated sexual abuse, or the attempt to commit aggravated sexual
abuse, or an attempt to kill, the defendant shall be fined under this
title or imprisoned for any term of years or life, or both.
``1591. Sex trafficking of children or by force, fraud or coercion
``(a) Whoever knowingly--
``(1) in or affecting interstate commerce, recruits, entices,
harbors, transports, provides, or obtains by any means a person; or
``(2) benefits, financially or by receiving anything of value, from
participation in a venture which has engaged in an act described in
violation of paragraph (1),
knowing that force, fraud, or coercion described in subsection (c)(2)
will be used to cause the person to engage in a commercial sex act, or
that the person has not attained the age of 18 years and will be caused
to engage in a commercial sex act, shall be punished as provided in
subsection (b).
``(b) The punishment for an offense under subsection (a) is--
``(1) if the offense was effected by force, fraud, or coercion or if
the person transported had not attained the age of 14 years at the time
of such offense, by a fine under this title or imprisonment for any term
of years or for life, or both; or
``(2) if the offense was not so effected, and the person transported
had attained the age of 14 years but had not attained the age of 18
years at the time of such offense, by a fine under this title or
imprisonment for not more than 20 years, or both.
``(c) In this section:
``(1) The term `commercial sex act' means any sex act, on account of
which anything of value is given to or received by any person.''
``(2) The term `coercion' means--
``(A) threats of serious harm to or physical restraint against any
person;
``(B) any scheme, plan, or pattern intended to cause a person to
believe that failure to perform an act would result in serious harm to
or physical restraint against any person; or
``(C) the abuse or threatened abuse of law or the legal process.
``(3) The term `venture' means any group of 2 or more individuals
associated in fact, whether or not a legal entity.
``1592. Unlawful conduct with respect to documents in
furtherance of trafficking, peonage, slavery, involuntary servitude, or
forced labor
``(a) Whoever knowingly destroys, conceals, removes, confiscates, or
possesses any actual or purported passport or other immigration
document, or any other actual or purported government identification
document, of another person--
``(1) in the course of a violation of section 1581, 1583, 1584,
1589, 1590, 1591, or 1594(a);
``(2) with intent to violate section 1581, 1583, 1584, 1589, 1590,
or 1591; or
``(3) to prevent or restrict or to attempt to prevent or restrict,
without lawful authority, the person's liberty to move or travel, in
order to maintain the labor or services of that person, when the person
is or has been a victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons, as
defined in section 103 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of
2000;
shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for not more than 5
years, or both.
``(b) Subsection (a) does not apply to the conduct of a person who is
or has been a victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons, as
defined in section 103 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of
2000, if that conduct is caused by, or incident to, that trafficking.
``1593. Mandatory restitution
``(a) Notwithstanding sections 3663 or 3663A, and in addition to any
other civil or criminal penalties authorized by law, the court shall
order restitution for any offense under this chapter.
``(b)(1) The order of restitution under this section shall direct the
defendant to pay the victim (through the appropriate court mechanism)
the full amount of the victim's losses, as determined by the court under
paragraph (3) of this subsection.
``(2) An order of restitution under this section shall be issued and
enforced in accordance with section 3664 in the same manner as an order
under section 3663A.
``(3) As used in this subsection, the term `full amount of the
victim's losses' has the same meaning as provided in section 2259(b)(3)
and shall in addition include the greater of the gross income or value
to the defendant of the victim's services or labor or the value of the
victim's labor as guaranteed under the minimum wage and overtime
guarantees of the Fair Labor Standards Act (29 U.S.C. 201, et seq.).
``(c) As used in this section, the term `victim' means the individual
harmed as a result of a crime under this chapter, including, in the case
of a victim who is under 18 years of age, incompetent, incapacitated, or
deceased, the legal guardian of the victim or a representative of the
victim's estate, or another family member, or any other person appointed
as suitable by the court, but in no event shall the defendant be named
such representative or guardian.
``1594. General provisions
``(a) Whoever attempts to violate section 1581, 1583, 1584, 1589,
1590, or 1591 shall be punishable in the same manner as a completed
violation of that section.
``(b) The court, in imposing sentence on any person convicted of a
violation of this chapter, shall order, in addition to any other
sentence imposed and irrespective of any provision of State law, that
such person shall forfeit to the United States--
``(1) such person's interest in any property, real or personal, that
was used or intended to be used to commit or to facilitate the
commission of such violation; and
``(2) any property, real or personal, constituting or derived from,
any proceeds that such person obtained, directly or indirectly, as a
result of such violation.
``(c)(1) The following shall be subject to forfeiture to the United
States and no property right shall exist in them:
``(A) Any property, real or personal, used or intended to be used to
commit or to facilitate the commission of any violation of this chapter.
``(B) Any property, real or personal, which constitutes or is
derived from proceeds traceable to any violation of this chapter.
``(2) The provisions of chapter 46 of this title relating to civil
forfeitures shall extend to any seizure or civil forfeiture under this
subsection.
``(d) Witness Protection.--Any violation of this chapter shall be
considered an organized criminal activity or other serious offense for
the purposes of application of chapter 224 (relating to witness
protection).''; and
(3) by amending the table of sections at the beginning of chapter 77
by adding at the end the following new items:
``1589. Forced labor.
``1590. Trafficking with respect to peonage, slavery, involuntary
servitude, or forced labor.
``1591. Sex trafficking of children or by force, fraud, or coercion.
``1592. Unlawful conduct with respect to documents in furtherance
of trafficking, peonage, slavery, involuntary servitude, or forced
labor.
``1593. Mandatory restitution.
``1594. General provisions.''.
(b) Amendment to the Sentencing Guidelines.--
(1) Pursuant to its authority under section 994 of title 28, United
States Code, and in accordance with this section, the United States
Sentencing Commission shall review and, if appropriate, amend the
sentencing guidelines and policy statements applicable to persons
convicted of offenses involving the trafficking of persons including
component or related crimes of peonage, involuntary servitude, slave
trade offenses, and possession, transfer or sale of false immigration
documents in furtherance of trafficking, and the Fair Labor Standards
Act and the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act.
(2) In carrying out this subsection, the Sentencing Commission shall--
(A) take all appropriate measures to ensure that these sentencing
guidelines and policy statements applicable to the offenses described in
paragraph (1) of this subsection are sufficiently stringent to deter and
adequately reflect the heinous nature of such offenses;
(B) consider conforming the sentencing guidelines applicable to
offenses involving trafficking in persons to the guidelines applicable
to peonage, involuntary servitude, and slave trade offenses; and
(C) consider providing sentencing enhancements for those convicted
of the offenses described in paragraph (1) of this subsection that--
(i) involve a large number of victims;
(ii) involve a pattern of continued and flagrant violations;
(iii) involve the use or threatened use of a dangerous weapon; or
(iv) result in the death or bodily injury of any person.
(3) The Commission may promulgate the guidelines or amendments under
this subsection in accordance with the procedures set forth in section
21(a) of the Sentencing Act of 1987, as though the authority under that
Act had not expired.
SEC. 113. AUTHORIZATIONS OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) Authorization of Appropriations in Support of the Task Force.--To
carry out the purposes of sections 104, 105, and 110, there are
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State $1,500,000 for
fiscal year 2001 and $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2002.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations to the Secretary of Health and
Human Services.--To carry out the purposes of section 107(b), there are
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Health and Human
Services $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2001 and $10,000,000 for fiscal year
2002.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations to the Secretary of State.--
(1) Assistance for victims in other countries.--To carry out the
purposes of section 107(a), there are authorized to be appropriated to
the Secretary of State $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2001 and $10,000,000
for fiscal year 2002.
(2) Voluntary contributions to osce.--To carry out the purposes of
section 109, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of
State $300,000 for voluntary contributions to advance projects aimed at
preventing trafficking, promoting respect for human rights of
trafficking victims, and assisting the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe participating states in related legal reform for
fiscal year 2001.
(3) Preparation of annual country reports on human rights.--To carry
out the purposes of section 104, there are authorized to be appropriated
to the Secretary of State such sums as may be necessary to include the
additional information required by that section in the annual Country
Reports on Human Rights Practices, including the preparation and
publication of the list described in subsection (a)(1) of that section.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations to Attorney General.--To carry
out the purposes of section 107(b), there are authorized to be
appropriated to the Attorney General $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2001 and
$10,000,000 for fiscal year 2002.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations to President.--
(1) Foreign victim assistance.--To carry out the purposes of section
106, there are authorized to be appropriated to the President $5,000,000
for fiscal year 2001 and $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2002.
(2) Assistance to foreign countries to meet minimum standards.--To
carry out the purposes of section 109, there are authorized to be
appropriated to the President $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2001 and
$10,000,000 for fiscal year 2002.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations to the Secretary of Labor.--To
carry out the purposes of section 107(b), there are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of Labor $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2001
and $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2002.
DIVISION B--VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT OF 2000
SEC. 1001. SHORT TITLE.
This division may be cited as the ``Violence Against Women Act of
2000''.
SEC. 1002. DEFINITIONS.
In this division--
(1) the term ``domestic violence'' has the meaning given the term in
section 2003 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets
Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796gg 2); and
(2) the term ``sexual assault'' has the meaning given the term in
section 2003 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets
Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796gg 2).
SEC. 1003. ACCOUNTABILITY AND OVERSIGHT.
(a) Report by Grant Recipients.--The Attorney General or Secretary of
Health and Human Services, as applicable, shall require grantees under
any program authorized or reauthorized by this division or an amendment
made by this division to report on the effectiveness of the activities
carried out with amounts made available to carry out that program,
including number of persons served, if applicable, numbers of persons
seeking services who could not be served and such other information as
the Attorney General or Secretary may prescribe.
(b) Report to Congress.--The Attorney General or Secretary of Health
and Human Services, as applicable, shall report biennially to the
Committees on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the
Senate on the grant programs described in subsection (a), including the
information contained in any report under that subsection.
TITLE I--STRENGTHENING LAW ENFORCEMENT TO REDUCE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
SEC. 1101. FULL FAITH AND CREDIT ENFORCEMENT OF PROTECTION ORDERS.
(a) In General.--Part U of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and
Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796hh et seq.) is amended--
(1) in the heading, by adding `` AND ENFORCEMENT OF PROTECTION
ORDERS'' at the end;
(2) in section 2101(b)--
(A) in paragraph (6), by inserting ``(including juvenile courts)''
after ``courts''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(7) To provide technical assistance and computer and other
equipment to police departments,
prosecutors, courts, and tribal jurisdictions to facilitate
the widespread enforcement of protection orders, including interstate
enforcement, enforcement between States and tribal jurisdictions, and
enforcement between tribal jurisdictions.''; and
(3) in section 2102--
(A) in subsection (b)--
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(ii) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``, including the enforcement of protection orders from other
States and jurisdictions (including tribal jurisdictions);''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) have established cooperative agreements or can demonstrate
effective ongoing collaborative arrangements with neighboring
jurisdictions to facilitate the enforcement of protection orders from
other States and jurisdictions (including tribal jurisdictions); and
``(4) in applications describing plans to further the purposes
stated in paragraph (4) or (7) of section 2101(b), will give priority to
using the grant to develop and install data collection and communication
systems, including computerized systems, and training on how to use
these systems effectively to link police, prosecutors, courts, and
tribal jurisdictions for the purpose of identifying and tracking
protection orders and violations of protection orders, in those
jurisdictions where such systems do not exist or are not fully
effective.''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Dissemination of Information.--The Attorney General shall
annually compile and broadly disseminate (including through electronic
publication) information about successful data collection and
communication systems that meet the purposes described in this section.
Such dissemination shall target States, State and local courts, Indian
tribal governments, and units of local government.''.
(b) Protection Orders.--
(1) Filing costs.--Section 2006 of part T of title I of the Omnibus
Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796gg 5) is
amended--
(A) in the heading, by striking `` FILING'' and inserting `` AND
PROTECTION ORDERS'' after `` CHARGES '';
(B) in subsection (a)--
(i) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
``(1) certifies that its laws, policies, and practices do not
require, in connection with the prosecution of any misdemeanor or felony
domestic violence offense, or in connection with the filing, issuance,
registration, or service of a protection order, or a petition for a
protection order, to protect a victim of domestic violence, stalking, or
sexual assault, that the victim bear the costs associated with the
filing of criminal charges against the offender, or the costs associated
with the filing, issuance, registration, or service of a warrant,
protection order, petition for a protection order, or witness subpoena,
whether issued inside or outside the State, tribal, or local
jurisdiction; or''; and
(ii) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking ``2 years'' and inserting ``2
years after the date of enactment of the Violence Against Women Act of
2000''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Definition.--In this section, the term `protection order' has
the meaning given the term in section 2266 of title 18, United States
Code.''.
(2) Eligibility for grants to encourage arrest policies.--Section
2101 of part U of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets
Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796hh) is amended--
(A) in subsection (c), by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the
following:
``(4) certify that their laws, policies, and practices do not
require, in connection with the prosecution of any misdemeanor or felony
domestic violence offense, or in connection with the filing, issuance,
registration, or service of a protection order, or a petition for a
protection order, to protect a victim of domestic violence, stalking, or
sexual assault, that the victim bear the costs associated with the
filing of criminal charges against the offender, or the costs associated
with the filing, issuance, registration, or service of a warrant,
protection order, petition for a protection order, or witness subpoena,
whether issued inside or outside the State, tribal, or local
jurisdiction.''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Definition.--In this section, the term `protection order' has
the meaning given the term in section 2266 of title 18, United States
Code.''.
(3) Application for grants to encourage arrest policies.--Section
2102(a)(1)(B) of part U of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe
Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796hh 1(a)(1)(B)) is amended by
inserting before the semicolon the following: ``or, in the case of the
condition set forth in subsection 2101(c)(4), the expiration of the
2-year period beginning on the date of enactment of the Violence Against
Women Act of 2000''.
(4) Registration for protection orders.--Section 2265 of title 18,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Notification and Registration.--
``(1) Notification.--A State or Indian tribe according full faith
and credit to an order by a court of another State or Indian tribe shall
not notify or require notification of the party against whom a
protection order has been issued that the protection order has been
registered or filed in that enforcing State or tribal jurisdiction
unless requested to do so by the party protected under such order.
``(2) No prior registration or filing as prerequisite for
enforcement.--Any protection order that is otherwise consistent with
this section shall be accorded full faith and credit, notwithstanding
failure to comply with any requirement that the order be registered or
filed in the enforcing State or tribal jurisdiction.
``(e) Tribal Court Jurisdiction.--For purposes of this section, a
tribal court shall have full civil jurisdiction to enforce protection
orders, including authority to enforce any orders through civil contempt
proceedings, exclusion of violators from Indian lands, and other
appropriate mechanisms, in matters arising within the authority of the
tribe.''.
(c) Technical Amendment.--The table of contents for title I of the
Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3711 et
seq.) is amended in the item relating to part U, by adding `` and
Enforcement of Protection Orders'' at the end.
SEC. 1102. ROLE OF COURTS.
(a) Courts as Eligible STOP Subgrantees.--Part T of title I of the
Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796gg et
seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 2001--
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ``Indian tribal governments,''
and inserting ``State and local courts (including juvenile courts),
Indian tribal governments, tribal courts,''; and
(B) in subsection (b)--
(i) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``, judges, other court
personnel,'' after ``law enforcement officers'';
(ii) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``, judges, other court
personnel,'' after ``law enforcement officers''; and
(iii) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``, court,'' after ``police'';
and
(2) in section 2002--
(A) in subsection (a), by inserting ``State and local courts
(including juvenile courts),'' after ``States,'' the second place it
appears;
(B) in subsection (c), by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the
following:
``(3) of the amount granted--
``(A) not less than 25 percent shall be allocated to police and not
less than 25 percent shall be allocated to prosecutors;
``(B) not less than 30 percent shall be allocated to victim
services; and
``(C) not less than 5 percent shall be allocated for State and local
courts (including juvenile courts); and''; and
(C) in subsection (d)(1), by inserting ``court,'' after ``law
enforcement,''.
(b) Eligible Grantees; Use of Grants for Education.--Section 2101 of
part U of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of
1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796hh) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``State and local courts
(including juvenile courts), tribal courts,'' after ``Indian tribal
governments,'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) by inserting ``State and local courts (including juvenile
courts),'' after ``Indian tribal governments'';
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``policies and'' and inserting
``policies, educational programs, and'';
(C) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``parole and probation
officers,'' after ``prosecutors,''; and
(D) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``parole and probation
officers,'' after ``prosecutors,'';
(3) in subsection (c), by inserting ``State and local courts
(including juvenile courts),'' after ``Indian tribal governments''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(e) Allotment for Indian Tribes.--Not less than 5 percent of the
total amount made available for grants under this section for each
fiscal year shall be available for grants to Indian tribal
governments.''.
SEC. 1103. REAUTHORIZATION OF STOP GRANTS.
(a) Reauthorization.--Section 1001(a) of title I of the Omnibus Crime
Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3793(a)) is amended by
striking paragraph (18) and inserting the following:
``(18) There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out part T
$185,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 through 2005.''.
(b) Grant Purposes.--Part T of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control
and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796gg et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 2001--
(A) in subsection (b)--
(i) in paragraph (5), by striking ``racial, cultural, ethnic, and
language minorities'' and inserting ``underserved populations'';
(ii) in paragraph (6), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(iii) in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and
inserting a semicolon; and
(iv) by adding at the end the following:
``(8) supporting formal and informal statewide, multidisciplinary
efforts, to the extent not supported by State funds, to coordinate the
response of State law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, courts, victim
services agencies, and other State agencies and departments, to violent
crimes against women, including the crimes of sexual assault, domestic
violence, and dating violence;
``(9) training of sexual assault forensic medical personnel
examiners in the collection and preservation of evidence, analysis,
prevention, and providing expert testimony and treatment of trauma
related to sexual assault;''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(c) State Coalition Grants.--
``(1) Purpose.--The Attorney General shall award grants to each
State domestic violence coalition and sexual assault coalition for the
purposes of coordinating State victim services activities, and
collaborating and coordinating with Federal, State, and local entities
engaged in violence against women activities.
``(2) Grants to state coalitions.--The Attorney General shall award
grants to--
``(A) each State domestic violence coalition, as determined by the
Secretary of Health and Human Services through the Family Violence
Prevention and Services Act (42 U.S.C. 10410 et seq.); and
``(B) each State sexual assault coalition, as determined by the
Center for Injury Prevention and Control of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention under the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
280b et seq.).
``(3) Eligibility for other grants.--Receipt of an award under this
subsection by each State domestic violence and sexual assault coalition
shall not preclude the coalition from receiving additional grants under
this part to carry out the purposes described in subsection (b).'';
(2) in section 2002(b)--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (5) and
(6), respectively;
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ``4 percent'' and inserting ``5
percent'';
(C) in paragraph (5), as redesignated, by striking ``$500,000'' and
inserting ``$600,000''; and
(D) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
``(2) 2.5 percent shall be available for grants for State domestic
violence coalitions under section 2001(c), with the coalition for each
State, the coalition for the District of Columbia, the coalition for the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the coalition for the combined
Territories of the United States, each receiving an amount equal to
\1/54\ of the total amount made available under this paragraph for each
fiscal year;
``(3) 2.5 percent shall be available for grants for State sexual
assault coalitions under section 2001(c), with the coalition for each
State, the coalition for the District of Columbia, the coalition for the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the coalition for the combined
Territories of the United States, each receiving an amount equal to
\1/54\ of the total amount made available under this paragraph for each
fiscal year;
``(4) \1/54\ shall be available for the development and operation of
nonprofit tribal domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions in
Indian country;'';
(3) in section 2003, by striking paragraph (7) and inserting the
following:
``(7) the term `underserved populations' includes populations
underserved because of geographic location (such as rural isolation),
underserved racial and ethnic populations, populations underserved
because of special needs (such as language barriers, disabilities,
alienage status, or age), and any other population determined to be
underserved by the State planning process in consultation with the
Attorney General;'' and
(4) in section 2004(b)(3), by inserting ``, and the membership of
persons served in any underserved population'' before the semicolon.
SEC. 1104. REAUTHORIZATION OF GRANTS TO ENCOURAGE ARREST POLICIES.
Section 1001(a) of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe
Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3793(a)) is amended by striking paragraph
(19) and inserting the following:
``(19) There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out part U
$65,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 through 2005.''.
SEC. 1105. REAUTHORIZATION OF RURAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND
CHILD ABUSE ENFORCEMENT GRANTS.
Section 40295(c) of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C.
13971(c)) is amended--
(1) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
``(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry
out this section $40,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 through
2005.''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Allotment for indian tribes.--Not less than 5 percent of the
total amount made available to carry out this section for each fiscal
year shall be available for grants to Indian tribal governments.''.
SEC. 1106. NATIONAL STALKER AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE REDUCTION.
(a) Reauthorization.--Section 40603 of the Violence Against Women Act
of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 14032) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 40603. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
``There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subtitle
$3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 through 2005.''.
(b) Technical Amendment.--Section 40602(a) of the Violence Against
Women Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 14031 note) is amended by inserting ``and
implement'' after ``improve''.
SEC. 1107. AMENDMENTS TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND STALKING OFFENSES.
(a) Interstate Domestic Violence.--Section 2261 of title 18, United
States Code, is amended by striking subsection (a) and inserting the
following:
``(a) Offenses.--
``(1) Travel or conduct of offender.--A person who travels in
interstate or foreign commerce or enters or leaves Indian country with
the intent to kill, injure, harass, or intimidate a spouse or intimate
partner, and who, in the course of or as a result of such travel,
commits or attempts to commit a crime of violence against that spouse or
intimate partner, shall be punished as provided in subsection (b).
``(2) Causing travel of victim.--A person who causes a spouse or
intimate partner to travel in interstate or foreign commerce or to enter
or leave Indian country by force, coercion, duress, or fraud, and who,
in the course of, as a result of, or to facilitate such conduct or
travel, commits or attempts to commit a crime of violence against that
spouse or intimate partner, shall be punished as provided in subsection
(b).''.
(b) Interstate Stalking.--
(1) In general.--Section 2261A of title 18, United States Code, is
amended to read as follows:
``2261A. Interstate stalking
``Whoever--
``(1) travels in interstate or foreign commerce or within the
special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, or
enters or leaves Indian country, with the intent to kill, injure,
harass, or intimidate another person, and in the course of, or as a
result of, such travel places that person in reasonable fear of the
death of, or serious bodily injury to, that person, a member of the
immediate family (as defined in section 115) of that person, or the
spouse or intimate partner of that person; or
``(2) with the intent--
``(A) to kill or injure a person in another State or tribal
jurisdiction or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction
of the United States; or
``(B) to place a person in another State or tribal jurisdiction, or
within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United
States, in reasonable fear of the death of, or serious bodily injury
to--
``(i) that person;
``(ii) a member of the immediate family (as defined in section 115)
of that person; or
``(iii) a spouse or intimate partner of that person;
uses the mail or any facility of interstate or foreign commerce to
engage in a course of conduct that places that person in reasonable fear
of the death of, or serious bodily injury to, any of the persons
described in clauses (i) through (iii);
shall be punished as provided in section 2261(b).''.
(2) Amendment of federal sentencing guidelines.--
(A) In general.--Pursuant to its authority under section 994 of
title 28, United States Code, the United States Sentencing Commission
shall amend the Federal Sentencing Guidelines to reflect the amendment
made by this subsection.
(B) Factors for consideration.--In carrying out subparagraph (A),
the Commission shall consider--
(i) whether the Federal Sentencing Guidelines relating to stalking
offenses should be modified in light of the amendment made by this
subsection; and
(ii) whether any changes the Commission may make to the Federal
Sentencing Guidelines pursuant to clause (i) should also be made with
respect to offenses under chapter 110A of title 18, United States Code.
(c) Interstate Violation of Protection Order.--Section 2262 of title
18, United States Code, is amended by striking subsection (a) and
inserting the following:
``(a) Offenses.--
``(1) Travel or conduct of offender.--A person who travels in
interstate or foreign commerce, or enters or leaves Indian country, with
the intent to engage in conduct that violates the portion of a
protection order that prohibits or provides protection against violence,
threats, or harassment against, contact or communication with, or
physical proximity to, another person, or that would violate such a
portion of a protection order in the jurisdiction in which the order was
issued, and subsequently engages in such conduct, shall be punished as
provided in subsection (b).
``(2) Causing travel of victim.--A person who causes another person
to travel in interstate or foreign commerce or to enter or leave Indian
country by force, coercion, duress, or fraud, and in the course of, as a
result of, or to facilitate such conduct or travel engages in conduct
that violates the portion of a protection order that prohibits or
provides protection against violence, threats, or harassment against,
contact or communication with, or physical proximity to, another person,
or that would violate such a portion of a protection order in the
jurisdiction in which the order was issued, shall be punished as
provided in subsection (b).''.
(d) Definitions.--Section 2266 of title 18, United States Code, is
amended to read as follows:
``2266. Definitions
``In this chapter:
``(1) Bodily injury.--The term `bodily injury' means any act, except
one done in self-defense, that results in physical injury or sexual
abuse.
``(2) Course of conduct.--The term `course of conduct' means a
pattern of conduct composed of 2 or more acts, evidencing a continuity
of purpose.
``(3) Enter or leave indian country.--The term `enter or leave
Indian country' includes leaving the jurisdiction of 1 tribal government
and entering the jurisdiction of another tribal government.
``(4) Indian country.--The term `Indian country' has the meaning
stated in section 1151 of this title.
``(5) Protection order.--The term `protection order' includes any
injunction or other order issued for the purpose of preventing violent
or threatening acts or harassment against, or contact or communication
with or physical proximity to, another person, including any temporary
or final order issued by a civil and criminal court (other than a
support or child custody order issued pursuant to State divorce and
child custody laws, except to the extent that such an order is entitled
to full faith and credit under other Federal law) whether obtained by
filing an independent action or as a pendente lite order in another
proceeding so long as any civil order was issued in response to a
complaint, petition, or motion filed by or on behalf of a person seeking
protection.
``(6) Serious bodily injury.--The term `serious bodily injury' has
the meaning stated in section 2119(2).
``(7) Spouse or intimate partner.--The term `spouse or intimate
partner' includes--
``(A) for purposes of--
``(i) sections other than 2261A, a spouse or former spouse of the
abuser, a person who shares a child in common with the abuser, and a
person who cohabits or has cohabited as a spouse with the abuser; and
``(ii) section 2261A, a spouse or former spouse of the target of the
stalking, a person who shares a child in common with the target of the
stalking, and a person who cohabits or has cohabited as a spouse with
the target of the stalking; and
``(B) any other person similarly situated to a spouse who is
protected by the domestic or family violence laws of the State or tribal
jurisdiction in which the injury occurred or where the victim resides.
``(8) State.--The term `State' includes a State of the United
States, the District of Columbia, and a commonwealth, territory, or
possession of the United States.
``(9) Travel in interstate or foreign commerce.--The term `travel in
interstate or foreign commerce' does not include travel from 1 State to
another by an individual who is a member of an Indian tribe and who
remains at all times in the territory of the Indian tribe of which the
individual is a member.''.
SEC. 1108. SCHOOL AND CAMPUS SECURITY.
(a) Grants To Reduce Violent Crimes Against Women on Campus.--Section
826 of the Higher Education Amendments of 1998 (20 U.S.C. 1152) is
amended--
(1) in paragraphs (2), (6), (7), and (9) of subsection (b), by
striking ``and domestic violence'' and inserting ``domestic violence,
and dating violence'';
(2) in subsection (c)(2)(B), by striking ``and domestic violence''
and inserting ``, domestic violence and dating violence'';
(3) in subsection (f)--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) as paragraphs (2),
(3), and (4), respectively;
(B) by inserting before paragraph (2) (as redesignated by
subparagraph (A)) the following:
``(1) the term `dating violence' means violence committed by a
person--
``(A) who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or
intimate nature with the victim; and
``(B) where the existence of such a relationship shall be determined
based on a consideration of the following factors:
``(i) the length of the relationship;
``(ii) the type of relationship; and
``(iii) the frequency of interaction between the persons involved in
the relationship.'';
(C) in paragraph (2) (as redesignated by subparagraph (A)), by
inserting ``, dating'' after ``domestic'' each place the term appears;
and
(D) in paragraph (4) (as redesignated by subparagraph (A))--
(i) by inserting ``or a public, nonprofit organization acting in a
nongovernmental capacity'' after ``organization'';
(ii) by inserting ``, dating violence'' after ``assists domestic
violence'';
(iii) by striking ``or domestic violence'' and inserting ``,
domestic violence or dating violence''; and
(iv) by inserting ``dating violence,'' before ``stalking,''; and
(4) in subsection (g), by striking ``fiscal year 1999 and such sums
as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years'' and
inserting ``each of fiscal years 2001 through 2005''.
(b) Matching Grant Program for School Security.--Title I of the
Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 is amended by
inserting after part Z the following new part:
``PART AA--MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM FOR SCHOOL SECURITY
``SEC. 2701. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.
``(a) In General.--The Attorney General is authorized to make grants
to States, units of local government, and Indian tribes to provide
improved security, including the placement and use of metal detectors
and other deterrent measures, at schools and on school grounds.
``(b) Uses of Funds.--Grants awarded under this section shall be
distributed directly to the State, unit of local government, or Indian
tribe, and shall be used to improve security at schools and on school
grounds in the jurisdiction of the grantee through one or more of the
following:
``(1) Placement and use of metal detectors, locks, lighting, and
other deterrent measures.
``(2) Security assessments.
``(3) Security training of personnel and students.
``(4) Coordination with local law enforcement.
``(5) Any other measure that, in the determination of the Attorney
General, may provide a significant improvement in security.
``(c) Preferential Consideration.--In awarding grants under this
part, the Attorney General shall give preferential consideration, if
feasible, to an application from a jurisdiction that has a demonstrated
need for improved security, has a demonstrated need for financial
assistance, and has evidenced the ability to make the improvements for
which the grant amounts are sought.
``(d) Matching Funds.--
``(1) The portion of the costs of a program provided by a grant
under subsection (a) may not exceed 50 percent.
``(2) Any funds appropriated by Congress for the activities of any
agency of an Indian tribal government or the Bureau of Indian Affairs
performing law enforcement functions on any Indian lands may be used to
provide the non-Federal share of a matching requirement funded under
this subsection.
``(3) The Attorney General may provide, in the guidelines
implementing this section, for the requirement of paragraph (1) to be
waived or altered in the case of a recipient with a financial need for
such a waiver or alteration.
``(e) Equitable Distribution.--In awarding grants under this part,
the Attorney General shall ensure, to the extent practicable, an
equitable geographic distribution among the regions of the United States
and among urban, suburban, and rural areas.
``(f) Administrative Costs.--The Attorney General may reserve not
more than 2 percent from amounts appropriated to carry out this part for
administrative costs.
``SEC. 2702. APPLICATIONS.
``(a) In General.--To request a grant under this part, the chief
executive of a State, unit of local government, or Indian tribe shall
submit an application to the Attorney General at such time, in such
manner, and accompanied by such information as the Attorney General may
require. Each application shall--
``(1) include a detailed explanation of--
``(A) the intended uses of funds provided under the grant; and
``(B) how the activities funded under the grant will meet the
purpose of this part; and
``(2) be accompanied by an assurance that the application was
prepared after consultation with individuals not limited to law
enforcement officers (such as school violence researchers, child
psychologists, social workers, teachers, principals, and other school
personnel) to ensure that the improvements to be funded under the grant
are--
``(A) consistent with a comprehensive approach to preventing school
violence; and
``(B) individualized to the needs of each school at which those
improvements are to be made.
``(b) Guidelines.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this part, the Attorney General shall promulgate guidelines
to implement this section (including the information that must be
included and the requirements that the States, units of local
government, and Indian tribes must meet) in submitting the applications
required under this section.
``SEC. 2703. ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS.
``Not later than November 30th of each year, the Attorney General
shall submit a report to the Congress regarding the activities carried
out under this part. Each such report shall include, for the preceding
fiscal year, the number of grants funded under this part, the amount of
funds provided under those grants, and the activities for which those
funds were used.
``SEC. 2704. DEFINITIONS.
``For purposes of this part--
``(1) the term `school' means a public elementary or secondary school;
``(2) the term `unit of local government' means a county,
municipality, town, township, village, parish, borough, or other unit of
general government below the State level; and
``(3) the term `Indian tribe' has the same meaning as in section
4(e) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25
U.S.C. 450b(e)).
``SEC. 2705. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part
$30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 through 2003.''.
SEC. 1109. DATING VIOLENCE.
(a) Definitions.--
(1) Section 2003.--Section 2003 of title I of the Omnibus Crime
Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3996gg 2) is amended--
(A) in paragraph (8), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(9) the term `dating violence' means violence committed by a
person--
``(A) who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or
intimate nature with the victim; and
``(B) where the existence of such a relationship shall be determined
based on a consideration of the following factors:
``(i) the length of the relationship;
``(ii) the type of relationship; and
``(iii) the frequency of interaction between the persons involved in
the relationship.''.
(2) Section 2105.--Section 2105 of title I of the Omnibus Crime
Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796hh 4) is amended--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) the term `dating violence' means violence committed by a
person--
``(A) who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or
intimate nature with the victim; and
``(B) where the existence of such a relationship shall be determined
based on a consideration of the following factors:
``(i) the length of the relationship;
``(ii) the type of relationship; and
``(iii) the frequency of interaction between the persons involved in
the relationship.''.
(b) STOP Grants.--Section 2001(b) of title I of the Omnibus Crime
Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796gg(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``sexual assault and domestic
violence'' and inserting ``sexual assault, domestic violence, and dating
violence''; and
(2) in paragraph (5), by striking ``sexual assault and domestic
violence'' and inserting ``sexual assault, domestic violence, and dating
violence''.
(c) Grants To Encourage Arrest Policies.--Section 2101(b) of title I
of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C.
3796hh(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``and dating violence'' after
``domestic violence''; and
(2) in paragraph (5), by inserting ``and dating violence'' after
``domestic violence''.
(d) Rural Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Enforcement.--Section
40295(a) of the Safe Homes for Women Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 13971(a)) is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``and dating violence (as defined
in section 2003 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets
Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3996gg 2))'' after ``domestic violence''; and
(2) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``and dating violence (as defined
in section 2003 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets
Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3996gg 2))'' after ``domestic violence''.
TITLE II--STRENGTHENING SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE
SEC. 1201. LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR VICTIMS.
(a) In General.--The purpose of this section is to enable the
Attorney General to award grants to increase the availability of legal
assistance necessary to provide effective aid to victims of domestic
violence, stalking, or sexual assault who are seeking relief in legal
matters arising as a consequence of that abuse or violence, at minimal
or no cost to the victims.
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Domestic violence.--The term ``domestic violence'' has the
meaning given the term in section 2003 of title I of the Omnibus Crime
Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796gg 2).
(2) Legal assistance for victims.--The term ``legal assistance''
includes assistance to victims of domestic violence, stalking, and
sexual assault in family, immigration, administrative agency, or housing
matters, protection or stay away order proceedings, and other similar
matters. No funds made available under this section may be used to
provide financial assistance in support of any litigation described in
paragraph (14) of section 504 of Public Law 104 134.
(3) Sexual assault.--The term ``sexual assault'' has the meaning
given the term in section 2003 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control
and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796gg 2).
(c) Legal Assistance for Victims Grants.--The Attorney General may
award grants under this subsection to private nonprofit entities, Indian
tribal governments, and publicly funded organizations not acting in a
governmental capacity such as law schools, and which shall be used--
(1) to implement, expand, and establish cooperative efforts and
projects between domestic violence and sexual assault victim services
organizations and legal assistance providers to provide legal assistance
for victims of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault;
(2) to implement, expand, and establish efforts and projects to
provide legal assistance for victims of domestic violence, stalking, and
sexual assault by organizations with a demonstrated history of providing
direct legal or advocacy services on behalf of these victims; and
(3) to provide training, technical assistance, and data collection
to improve the capacity of grantees and other entities to offer legal
assistance to victims of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual
assault.
(d) Eligibility.--To be eligible for a grant under subsection (c),
applicants shall certify in writing that--
(1) any person providing legal assistance through a program funded
under subsection (c) has completed or will complete training in
connection with domestic violence or sexual assault and related legal
issues;
(2) any training program conducted in satisfaction of the
requirement of paragraph (1) has been or will be developed with input
from and in collaboration with a State, local, or tribal domestic
violence or sexual assault program or coalition, as well as appropriate
State and local law enforcement officials;
(3) any person or organization providing legal assistance through a
program funded under subsection (c) has informed and will continue to
inform State, local, or tribal domestic violence or sexual assault
programs and coalitions, as well as appropriate State and local law
enforcement officials of their work; and
(4) the grantee's organizational policies do not require mediation
or counseling involving offenders and victims physically together, in
cases where sexual assault, domestic violence, or child sexual abuse is
an issue.
(e) Evaluation.--The Attorney General may evaluate the grants funded
under this section through contracts or other arrangements with entities
expert on domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault, and on
evaluation research.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out
this section $40,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 through 2005.
(2) Allocation of funds.--
(A) Tribal programs.--Of the amount made available under this
subsection in each fiscal year, not less than 5 percent shall be used
for grants for programs that assist victims of domestic violence,
stalking, and sexual assault on lands within the jurisdiction of an
Indian tribe.
(B) Victims of sexual assault.--Of the amount made available under
this subsection in each fiscal year, not less than 25 percent shall be
used for direct services, training, and technical assistance to support
projects focused solely or primarily on providing legal assistance to
victims of sexual assault.
(3) Nonsupplantation.--Amounts made available under this section
shall be used to supplement and not supplant other Federal, State, and
local funds expended to further the purpose of this section.
SEC. 1202. SHELTER SERVICES FOR BATTERED WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
(a) Reauthorization .--Section 310(a) of the Family Violence
Prevention and Services Act (42 U.S.C. 10409(a)) is amended to read as
follows:
``(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry
out this title $175,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 through
2005.''.
(b) State Minimum; Reallotment.--Section 304 of the Family Violence
Prevention and Services Act (42 U.S.C. 10403) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``for grants to States for any
fiscal year'' and all that follows and inserting the following: ``and
available for grants to States under this subsection for any fiscal
year--
``(1) Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands shall each be allotted
not less than \1/8\ of 1 percent of the amounts available for grants
under section 303(a) for the fiscal year for which the allotment is
made; and
``(2) each State shall be allotted for payment in a grant authorized
under section 303(a), $600,000, with the remaining funds to be allotted
to each State in an amount that bears the same ratio to such remaining
funds as the population of such State bears to the population of all
States.'';
(2) in subsection (c), in the first sentence, by inserting ``and
available'' before ``for grants''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(e) In subsection (a)(2), the term ``State'' does not include any
jurisdiction specified in subsection (a)(1).''.
SEC. 1203. TRANSITIONAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR VICTIMS OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
Title III of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (42
U.S.C. 10401 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 319. TRANSITIONAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall award grants under this
section to carry out programs to provide assistance to individuals, and
their dependents--
``(1) who are homeless or in need of transitional housing or other
housing assistance, as a result of fleeing a situation of domestic
violence; and
``(2) for whom emergency shelter services are unavailable or
insufficient.
``(b) Assistance Described.--Assistance provided under this section
may include--
``(1) short-term housing assistance, including rental or utilities
payments assistance and assistance with related expenses, such as
payment of security deposits and other costs incidental to relocation to
transitional housing, in cases in which assistance described in this
paragraph is necessary to prevent homelessness because an individual or
dependent is fleeing a situation of domestic violence; and
``(2) support services designed to enable an individual or dependent
who is fleeing a situation of domestic violence to locate and secure
permanent housing, and to integrate the individual or dependent into a
community, such as transportation, counseling, child care services, case
management, employment counseling, and other assistance.
``(c) Term of Assistance.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), an individual or
dependent assisted under this section may not receive assistance under
this section for a total of more than 12 months.
``(2) Waiver.--The recipient of a grant under this section may waive
the restrictions of paragraph (1) for up to an additional 6-month period
with respect to any individual (and dependents of the individual) who
has made a good-faith effort to acquire permanent housing and has been
unable to acquire the housing.
``(d) Reports.--
``(1) Report to secretary.--
``(A) In general.--An entity that receives a grant under this
section shall annually prepare and submit to the Secretary a report
describing the number of individuals and dependents assisted, and the
types of housing assistance
and support services provided, under this section.
``(B) Contents.--Each report shall include information on--
``(i) the purpose and amount of housing assistance provided to each
individual or dependent assisted under this section;
``(ii) the number of months each individual or dependent received
the assistance;
``(iii) the number of individuals and dependents who were eligible
to receive the assistance, and to whom the entity could not provide the
assistance solely due to a lack of available housing; and
``(iv) the type of support services provided to each individual or
dependent assisted under this section.
``(2) Report to congress.--The Secretary shall annually prepare and
submit to the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate a report that contains
a compilation of the information contained in reports submitted under
paragraph (1).
``(e) Evaluation, Monitoring, and Administration.--Of the amount
appropriated under subsection (f) for each fiscal year, not more than 1
percent shall be used by the Secretary for evaluation, monitoring, and
administrative costs under this section.
``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $25,000,000 for fiscal year
2001.''.
SEC. 1204. NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE.
Section 316(f) of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (42
U.S.C. 10416(f)) is amended by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the
following:
``(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry
out this section $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 through
2005.''.
SEC. 1205. FEDERAL VICTIMS COUNSELORS.
Section 40114 of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of
1994 (Public Law 103 322; 108 Stat. 1910) is amended by striking ``(such
as District of Columbia)--'' and all that follows and inserting ``(such
as District of Columbia), $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2001
through 2005.''.
SEC. 1206. STUDY OF STATE LAWS REGARDING INSURANCE
DISCRIMINATION AGAINST VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN.
(a) In General.--The Attorney General shall conduct a national study
to identify State laws that address discrimination against victims of
domestic violence and sexual assault related to issuance or
administration of insurance policies.
(b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Attorney General shall submit to Congress a report on the
findings and recommendations of the study required by subsection (a).
SEC. 1207. STUDY OF WORKPLACE EFFECTS FROM VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN.
The Attorney General shall--
(1) conduct a national survey of plans, programs, and practices
developed to assist employers and employees on appropriate responses in
the workplace related to victims of domestic violence, stalking, or
sexual assault; and
(2) not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this
Act, submit to Congress a report describing the results of that survey,
which report shall include the recommendations of the Attorney General
to assist employers and employees affected in the workplace by incidents
of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault.
SEC. 1208. STUDY OF UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION FOR VICTIMS OF
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN.
The Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Attorney General,
shall--
(1) conduct a national study to identify State laws that address the
separation from employment of an employee due to circumstances directly
resulting from the experience of domestic violence by the employee and
circumstances governing that receipt (or nonreceipt) by the employee of
unemployment compensation based on such separation; and
(2) not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act,
submit to Congress a report describing the results of that study,
together with any recommendations based on that study.
SEC. 1209. ENHANCING PROTECTIONS FOR OLDER AND DISABLED WOMEN
FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT.
(a) Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation.--The Violence Against
Women Act of 1994 (108 Stat. 1902 et seq.) is amended by adding at the
end the following:
``Subtitle H--Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation,
Including Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Against Older or Disabled
Individuals
``SEC. 40801. DEFINITIONS.
``In this subtitle:
``(1) In general.--The terms `elder abuse, neglect, and
exploitation', and `older individual' have the meanings given the terms
in section 102 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3002).
``(2) Domestic violence.--The term `domestic violence' has the
meaning given such term by section 2003 of title I of the Omnibus Crime
Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796gg 2).
``(3) Sexual assault.--The term `sexual assault' has the meaning
given the term in section 2003 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control
and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796gg 2).
``SEC. 40802. TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
``The Attorney General may make grants for training programs to
assist law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and relevant officers of
Federal, State, tribal, and local courts in recognizing, addressing,
investigating, and prosecuting instances of elder abuse, neglect, and
exploitation and violence against individuals with disabilities,
including domestic violence and sexual assault, against older or
disabled individuals.
``SEC. 40803. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subtitle
$5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 through 2005.''.
(b) Protections for Older and Disabled Individuals From Domestic
Violence and Sexual Assault in Pro-Arrest Grants.--Section 2101(b) of
part U of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of
1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796hh et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(8) To develop or strengthen policies and training for police,
prosecutors, and the judiciary in recognizing, investigating, and
prosecuting instances of domestic violence and sexual assault against
older individuals (as defined in section 102 of the Older Americans Act
of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3002)) and individuals with disabilities (as defined
in section 3(2) of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42
U.S.C. 12102(2))).''.
(c) Protections for Older and Disabled Individuals From Domestic
Violence and Sexual Assault in STOP Grants.--Section 2001(b) of title I
of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C.
3796gg(b)) (as amended by section 1103(b) of this division) is amended
by adding at the end the following:
``(10) developing, enlarging, or strengthening programs to assist
law enforcement, prosecutors, courts, and others to address the needs
and circumstances of older and disabled women who are victims of
domestic violence or sexual assault, including recognizing,
investigating, and prosecuting instances of such violence or assault and
targeting outreach and support, counseling, and other victim services to
such older and disabled individuals; and''.
TITLE III--LIMITING THE EFFECTS OF VIOLENCE ON CHILDREN
SEC. 1301. SAFE HAVENS FOR CHILDREN PILOT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Attorney General may award grants to States,
units of local government, and Indian tribal governments that propose to
enter into or expand the scope of existing contracts and cooperative
agreements with public or private nonprofit entities to provide
supervised visitation and safe visitation exchange of children by and
between parents in situations involving domestic violence, child abuse,
sexual assault, or stalking.
(b) Considerations.--In awarding grants under subsection (a), the
Attorney General shall take into account--
(1) the number of families to be served by the proposed visitation
programs and services;
(2) the extent to which the proposed supervised visitation programs
and services serve underserved populations (as defined in section 2003
of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42
U.S.C. 3796gg 2));
(3) with respect to an applicant for a contract or cooperative
agreement, the extent to which the applicant demonstrates cooperation
and collaboration with nonprofit, nongovernmental entities in the local
community served, including the State or tribal domestic violence
coalition, State or tribal sexual assault coalition, local shelters, and
programs for domestic violence and sexual assault victims; and
(4) the extent to which the applicant demonstrates coordination and
collaboration with State and local court systems, including mechanisms
for communication and referral.
(c) Applicant Requirements.--The Attorney General shall award grants
for contracts and cooperative agreements to applicants that--
(1) demonstrate expertise in the area of family violence, including
the areas of domestic violence or sexual assault, as appropriate;
(2) ensure that any fees charged to individuals for use of programs
and services are based on the income of those individuals, unless
otherwise provided by court order;
(3) demonstrate that adequate security measures, including adequate
facilities, procedures, and personnel capable of preventing violence,
are in place for the operation of supervised visitation programs and
services or safe visitation exchange; and
(4) prescribe standards by which the supervised visitation or safe
visitation exchange will occur.
(d) Reporting.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the last day of the
first fiscal year commencing on or after the date of enactment of this
Act, and not later than 180 days after the last day of each fiscal year
thereafter, the Attorney General shall submit to Congress a report that
includes information concerning--
(A) the number of--
(i) individuals served and the number of individuals turned away
from visitation programs and services and safe visitation exchange
(categorized by State);
(ii) the number of individuals from underserved populations served
and turned away from services; and
(iii) the type of problems that underlie the need for supervised
visitation or safe visitation exchange, such as domestic violence, child
abuse, sexual assault, other physical abuse, or a combination of such
factors;
(B) the numbers of supervised visitations or safe visitation
exchanges ordered under this section during custody determinations under
a separation or divorce decree or protection order, through child
protection services or other social services agencies, or by any other
order of a civil, criminal, juvenile, or family court;
(C) the process by which children or abused partners are protected
during visitations, temporary custody transfers, and other activities
for which supervised visitation is established under this section;
(D) safety and security problems occurring during the reporting
period during supervised visitation under this section, including the
number of parental abduction cases; and
(E) the number of parental abduction cases in a judicial district
using supervised visitation programs and services under this section,
both as identified in criminal prosecution and custody violations.
(2) Guidelines.--The Attorney General shall establish guidelines for
the collection and reporting of data under this subsection.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $15,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2001 and 2002.
(f) Allotment for Indian Tribes.--Not less than 5 percent of the
total amount made available for each fiscal year to carry out this
section shall be available for grants to Indian tribal governments.
SEC. 1302. REAUTHORIZATION OF VICTIMS OF CHILD ABUSE PROGRAMS.
(a) Court-Appointed Special Advocate Program.--Section 218 of the
Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 13014) is amended by
striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
``(a) Authorization.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry
out this subtitle $12,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 through
2005.''.
(b) Child Abuse Training Programs for Judicial Personnel and
Practitioners.--Section 224 of the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990
(42 U.S.C. 13024) is amended by striking subsection (a) and inserting
the following:
``(a) Authorization.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry
out this subtitle $2,300,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 through
2005.''.
(c) Grants for Televised Testimony.--Section 1001(a) of title I of
the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C.
3793(a)) is amended by striking paragraph (7) and inserting the
following:
``(7) There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out part N
$1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 through 2005.''.
(d) Dissemination of Information.--The Attorney General shall--
(1) annually compile and disseminate information (including through
electronic publication) about the use of amounts expended and the
projects funded under section 218(a) of the Victims of Child Abuse Act
of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 13014(a)), section 224(a) of
the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 13024(a)),
and section 1007(a)(7) of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe
Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3793(a)(7)), including any evaluations of
the projects and information to enable replication and adoption of the
strategies identified in the projects; and
(2) focus dissemination of the information described in paragraph
(1) toward community-based programs, including domestic violence and
sexual assault programs.
SEC. 1303. REPORT ON EFFECTS OF PARENTAL KIDNAPPING LAWS IN
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES.
(a) In General.--The Attorney General shall--
(1) conduct a study of Federal and State laws relating to child
custody, including custody provisions in protection orders, the Uniform
Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act adopted by the National
Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws in July 1997, the
Parental Kidnaping Prevention Act of 1980 and the amendments made by
that Act, and the effect of those laws on child custody cases in which
domestic violence is a factor; and
(2) submit to Congress a report describing the results of that
study, including the effects of implementing or applying model State
laws, and the recommendations of the Attorney General to reduce the
incidence or pattern of violence against women or of sexual assault of
the child.
(b) Sufficiency of Defenses.--In carrying out subsection (a) with
respect to the Parental Kidnaping Prevention Act of 1980 and the
amendments made by that Act, the Attorney General shall examine the
sufficiency of defenses to parental abduction charges available in cases
involving domestic violence, and the burdens and risks encountered by
victims of domestic violence arising from jurisdictional requirements of
that Act and the amendments made by that Act.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $200,000 for fiscal year 2001.
(d) Condition for Custody Determination.--Section 1738A(c)(2)(C)(ii)
of title 28, United States Code, is amended by striking ``he'' and
inserting ``the child, a sibling, or parent of the child''.
TITLE IV--STRENGTHENING EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO COMBAT
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
SEC. 1401. RAPE PREVENTION AND EDUCATION.
(a) In General.--Part J of title III of the Public Health Service Act
(42 U.S.C. 280b et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 393A the
following:
``SEC. 393B. USE OF ALLOTMENTS FOR RAPE PREVENTION EDUCATION.
``(a) Permitted Use.--The Secretary, acting through the National
Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, shall award targeted grants to States to be used
for rape prevention and education programs conducted by rape crisis
centers, State sexual assault coalitions, and other public and private
nonprofit entities for--
``(1) educational seminars;
``(2) the operation of hotlines;
``(3) training programs for professionals;
``(4) the preparation of informational material;
``(5) education and training programs for students and campus
personnel designed to reduce the incidence of sexual assault at colleges
and universities;
``(6) education to increase awareness about drugs used to facilitate
rapes or sexual assaults; and
``(7) other efforts to increase awareness of the facts about, or to
help prevent, sexual assault, including efforts to increase awareness in
underserved communities and awareness among individuals with
disabilities (as defined in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities
Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102)).
``(b) Collection and Dissemination of Information on Sexual
Assault.--The Secretary shall, through the National Resource Center on
Sexual Assault established under the National Center for Injury
Prevention and Control at the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, provide resource information, policy, training, and
technical assistance to Federal, State, local, and Indian tribal
agencies, as well as to State sexual assault coalitions and local sexual
assault programs and to other professionals and interested parties on
issues relating to sexual assault, including maintenance of a central
resource library in order to collect, prepare, analyze, and disseminate
information and statistics and analyses thereof relating to the
incidence and prevention of sexual assault.
``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--
``(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry
out this section $80,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 through 2005.
``(2) National resource center allotment.--Of the total amount made
available under this subsection in each fiscal year, not more than the
greater of $1,000,000 or 2 percent of such amount shall be available for
allotment under subsection (b).
``(d) Limitations.--
``(1) Supplement not supplant.--Amounts provided to States under
this section shall be used to supplement and not supplant other Federal,
State, and local public funds expended to provide services of the type
described in subsection (a).
``(2) Studies.--A State may not use more than 2 percent of the
amount received by the State under this section for each fiscal year for
surveillance studies or prevalence studies.
``(3) Administration.--A State may not use more than 5 percent of
the amount received by the State under this section for each fiscal year
for administrative expenses.''.
(b) Repeal.--Section 40151 of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994
(108 Stat. 1920), and the amendment made by such section, is repealed.
SEC. 1402. EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST AND
ABUSE OF WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES.
(a) In General.--The Attorney General, in consultation with the
Secretary of Health and Human Services, may award grants to States,
units of local government, Indian tribal governments, and
nongovernmental private entities to provide education and technical
assistance for the purpose of providing training, consultation, and
information on domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault against
women who are individuals with disabilities (as defined in section 3 of
the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102)).
(b) Priorities.--In awarding grants under this section, the Attorney
General shall give priority to applications designed to provide
education and technical assistance on--
(1) the nature, definition, and characteristics of domestic
violence, stalking, and sexual assault experienced by women who are
individuals with disabilities;
(2) outreach activities to ensure that women who are individuals
with disabilities who are victims of domestic violence, stalking, and
sexual assault receive appropriate assistance;
(3) the requirements of shelters and victim services organizations
under Federal anti-discrimination laws, including the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990 and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973; and
(4) cost-effective ways that shelters and victim services may
accommodate the needs of individuals with disabilities in accordance
with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
(c) Uses of Grants.--Each recipient of a grant under this section
shall provide information and training to organizations and programs
that provide services to individuals with disabilities, including
independent living centers, disability-related service organizations,
and domestic violence programs providing shelter or related assistance.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $7,500,000 for each of fiscal
years 2001 through 2005.
SEC. 1403. COMMUNITY INITIATIVES.
Section 318 of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (42
U.S.C. 10418) is amended by striking subsection (h) and inserting the
following:
``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $6,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2001 through 2005.''.
SEC. 1404. DEVELOPMENT OF RESEARCH AGENDA IDENTIFIED BY THE
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT OF 1994.
(a) In General.--The Attorney General shall--
(1) direct the National Institute of Justice, in consultation and
coordination with the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the National
Academy of Sciences, through its National Research Council, to develop a
research agenda based on the recommendations contained in the report
entitled ``Understanding Violence Against Women'' of the National
Academy of Sciences; and
(2) not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act,
in consultation with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human
Services, submit to Congress a report which shall include--
(A) a description of the research agenda developed under paragraph
(1) and a plan to implement that agenda;
(B) recommendations for priorities in carrying out that agenda to
most effectively advance knowledge about and means by which to prevent
or reduce violence against women.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
SEC. 1405. STANDARDS, PRACTICE, AND TRAINING FOR SEXUAL
ASSAULT FORENSIC EXAMINATIONS.
(a) In General.--The Attorney General shall--
(1) evaluate existing standards of training and practice for
licensed health care professionals performing sexual assault forensic
examinations and develop a national recommended standard for training;
(2) recommend sexual assault forensic examination training for all
health care students to improve the recognition of injuries suggestive
of rape and sexual assault and baseline knowledge of appropriate
referrals in victim treatment and evidence collection; and
(3) review existing national, State, tribal, and local protocols on
sexual assault forensic examinations, and based on this review, develop
a recommended national protocol and establish a mechanism for its
nationwide dissemination.
(b) Consultation.--The Attorney General shall consult with national,
State, tribal, and local experts in the area of rape and sexual assault,
including rape crisis centers, State and tribal sexual assault and
domestic violence coalitions and programs, and programs for criminal
justice, forensic nursing, forensic science, emergency room medicine,
law, social services, and sex crimes in underserved communities (as
defined in section 2003(7) of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and
Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796gg 2(7)), as amended by this
division).
(c) Report.--The Attorney General shall ensure that not later than 1
year after the date of enactment of this Act, a report of the actions
taken pursuant to subsection (a) is submitted to Congress.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $200,000 for fiscal year 2001.
SEC. 1406. EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR JUDGES AND COURT PERSONNEL.
(a) Grants for Education and Training for Judges and Court Personnel
in State Courts.--
(1) Section 40412.--Section 40412 of the Equal Justice for Women in
the Courts Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 13992) is amended--
(A) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (18);
(B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (19) and
inserting a semicolon; and
(C) by inserting after paragraph (19) the following:
``(20) the issues raised by domestic violence in determining custody
and visitation, including how to
protect the safety of the child and of a parent who is not a
predominant aggressor of domestic violence, the legitimate reasons
parents may report domestic violence, the ways domestic violence may
relate to an abuser's desire to seek custody, and evaluating expert
testimony in custody and visitation determinations involving domestic
violence;
``(21) the issues raised by child sexual assault in determining
custody and visitation, including how to protect the safety of the
child, the legitimate reasons parents may report child sexual assault,
and evaluating expert testimony in custody and visitation determinations
involving child sexual assault, including the current
scientifically-accepted and empirically valid research on child sexual
assault;
``(22) the extent to which addressing domestic violence and victim
safety contributes to the efficient administration of justice;''.
(2) Section 40414.--Section 40414(a) of the Equal Justice for Women
in the Courts Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 13994(a)) is amended by inserting
``and $1,500,000 for each of the fiscal years 2001 through 2005'' after
``1996''.
(b) Grants for Education and Training for Judges and Court Personnel
in Federal Courts.--
(1) Section 40421.--Section 40421(d) of the Equal Justice for Women
in the Courts Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 14001(d)) is amended to read as
follows:
``(d) Continuing Education and Training Programs.--The Federal
Judicial Center, in carrying out section 620(b)(3) of title 28, United
States Code, shall include in the educational programs it prepares,
including the training programs for newly appointed judges, information
on the aspects of the topics listed in section 40412 that pertain to
issues within the jurisdiction of the Federal courts, and shall prepare
materials necessary to implement this subsection.''.
(2) Section 40422.--Section 40422(2) of the Equal Justice for Women
in the Courts Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 14002(2)) is amended by inserting
``and $500,000 for each of the fiscal years 2001 through 2005'' after
``1996''.
(c) Technical Amendments to the Equal Justice for Women in the Courts
Act of 1994.--
(1) Ensuring collaboration with domestic violence and sexual assault
programs.--Section 40413 of the Equal Justice for Women in the Courts
Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 13993) is amended by adding ``, including
national, State, tribal, and local domestic violence and sexual assault
programs and coalitions'' after ``victim advocates''.
(2) Participation of tribal courts in state training and education
programs.--Section 40411 of the Equal Justice for Women in the Courts
Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 13991) is amended by adding at the end the
following: ``Nothing shall preclude the attendance of tribal judges and
court personnel at programs funded under this section for States to
train judges and court personnel on the laws of the States.''.
(3) Use of funds for dissemination of model programs.--Section 40414
of the Equal Justice for Women in the Courts Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C.
13994) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(c) State Justice Institute.--The State Justice Institute may use
up to 5 percent of the funds appropriated under this section for
annually compiling and broadly disseminating (including through
electronic publication) information about the use of funds and about the
projects funded under this section, including any evaluations of the
projects and information to enable the replication and adoption of the
projects.''.
(d) Dating Violence.--
(1) Section 40411.--Section 40411 of the Equal Justice for Women in
Courts Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C 13991) is amended by inserting ``dating
violence,'' after ``domestic violence,''.
(2) Section 40412.--Section 40412 of such Act (42 U.S.C 13992) is
amended--
(A) in paragraph (10), by inserting ``and dating violence (as
defined in section 2003 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe
Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3996gg 2))'' before the semicolon;
(B) in paragraph (11), by inserting ``and dating violence'' after
``domestic violence'';
(C) in paragraph (13), by inserting ``and dating violence'' after
``domestic violence'' in both places that it appears;
(D) in paragraph (17), by inserting ``or dating violence'' after
``domestic violence'' in both places that it appears; and
(E) in paragraph (18), by inserting ``and dating violence'' after
``domestic violence''.
SEC. 1407. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TASK FORCE
The Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (108 Stat. 1902 et seq.) (as
amended by section 1209(a) of this division) is amended by adding at the
end the following:
``Subtitle I--Domestic Violence Task Force
``SEC. 40901. TASK FORCE.
``(a) Establish.--The Attorney General, in consultation with national
nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations whose primary expertise is in
domestic violence, shall establish a task force to coordinate research
on domestic violence and to report to Congress on any overlapping or
duplication of efforts on domestic violence issues. The task force shall
be comprised of representatives from all Federal agencies that fund such
research.
``(b) Uses of Funds.--Funds appropriated under this section shall be
used to--
``(1) develop a coordinated strategy to strengthen research focused
on domestic violence education, prevention, and intervention strategies;
``(2) track and report all Federal research and expenditures on
domestic violence; and
``(3) identify gaps and duplication of efforts in domestic violence
research and governmental expenditures on domestic violence issues.
``(c) Report.--The Task Force shall report to Congress annually on
its work under subsection (b).
``(d) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term `domestic
violence' has the meaning given such term by section 2003 of title I of
the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796gg
2(1)).
``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $500,000 for each of fiscal years
2001 through 2004.''.
TITLE V--BATTERED IMMIGRANT WOMEN
SEC. 1501. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Battered Immigrant Women Protection
Act of 2000''.
SEC. 1502. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(1) the goal of the immigration protections for battered immigrants
included in the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 was to remove
immigration laws as a barrier that kept battered immigrant women and
children locked in abusive relationships;
(2) providing battered immigrant women and children who were
experiencing domestic violence at home with protection against
deportation allows them to obtain protection orders against their
abusers and frees them to cooperate with law enforcement and prosecutors
in criminal cases brought against their abusers and the abusers of their
children without fearing that the abuser will retaliate by withdrawing
or threatening withdrawal of access to an immigration benefit under the
abuser's control; and
(3) there are several groups of battered immigrant women and
children who do not have access to the immigration protections of the
Violence Against Women Act of 1994 which means that their abusers are
virtually immune from prosecution because their victims can be deported
as a result of action by their abusers and the Immigration and
Naturalization Service cannot offer them protection no matter how
compelling their case under existing law.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this title are--
(1) to remove barriers to criminal prosecutions of persons who
commit acts of battery or extreme cruelty against immigrant women and
children; and
(2) to offer protection against domestic violence occurring in
family and intimate relationships that are covered in State and tribal
protection orders, domestic violence, and family law statutes.
SEC. 1503. IMPROVED ACCESS TO IMMIGRATION PROTECTIONS OF THE
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT OF 1994 FOR BATTERED IMMIGRANT WOMEN.
(a) Intended Spouse Defined.--Section 101(a) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(50) The term `intended spouse' means any alien who meets the
criteria set forth in section 204(a)(1)(A)(iii)(II)(aa)(BB),
204(a)(1)(B)(ii)(II)(aa)(BB), or 240A(b)(2)(A)(i)(III).''.
(b) Immediate Relative Status for Self-Petitioners Married to U.S.
Citizens.--
(1) Self-petitioning spouses.--
(A) Battery or cruelty to alien or alien's child.--Section
204(a)(1)(A)(iii) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1154(a)(1)(A)(iii)) is amended to read as follows:
``(iii)(I) An alien who is described in subclause (II) may file a
petition with the Attorney General under this clause for classification
of the alien (and any child of the alien) if the alien demonstrates to
the Attorney General that--
``(aa) the marriage or the intent to marry the United States citizen
was entered into in good faith by the alien; and
``(bb) during the marriage or relationship intended by the alien to
be legally a marriage, the alien or a child of the alien has been
battered or has been the subject of extreme cruelty perpetrated by the
alien's spouse or intended spouse.
``(II) For purposes of subclause (I), an alien described in this
subclause is an alien--
``(aa)(AA) who is the spouse of a citizen of the United States;
``(BB) who believed that he or she had married a citizen of the
United States and with whom a marriage ceremony was actually performed
and who otherwise meets any applicable requirements under this Act to
establish the existence of and bona fides of a marriage, but whose
marriage is not legitimate solely because of the bigamy of such citizen
of the United States; or
``(CC) who was a bona fide spouse of a United States citizen within
the past 2 years and--
``(aaa) whose spouse died within the past 2 years;
``(bbb) whose spouse lost or renounced citizenship status within the
past 2 years related to an incident of domestic violence; or
``(ccc) who demonstrates a connection between the legal termination
of the marriage within the past 2 years and battering or extreme cruelty
by the United States citizen spouse;
``(bb) who is a person of good moral character;
``(cc) who is eligible to be classified as an immediate relative
under section 201(b)(2)(A)(i) or who would have been so classified but
for the bigamy of the citizen of the United States that the alien
intended to marry; and
``(dd) who has resided with the alien's spouse or intended spouse.''.
(2) Self-petitioning children.--Section 204(a)(1)(A)(iv) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)(A)(iv)) is amended
to read as follows:
``(iv) An alien who is the child of a citizen of the United States,
or who was a child of a United States citizen parent who within the past
2 years lost or renounced citizenship status related to an incident of
domestic violence, and who is a person of good moral character, who is
eligible to be classified as an immediate relative under section
201(b)(2)(A)(i), and who resides, or has resided in the past, with the
citizen parent may file a petition with the Attorney General under this
subparagraph for classification of the alien (and any child of the
alien) under such section if the alien demonstrates to the Attorney
General that the alien has been battered by or has been the subject of
extreme cruelty perpetrated by the alien's citizen parent. For purposes
of this clause, residence includes any period of visitation.''.
(3) Filing of petitions.--Section 204(a)(1)(A) of the Immigration
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)(A)) is amended by adding at the
end the following:
``(v) An alien who--
``(I) is the spouse, intended spouse, or child living abroad of a
citizen who--
``(aa) is an employee of the United States Government;
``(bb) is a member of the uniformed services (as defined in section
101(a) of title 10, United States Code); or
``(cc) has subjected the alien or the alien's child to battery or
extreme cruelty in the United States; and
``(II) is eligible to file a petition under clause (iii) or (iv);
shall file such petition with the Attorney General under the
procedures that apply to self-petitioners under clause (iii) or (iv), as
applicable.''.
(c) Second Preference Immigration Status for Self-Petitioners Married
to Lawful Permanent Residents.--
(1) Self-petitioning spouses.--Section 204(a)(1)(B)(ii) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)(B)(ii)) is amended
to read as follows:
``(ii)(I) An alien who is described in subclause (II) may file a
petition with the Attorney General under this clause for classification
of the alien (and any child of the alien) if such a child has not been
classified under clause (iii) of section 203(a)(2)(A) and if the alien
demonstrates to the Attorney General that--
``(aa) the marriage or the intent to marry the lawful permanent
resident was entered into in good faith by the alien; and
``(bb) during the marriage or relationship intended by the alien to
be legally a marriage, the alien or a child of the alien has been
battered or has been the subject of extreme cruelty perpetrated by the
alien's spouse or intended spouse.
``(II) For purposes of subclause (I), an alien described in this
paragraph is an alien--
``(aa)(AA) who is the spouse of a lawful permanent resident of the
United States; or
``(BB) who believed that he or she had married a lawful permanent
resident of the United States and with whom a marriage ceremony was
actually performed and who otherwise meets any applicable requirements
under this Act to establish the existence of and bona fides of a
marriage, but whose marriage is not legitimate solely because of the
bigamy of such lawful permanent resident of the United States; or
``(CC) who was a bona fide spouse of a lawful permanent resident
within the past 2 years and--
``(aaa) whose spouse lost status within the past 2 years due to an
incident of domestic violence; or
``(bbb) who demonstrates a connection between the legal termination
of the marriage within the past 2 years and battering or extreme cruelty
by the lawful permanent resident spouse;
``(bb) who is a person of good moral character;
``(cc) who is eligible to be classified as a spouse of an alien
lawfully admitted for permanent residence under section 203(a)(2)(A) or
who would have been so classified but for the bigamy of the lawful
permanent resident of the United States that the alien intended to
marry; and
``(dd) who has resided with the alien's spouse or intended spouse.''.
(2) Self-petitioning children.--Section 204(a)(1)(B)(iii) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)(B)(iii)) is amended
to read as follows:
``(iii) An alien who is the child of an alien lawfully admitted for
permanent residence, or who was the child of a lawful permanent resident
who within the past 2 years lost lawful permanent resident status due to
an incident of domestic violence, and who is a person of good moral
character, who is eligible for classification under section
203(a)(2)(A), and who resides, or has resided in the past, with the
alien's permanent resident alien parent may file a petition with the
Attorney General under this subparagraph for classification of the alien
(and any child of the alien) under such section if the alien
demonstrates to the Attorney General that the alien has been battered by
or has been the subject of extreme cruelty perpetrated by the alien's
permanent resident parent.''.
(3) Filing of petitions.--Section 204(a)(1)(B) of the Immigration
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)(B)) is amended by adding at the
end the following:
``(iv) An alien who--
``(I) is the spouse, intended spouse, or child living abroad of a
lawful permanent resident who--
``(aa) is an employee of the United States Government;
``(bb) is a member of the uniformed services (as defined in section
101(a) of title 10, United States Code); or
``(cc) has subjected the alien or the alien's child to battery or
extreme cruelty in the United States; and
``(II) is eligible to file a petition under clause (ii) or (iii);
shall file such petition with the Attorney General under the
procedures that apply to self-petitioners under clause (ii) or (iii), as
applicable.''.
(d) Good Moral Character Determinations for Self-Petitioners and
Treatment of Child Self-Petitioners and Petitions Including Derivative
Children Attaining 21 Years of Age.--Section 204(a)(1) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) through (H) as subparagraphs
(E) through (J), respectively;
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:
``(C) Notwithstanding section 101(f), an act or conviction that is
waivable with respect to the petitioner for purposes of a determination
of the petitioner's admissibility under section 212(a) or deportability
under section 237(a) shall not bar the Attorney General from finding the
petitioner to be of good moral character under subparagraph (A)(iii),
(A)(iv), (B)(ii), or (B)(iii) if the Attorney General finds that the act
or conviction was connected to the alien's having been battered or
subjected to extreme cruelty.
``(D)(i)(I) Any child who attains 21 years of age who has filed a
petition under clause (iv) of section 204(a)(1)(A) that was filed or
approved before the date on which the child attained 21 years of age
shall be considered (if the child has not been admitted or approved for
lawful permanent residence by the date the child attained 21 years of
age) a petitioner for preference status under paragraph (1), (2), or (3)
of section 203(a), whichever paragraph is applicable, with the same
priority date assigned to the self-petition filed under clause (iv) of
section 204(a)(1)(A). No new petition shall be required to be filed.
``(II) Any individual described in subclause (I) is eligible for
deferred action and work authorization.
``(III) Any derivative child who attains 21 years of age who is
included in a petition described in clause (ii) that was filed or
approved before the date on which the child attained 21 years of age
shall be considered (if the child has not been admitted or approved for
lawful permanent residence by the date the child attained 21 years of
age) a petitioner for preference status under paragraph (1), (2), or (3)
of section 203(a), whichever paragraph is applicable, with the same
priority date as that assigned to the petitioner in any petition
described in clause (ii). No new petition shall be required to be filed.
``(IV) Any individual described in subclause (III) and any derivative
child of a petition described in clause (ii) is eligible for deferred
action and work authorization.
``(ii) The petition referred to in clause (i)(III) is a petition
filed by an alien under subparagraph (A)(iii), (A)(iv), (B)(ii) or
(B)(iii) in which the child is included as a derivative beneficiary.'';
and
(3) in subparagraph (J) (as so redesignated), by inserting ``or in
making determinations under subparagraphs (C) and (D),'' after
``subparagraph (B),''.
(e) Access to Naturalization for Divorced Victims of Abuse.--Section
319(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1430(a)) is
amended--
(1) by inserting ``, or any person who obtained status as a lawful
permanent resident by reason of his or her status as a spouse or child
of a United States citizen who battered him or her or subjected him or
her to extreme cruelty,'' after ``United States'' the first place such
term appears; and
(2) by inserting ``(except in the case of a person who has been
battered or subjected to extreme cruelty by a United States citizen
spouse or parent)'' after ``has been living in marital union with the
citizen spouse''.
SEC. 1504. IMPROVED ACCESS TO CANCELLATION OF REMOVAL AND
SUSPENSION OF DEPORTATION UNDER THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT OF 1994.
(a) Cancellation of Removal and Adjustment of Status for Certain
Nonpermanent Residents.--Section 240A(b)(2) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1229b(b)(2)) is amended to read as follows:
``(2) Special rule for battered spouse or child.--
``(A) Authority.--The Attorney General may cancel removal of, and
adjust to the status of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent
residence, an alien who is inadmissible or deportable from the United
States if the alien demonstrates that--
``(i)(I) the alien has been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty
by a spouse or parent who is or was a United States citizen (or is the
parent of a child of a United States citizen and the child has been
battered or subjected to extreme cruelty by such citizen parent);
``(II) the alien has been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty
by a spouse or parent who is or was a lawful permanent resident (or is
the parent of a child of an alien who is or was a lawful permanent
resident and the child has been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty
by such permanent resident parent); or
``(III) the alien has been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty
by a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident whom the alien
intended to marry, but whose marriage is not legitimate because of that
United States citizen's or lawful permanent resident's bigamy;
``(ii) the alien has been physically present in the United States
for a continuous period of not less than 3 years immediately preceding
the date of such application, and the issuance of a charging document
for removal proceedings shall not toll the 3-year period of continuous
physical presence in the United States;
``(iii) the alien has been a person of good moral character during
such period, subject to the provisions of subparagraph (C);
``(iv) the alien is not inadmissible under paragraph (2) or (3) of
section 212(a), is not deportable under paragraphs (1)(G) or (2) through
(4) of section 237(a) (except in a case described in section 237(a)(7)
where the Attorney General exercises discretion to grant a waiver), and
has not been convicted of an aggravated felony; and
``(v) the removal would result in extreme hardship to the alien, the
alien's child, or the alien's parent.
``(B) Physical presence.--Notwithstanding subsection (d)(2), for
purposes of subparagraph (A)(i)(II) or for purposes of section 244(a)(3)
(as in effect before the title III A effective date in section 309 of
the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of
1996), an alien shall not be considered to have failed to maintain
continuous physical presence by reason of an absence if the alien
demonstrates a connection between the absence and the battering or
extreme cruelty perpetrated against the alien. No absence or portion of
an absence connected to the battering or extreme cruelty shall count
toward the 90-day or 180-day limits established in subsection (d)(2). If
any absence or aggregate absences exceed 180 days, the absences or
portions of the absences will not be considered to break the period of
continuous presence. Any such period of time excluded from the 180-day
limit shall be excluded in computing the time during which the alien has
been physically present for purposes of the 3-year requirement set forth
in section 240A(b)(2)(B) and section 244(a)(3) (as in effect before the
title III A effective date in section 309 of the Illegal Immigration
Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996).
``(C) Good moral character.--Notwithstanding section 101(f), an act
or conviction that does not bar the Attorney General from granting
relief under this paragraph by reason of subparagraph (A)(iv) shall not
bar the Attorney General from finding the alien to be of good moral
character under subparagraph (A)(i)(III) or section 244(a)(3) (as in
effect before the title III A effective date in section 309 of the
Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996), if
the Attorney General finds that the act or conviction was connected to
the alien's having been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty and
determines that a waiver is otherwise warranted.
``(D) Credible evidence considered.--In acting on applications under
this paragraph, the Attorney General shall consider any credible
evidence relevant to the application. The determination of what evidence
is credible and the weight to be given that evidence shall be within the
sole discretion of the Attorney General.''.
(b) Children of Battered Aliens and Parents of Battered Alien
Children.--Section 240A(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1229b(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Children of battered aliens and parents of battered alien
children.--
``(A) In general.--The Attorney General shall grant parole under
section 212(d)(5) to any alien who is a--
``(i) child of an alien granted relief under section 240A(b)(2) or
244(a)(3) (as in effect before the title III A effective date in section
309 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act
of 1996); or
``(ii) parent of a child alien granted relief under section
240A(b)(2) or 244(a)(3) (as in effect before the title III A effective
date in section 309 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant
Responsibility Act of 1996).
``(B) Duration of parole.--The grant of parole shall extend from the
time of the grant of
relief under section 240A(b)(2) or section 244(a)(3) (as in
effect before the title III A effective date in section 309 of the
Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996) to
the time the application for adjustment of status filed by aliens
covered under this paragraph has been finally adjudicated. Applications
for adjustment of status filed by aliens covered under this paragraph
shall be treated as if they were applications filed under section
204(a)(1) (A)(iii), (A)(iv), (B)(ii), or (B)(iii) for purposes of
section 245 (a) and (c). Failure by the alien granted relief under
section 240A(b)(2) or section 244(a)(3) (as in effect before the title
III A effective date in section 309 of the Illegal Immigration Reform
and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996) to exercise due diligence in
filing a visa petition on behalf of an alien described in clause (i) or
(ii) may result in revocation of parole.''.
(c) Effective Date.--Any individual who becomes eligible for relief
by reason of the enactment of the amendments made by subsections (a) and
(b), shall be eligible to file a motion to reopen pursuant to section
240(c)(6)(C)(iv). The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) shall
take effect as if included in the enactment of section 304 of the
Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996
(Public Law 104 208; 110 Stat. 587). Such portions of the amendments
made by subsection (b) that relate to section 244(a)(3) (as in effect
before the title III A effective date in section 309 of the Illegal
Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996) shall take
effect as if included in subtitle G of title IV of the Violent Crime
Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (Public Law 103 322; 108 Stat.
1953 et seq.).
SEC. 1505. OFFERING EQUAL ACCESS TO IMMIGRATION PROTECTIONS OF
THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT OF 1994 FOR ALL QUALIFIED BATTERED
IMMIGRANT SELF-PETITIONERS.
(a) Battered Immigrant Waiver.--Section 212(a)(9)(C)(ii) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(9)(C)(ii)) is amended
by adding at the end the following: ``The Attorney General in the
Attorney General's discretion may waive the provisions of section
212(a)(9)(C)(i) in the case of an alien to whom the Attorney General has
granted classification under clause (iii), (iv), or (v) of section
204(a)(1)(A), or classification under clause (ii), (iii), or (iv) of
section 204(a)(1)(B), in any case in which there is a connection
between--
``(1) the alien's having been battered or subjected to extreme
cruelty; and
``(2) the alien's--
``(A) removal;
``(B) departure from the United States;
``(C) reentry or reentries into the United States; or
``(D) attempted reentry into the United States.''.
(b) Domestic Violence Victim Waiver.--
(1) Waiver for victims of domestic violence.--Section 237(a) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1227(a)) is amended by
inserting at the end the following:
``(7) Waiver for victims of domestic violence.--
``(A) In general.--The Attorney General is not limited by the
criminal court record and may waive the application of paragraph
(2)(E)(i) (with respect to crimes of domestic violence and crimes of
stalking) and (ii) in the case of an alien who has been battered or
subjected to extreme cruelty and who is not and was not the primary
perpetrator of violence in the relationship--
``(i) upon a determination that--
``(I) the alien was acting is self-defense;
``(II) the alien was found to have violated a protection order
intended to protect the alien; or
``(III) the alien committed, was arrested for, was convicted of, or
pled guilty to committing a crime--
``(aa) that did not result in serious bodily injury; and
``(bb) where there was a connection between the crime and the
alien's having been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty.
``(B) Credible evidence considered.--In acting on applications under
this paragraph, the Attorney General shall consider any credible
evidence relevant to the application. The determination of what evidence
is credible and the weight to be given that evidence shall be within the
sole discretion of the Attorney General.''.
(2) Conforming amendment.--Section 240A(b)(1)(C) of the Immigration
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1229b(b)(1)(C)) is amended by inserting
``(except in a case described in section 237(a)(7) where the Attorney
General exercises discretion to grant a waiver)'' after ``237(a)(3)''.
(c) Misrepresentation Waivers for Battered Spouses of United States
Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents.--
(1) Waiver of inadmissibility.--Section 212(i)(1) of the Immigration
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(i)(1)) is amended by inserting before
the period at the end the following: ``or, in the case of an alien
granted classification under clause (iii) or (iv) of section
204(a)(1)(A) or clause (ii) or (iii) of section 204(a)(1)(B), the alien
demonstrates extreme hardship to the alien or the alien's United States
citizen, lawful permanent resident, or qualified alien parent or
child''.
(2) Waiver of deportability.--Section 237(a)(1)(H) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1227(a)(1)(H)) is amended--
(A) in clause (i), by inserting ``(I)'' after ``(i)'';
(B) by redesignating clause (ii) as subclause (II); and
(C) by adding after clause (i) the following:
``(ii) is an alien who qualifies for classification under clause
(iii) or (iv) of section 204(a)(1)(A) or clause (ii) or (iii) of section
204(a)(1)(B).''.
(d) Battered Immigrant Waiver.--Section 212(g)(1) of the Immigration
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(g)(1)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``or'' at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (B), by adding ``or'' at the end; and
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:
``(C) qualifies for classification under clause (iii) or (iv) of
section 204(a)(1)(A) or classification under clause (ii) or (iii) of
section 204(a)(1)(B);''.
(e) Waivers for VAWA Eligible Battered Immigrants.--Section 212(h)(1)
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(h)(1)) is
amended--
(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' and inserting ``or''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) the alien qualifies for classification under clause (iii) or
(iv) of section 204(a)(1)(A) or classification under clause (ii) or
(iii) of section 204(a)(1)(B); and''.
(f) Public Charge.--Section 212 of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (8 U.S.C. 1182) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(p) In determining whether an alien described in subsection
(a)(4)(C)(i) is inadmissible under subsection (a)(4) or ineligible to
receive an immigrant visa or otherwise to adjust to the status of
permanent resident by reason of subsection (a)(4), the consular officer
or the Attorney General shall not consider any benefits the alien may
have received that were authorized under section 501 of the Illegal
Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C.
1641(c)).''.
(g) Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Attorney General shall submit a report to the Committees
on the Judiciary of the Senate and the House of Representatives
covering, with respect to fiscal year 1997 and each fiscal year
thereafter--
(1) the policy and procedures of the Immigration and Naturalization
Service under which an alien who has been battered or subjected to
extreme cruelty who is eligible for suspension of deportation or
cancellation of removal can request to be placed, and be placed, in
deportation or removal proceedings so that such alien may apply for
suspension of deportation or cancellation of removal;
(2) the number of requests filed at each district office under this
policy;
(3) the number of these requests granted reported separately for
each district; and
(4) the average length of time at each Immigration and
Naturalization office between the date that an alien who has been
subject to battering or extreme cruelty eligible for suspension of
deportation or cancellation of removal requests to be placed in
deportation or removal proceedings and the date that the immigrant
appears before an immigration judge to file an application for
suspension of deportation or cancellation of removal.
SEC. 1506. RESTORING IMMIGRATION PROTECTIONS UNDER THE
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT OF 1994.
(a) Removing Barriers to Adjustment of Status for Victims of Domestic
Violence.--
(1) Immigration amendments.--Section 245 of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1255) is amended--
(A) in subsection (a), by inserting ``or the status of any other
alien having an approved petition for classification under subparagraph
(A)(iii), (A)(iv), (B)(ii), or (B)(iii) of section 204(a)(1) or'' after
``into the United States.''; and
(B) in subsection (c), by striking ``Subsection (a) shall not be
applicable to'' and inserting the following: ``Other than an alien
having an approved petition for classification under subparagraph
(A)(iii), (A)(iv), (A)(v), (A)(vi), (B)(ii), (B)(iii), or (B)(iv) of
section 204(a)(1), subsection (a) shall not be applicable to''.
(2) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall
apply to applications for adjustment of status pending on or made on or
after January 14, 1998.
(b) Removing Barriers to Cancellation of Removal and Suspension of
Deportation for Victims of Domestic Violence.--
(1) Not treating service of notice as terminating continuous
period.--Section 240A(d)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1229b(d)(1)) is amended by striking ``when the alien is served a
notice to appear under section 239(a) or'' and inserting ``(A) except in
the case of an alien who applies for cancellation of removal under
subsection (b)(2), when the alien is served a notice to appear under
section 239(a), or (B)''.
(2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall take
effect as if included in the enactment of section 304 of the Illegal
Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (Public Law
104 208; 110 Stat. 587).
(3) Modification of certain transition rules for battered spouse or
child.--Section 309(c)(5)(C) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and
Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1101 note) is amended--
(A) by striking the subparagraph heading and inserting the following:
``(C) Special rule for certain aliens granted temporary protection
from deportation and for battered spouses and children.--''; and
(B) in clause (i)--
(i) in subclause (IV), by striking ``or'' at the end;
(ii) in subclause (V), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; or''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(VI) is an alien who was issued an order to show cause or was in
deportation proceedings before April 1, 1997, and who applied for
suspension of deportation under section 244(a)(3) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (as in effect before the date of the enactment of this
Act).''.
(4) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph (3) shall take
effect as if included in the enactment of section 309 of the Illegal
Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C.
1101 note).
(c) Eliminating Time Limitations on Motions To Reopen Removal and
Deportation Proceedings for Victims of Domestic Violence.--
(1) Removal proceedings.--
(A) In general.--Section 240(c)(6)(C) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1229a(c)(6)(C)) is amended by adding at the
end the following:
``(iv) Special rule for battered spouses and children.--The deadline
specified in subsection (b)(5)(C) for filing a motion to reopen does not
apply--
``(I) if the basis for the motion is to apply for relief under
clause (iii) or (iv) of section 204(a)(1)(A), clause (ii) or (iii) of
section 204(a)(1)(B), or section 240A(b)(2);
``(II) if the motion is accompanied by a cancellation of removal
application to be filed with the Attorney General or by a copy of the
self-petition that has been or will be filed with the Immigration and
Naturalization Service upon the granting of the motion to reopen; and
``(III) if the motion to reopen is filed within 1 year of the entry
of the final order of removal, except that the Attorney General may, in
the Attorney General's discretion, waive this time limitation in the
case of an alien who demonstrates extraordinary circumstances or extreme
hardship to the alien's child.''.
(B) Effective date.--The amendment made by subparagraph (A) shall
take effect as if included in the enactment of section 304 of the
Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8
U.S.C. 1229 1229c).
(2) Deportation proceedings.--
(A) In general.--Notwithstanding any limitation imposed by law on
motions to reopen or rescind deportation proceedings under the
Immigration and Nationality Act (as in effect before the title III A
effective date in section 309 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and
Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1101 note)), there is no
time limit on the filing of a motion to reopen such proceedings, and the
deadline specified in section 242B(c)(3) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (as so in effect) (8 U.S.C. 1252b(c)(3)) does not
apply--
(i) if the basis of the motion is to apply for relief under clause
(iii) or (iv) of section 204(a)(1)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (8 U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)(A)), clause (ii) or (iii) of section
204(a)(1)(B) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)(B)), or section 244(a)(3)
of such Act (as so in effect) (8 U.S.C. 1254(a)(3)); and
(ii) if the motion is accompanied by a suspension of deportation
application to be filed with the Attorney General or by a copy of the
self-petition that will be filed with the Immigration and Naturalization
Service upon the granting of the motion to reopen.
(B) Applicability.--Subparagraph (A) shall apply to motions filed by
aliens who--
(i) are, or were, in deportation proceedings under the Immigration
and Nationality Act (as in effect before the title III A effective date
in section 309 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant
Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1101 note)); and
(ii) have become eligible to apply for relief under clause (iii) or
(iv) of section 204(a)(1)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)(A)), clause (ii) or (iii) of section 204(a)(1)(B) of
such Act (8 U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)(B)), or section 244(a)(3) of such Act (as
in effect before the title III A effective date in section 309 of the
Illegal Immigration Reform and
Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1101 note)) as
a result of the amendments made by--
(I) subtitle G of title IV of the Violent Crime Control and Law
Enforcement Act of 1994 (Public Law 103 322; 108 Stat. 1953 et seq.); or
(II) this title.
SEC. 1507. REMEDYING PROBLEMS WITH IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
IMMIGRATION PROVISIONS OF THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT OF 1994.
(a) Effect of Changes in Abusers' Citizenship Status on
Self-Petition.--
(1) Reclassification.--Section 204(a)(1)(A) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)(A)) (as amended by section
1503(b)(3) of this title) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(vi) For the purposes of any petition filed under clause (iii) or
(iv), the denaturalization, loss or renunciation of citizenship, death
of the abuser, divorce, or changes to the abuser's citizenship status
after filing of the petition shall not adversely affect the approval of
the petition, and for approved petitions shall not preclude the
classification of the eligible self-petitioning spouse or child as an
immediate relative or affect the alien's ability to adjust status under
subsections (a) and (c) of section 245 or obtain status as a lawful
permanent resident based on the approved self-petition under such
clauses.''.
(2) Loss of status.--Section 204(a)(1)(B) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)(B)) (as amended by section
1503(c)(3) of this title) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(v)(I) For the purposes of any petition filed or approved under
clause (ii) or (iii), divorce, or the loss of lawful permanent resident
status by a spouse or parent after the filing of a petition under that
clause shall not adversely affect approval of the petition, and, for an
approved petition, shall not affect the alien's ability to adjust status
under subsections (a) and (c) of section 245 or obtain status as a
lawful permanent resident based on an approved self-petition under
clause (ii) or (iii).
``(II) Upon the lawful permanent resident spouse or parent becoming
or establishing the existence of United States citizenship through
naturalization, acquisition of citizenship, or other means, any petition
filed with the Immigration and Naturalization Service and pending or
approved under clause (ii) or (iii) on behalf of an alien who has been
battered or subjected to extreme cruelty shall be deemed reclassified as
a petition filed under subparagraph (A) even if the acquisition of
citizenship occurs after divorce or termination of parental rights.''.
(3) Definition of immediate relatives.--Section 201(b)(2)(A)(i) of
the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1154(b)(2)(A)(i)) is
amended by adding at the end the following: ``For purposes of this
clause, an alien who has filed a petition under clause (iii) or (iv) of
section 204(a)(1)(A) of this Act remains an immediate relative in the
event that the United States citizen spouse or parent loses United
States citizenship on account of the abuse.''.
(b) Allowing Remarriage of Battered Immigrants.--Section 204(h) of
the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1154(h)) is amended by
adding at the end the following: ``Remarriage of an alien whose petition
was approved under section 204(a)(1)(B)(ii) or 204(a)(1)(A)(iii) or
marriage of an alien described in clause (iv) or (vi) of section
204(a)(1)(A) or in section 204(a)(1)(B)(iii) shall not be the basis for
revocation of a petition approval under section 205.''.
SEC. 1508. TECHNICAL CORRECTION TO QUALIFIED ALIEN DEFINITION
FOR BATTERED IMMIGRANTS.
Section 431(c)(1)(B)(iii) of the Personal Responsibility and Work
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1641(c)(1)(B)(iii)) is
amended to read as follows:
``(iii) suspension of deportation under section 244(a)(3) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (as in effect before the title III A
effective date in section 309 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and
Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996).''.
SEC. 1509. ACCESS TO CUBAN ADJUSTMENT ACT FOR BATTERED
IMMIGRANT SPOUSES AND CHILDREN.
(a) In General.--The last sentence of the first section of Public Law
89 732 (November 2, 1966; 8 U.S.C. 1255 note) is amended by striking the
period at the end and inserting the following: ``, except that such
spouse or child who has been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty
may adjust to permanent resident status under this Act without
demonstrating that he or she is residing with the Cuban spouse or parent
in the United States. In acting on applications under this section with
respect to spouses or children who have been battered or subjected to
extreme cruelty, the Attorney General shall apply the provisions of
section 204(a)(1)(H).''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall be
effective as if included in subtitle G of title IV of the Violent Crime
Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (Public Law 103 322; 108 Stat.
1953 et seq.).
SEC. 1510. ACCESS TO THE NICARAGUAN ADJUSTMENT AND CENTRAL
AMERICAN RELIEF ACT FOR BATTERED SPOUSES AND CHILDREN.
(a) Adjustment of Status of Certain Nicaraguan and Cuban Battered
Spouses.--Section 202(d) of the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central
American Relief Act (8 U.S.C. 1255 note; Public Law 105 100, as amended)
is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the
following:
``(B) the alien--
``(i) is the spouse, child, or unmarried son or daughter of an alien
whose status is adjusted to that of an alien lawfully admitted for
permanent residence under subsection (a), except that in the case of
such an unmarried son or daughter, the son or daughter shall be required
to establish that the son or daughter has been physically present in the
United States for a continuous period beginning not later than December
1, 1995, and ending not earlier than the date on which the application
for adjustment under this subsection is filed; or
``(ii) was, at the time at which an alien filed for adjustment under
subsection (a), the spouse or child of an alien whose status is adjusted
to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence under
subsection (a), and the spouse, child, or child of the spouse has been
battered or subjected to extreme cruelty by the alien that filed for
adjustment under subsection (a);''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Procedure.--In acting on an application under this section
with respect to a spouse or child who has been battered or subjected to
extreme cruelty, the Attorney General shall apply section
204(a)(1)(H).''.
(b) Cancellation of Removal and Suspension of Deportation Transition
Rules for Certain Battered Spouses.--Section 309(c)(5)(C) of the Illegal
Immigration and Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996
(division C of Public Law 104 208; 8 U.S.C. 1101 note) (as amended by
section 1506(b)(3) of this title) is amended--
(1) in clause (i)--
(A) by striking the period at the end of subclause (VI) (as added by
section 1506(b)(3) of this title) and inserting ``; or''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(VII)(aa) was the spouse or child of an alien described in
subclause (I), (II), or (V)--
``(AA) at the time at which a decision is rendered to suspend the
deportation or cancel the removal of the alien;
``(BB) at the time at which the alien filed an application for
suspension of deportation or cancellation of removal; or
``(CC) at the time at which the alien registered for benefits under
the settlement agreement in American Baptist Churches, et. al. v.
Thornburgh (ABC), applied for temporary protected status, or applied for
asylum; and
``(bb) the spouse, child, or child of the spouse has been battered
or subjected to extreme cruelty by the alien described in subclause (I),
(II), or (V).''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(iii) Consideration of petitions.--In acting on a petition filed
under subclause (VII) of clause (i) the provisions set forth in section
204(a)(1)(H) shall apply.
``(iv) Residence with spouse or parent not required.--For purposes
of the application of clause (i)(VII), a spouse or child shall not be
required to demonstrate that he or she is residing with the spouse or
parent in the United States.''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b)
shall be effective as if included in the Nicaraguan Adjustment and
Central American Relief Act (8 U.S.C. 1255 note; Public Law 105 100, as
amended).
SEC. 1511. ACCESS TO THE HAITIAN REFUGEE FAIRNESS ACT OF 1998
FOR BATTERED SPOUSES AND CHILDREN.
(a) In General.--Section 902(d)(1)(B) of the Haitian Refugee
Immigration Fairness Act of 1998 (division A of section 101(h) of Public
Law 105 277; 112 Stat. 2681 538) is amended to read as follows:
``(B)(i) the alien is the spouse, child, or unmarried son or
daughter of an alien whose status is adjusted to that of an alien
lawfully admitted for permanent residence under subsection (a), except
that, in the case of such an unmarried son or daughter, the son or
daughter shall be required to establish that the son or daughter has
been physically present in the United States for a continuous period
beginning not later than December 1, 1995, and ending not earlier than
the date on which the application for such adjustment is filed;
``(ii) at the time of filing of the application for adjustment under
subsection (a), the alien is the spouse or child of an alien whose
status is adjusted to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent
residence under subsection (a) and the spouse, child, or child of the
spouse has been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty by the
individual described in subsection (a); and
``(iii) in acting on applications under this section with respect to
spouses or children who have been battered or subjected to extreme
cruelty, the Attorney General shall apply the provisions of section
204(a)(1)(H).''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall be
effective as if included in the Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act
of 1998 (division A of section 101(h) of Public Law 105 277; 112 Stat.
2681 538).
SEC. 1512. ACCESS TO SERVICES AND LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR
BATTERED IMMIGRANTS.
(a) Law Enforcement and Prosecution Grants.--Section 2001(b) of part
T of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968
(42 U.S.C. 3796gg(b)) (as amended by section 1209(c) of this division)
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(11) providing assistance to victims of domestic violence and
sexual assault in immigration matters.''.
(b) Grants To Encourage Arrests.--Section 2101(b)(5) of part U of
title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42
U.S.C. 3796hh(b)(5)) is amended by inserting before the period the
following: ``, including strengthening assistance to such victims in
immigration matters''.
(c) Rural Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Enforcement
Grants.--Section 40295(a)(2) of the Violent Crime Control and Law
Enforcement Act of 1994 (Public Law 103 322; 108 Stat. 1953; 42 U.S.C.
13971(a)(2)) is amended to read as follows:
``(2) to provide treatment, counseling, and assistance to victims of
domestic violence and child abuse, including in immigration matters;
and''.
(d) Campus Domestic Violence Grants.--Section 826(b)(5) of the Higher
Education Amendments of 1998 (Public Law 105 244; 20 U.S.C. 1152) is
amended by inserting before the period at the end the following: ``,
including assistance to victims in immigration matters''.
SEC. 1513. PROTECTION FOR CERTAIN CRIME VICTIMS INCLUDING
VICTIMS OF CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN.
(a) Findings and Purpose.--
(1) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(A) Immigrant women and children are often targeted to be victims of
crimes committed against them in the United States, including rape,
torture, kidnaping, trafficking, incest, domestic violence, sexual
assault, female genital mutilation, forced prostitution, involuntary
servitude, being held hostage or being criminally restrained.
(B) All women and children who are victims of these crimes committed
against them in the United States must be able to report these crimes to
law enforcement and fully participate in the investigation of the crimes
committed against them and the prosecution of the perpetrators of such
crimes.
(2) Purpose.--
(A) The purpose of this section is to create a new nonimmigrant visa
classification that will strengthen the ability of law enforcement
agencies to detect, investigate, and prosecute cases of domestic
violence, sexual assault, trafficking of aliens, and other crimes
described in section 101(a)(15)(U)(iii) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act committed against aliens, while offering protection to
victims of such offenses in keeping with the humanitarian interests of
the United States. This visa will encourage law enforcement officials to
better serve immigrant crime victims and to prosecute crimes committed
against aliens.
(B) Creating a new nonimmigrant visa classification will facilitate
the reporting of crimes to law enforcement officials by trafficked,
exploited, victimized, and abused aliens who are not in lawful
immigration status. It also gives law enforcement officials a means to
regularize the status of cooperating individuals during investigations
or prosecutions. Providing temporary legal status to aliens who have
been severely victimized by criminal activity also comports with the
humanitarian interests of the United States.
(C) Finally, this section gives the Attorney General discretion to
convert the status of such nonimmigrants to that of permanent residents
when doing so is justified on humanitarian grounds, for family unity, or
is otherwise in the public interest.
(b) Establishment of Humanitarian/Material Witness Nonimmigrant
Classification.--Section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)) (as amended by section 107 of this Act) is
amended--
(1) by striking ``or'' at the end of subparagraph (S);
(2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (T) and
inserting ``; or''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(U)(i) subject to section 214(o), an alien who files a petition
for status under this subparagraph, if the Attorney General determines
that--
``(I) the alien has suffered substantial physical or mental abuse as
a result of having been a victim of criminal activity described in
clause (iii);
``(II) the alien (or in the case of an alien child under the age of
16, the parent, guardian, or next friend of the alien) possesses
information concerning criminal activity described in clause (iii);
``(III) the alien (or in the case of an alien child under the age of
16, the parent, guardian, or next friend of the alien) has been helpful,
is being helpful, or is likely to be helpful to a Federal, State, or
local law enforcement official, to a Federal, State, or local
prosecutor, to a Federal or State judge, to the Service, or to other
Federal, State, or local authorities investigating or prosecuting
criminal activity described in clause (iii); and
``(IV) the criminal activity described in clause (iii) violated the
laws of the United States or occurred in the United States (including in
Indian country and military installations) or the territories and
possessions of the United States;
``(ii) if the Attorney General considers it necessary to avoid
extreme hardship to the spouse, the child, or, in the case of an alien
child, the parent of the alien described in clause (i), the Attorney
General may also grant status under this paragraph based upon
certification of a government official listed in clause (i)(III) that an
investigation or prosecution would be harmed without the assistance of
the spouse, the child, or, in the case of an alien child, the parent of
the alien; and
``(iii) the criminal activity referred to in this clause is that
involving one or more of the following or any similar activity in
violation of Federal, State, or local criminal law: rape; torture;
trafficking; incest; domestic violence; sexual assault; abusive sexual
contact; prostitution; sexual exploitation; female genital mutilation;
being held hostage; peonage; involuntary servitude; slave trade;
kidnapping; abduction; unlawful criminal restraint; false imprisonment;
blackmail; extortion; manslaughter; murder; felonious assault; witness
tampering; obstruction of justice; perjury; or attempt, conspiracy, or
solicitation to commit any of the above mentioned crimes.''.
(c) Conditions for Admission and Duties of the Attorney
General.--Section 214 of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1184) (as amended by section
107 of this Act) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
``(o) Requirements Applicable to Section 101 (a )(15)(u) Visas.--
``(1) Petitioning procedures for section 101(a )(15)(u) visas.--The
petition filed by an alien under section 101(a)(15)(U)(i) shall contain
a certification from a Federal, State, or local law enforcement
official, prosecutor, judge, or other Federal, State, or local authority
investigating criminal activity described in section 101(a)(15)(U)(iii).
This certification may also be provided by an official of the Service
whose ability to provide such certification is not limited to
information concerning immigration violations. This certification shall
state that the alien ``has been helpful, is being helpful, or is likely
to be helpful'' in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity
described in section 101(a)(15)(U)(iii).
``(2) Numerical limitations.--
``(A) The number of aliens who may be issued visas or otherwise
provided status as nonimmigrants under section 101(a)(15)(U) in any
fiscal year shall not exceed 10,000.
``(B) The numerical limitations in subparagraph (A) shall only apply
to principal aliens described in section 101(a)(15)(U)(i), and not to
spouses, children, or, in the case of alien children, the alien parents
of such children.
``(3) Duties of the attorney general with respect to `u' visa
nonimmigrants.--With respect to nonimmigrant aliens described in
subsection (a)(15)(U)--
``(A) the Attorney General and other government officials, where
appropriate, shall provide those aliens with referrals to
nongovernmental organizations to advise the aliens regarding their
options while in the United States and the resources available to them;
and
``(B) the Attorney General shall, during the period those aliens are
in lawful temporary resident status under that subsection, provide the
aliens with employment authorization.
``(4) Credible evidence considered.--In acting on any petition filed
under this subsection, the consular officer or the Attorney General, as
appropriate, shall consider any credible evidence relevant to the
petition.
``(5) Nonexclusive relief.--Nothing in this subsection limits the
ability of aliens who qualify for status under section 101(a)(15)(U) to
seek any other immigration benefit or status for which the alien may be
eligible.''.
(d) Prohibition on Adverse Determinations of Admissibility or
Deportability.--Section 384(a) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and
Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 is amended--
(1) by striking ``or'' at the end of paragraph (1)(C);
(2) by striking the comma at the end of paragraph (1)(D) and
inserting ``, or''; and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (1)(D) the following new
subparagraph:
``(E) in the case of an alien applying for status under section
101(a)(15)(U) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the perpetrator of
the substantial physical or mental abuse and the criminal activity,'';
and
(4) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``section 101(a)(15)(U),'' after
``section 216(c)(4)(C),''.
(e) Waiver of Grounds of Ineligibility for Admission.--Section 212(d)
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(d)) is amended by
adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(13) The Attorney General shall determine whether a ground of
inadmissibility exists with respect to a nonimmigrant described in
section 101(a)(15)(U). The Attorney General, in the Attorney General's
discretion, may waive the application of subsection (a) (other than
paragraph (3)(E)) in the case of a nonimmigrant described in section
101(a)(15)(U), if the Attorney General considers it to be in the public
or national interest to do so.''.
(f) Adjustment to Permanent Resident Status.--Section 245 of such Act
(8 U.S.C. 1255) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
``(l)(1) The Attorney General may adjust the status of an alien
admitted into the United States (or otherwise provided nonimmigrant
status) under section 101(a)(15)(U) to that of an alien lawfully
admitted for permanent residence if the alien is not described in
section 212(a)(3)(E), unless the Attorney General determines based on
affirmative evidence that the alien unreasonably refused to provide
assistance in a criminal investigation or prosecution, if--
``(A) the alien has been physically present in the United States for
a continuous period of at least 3 years since the date of admission as a
nonimmigrant under clause (i) or (ii) of section 101(a)(15)(U); and
``(B) in the opinion of the Attorney General, the alien's continued
presence in the United States is justified on humanitarian grounds, to
ensure family unity, or is otherwise in the public interest.
``(2) An alien shall be considered to have failed to maintain
continuous physical presence in the United States under paragraph (1)(A)
if the alien has departed from the United States for any period in
excess of 90 days or for any periods in the aggregate exceeding 180 days
unless the absence is in order to assist in the investigation or
prosecution or unless an official involved in the investigation or
prosecution certifies that the absence was otherwise justified.
``(3) Upon approval of adjustment of status under paragraph (1) of an
alien described in section 101(a)(15)(U)(i) the Attorney General may
adjust the status of or issue an immigrant visa to a spouse, a child,
or, in the case of an alien child, a parent who did not receive a
nonimmigrant visa under section 101(a)(15)(U)(ii) if the Attorney
General considers the grant of such status or visa necessary to avoid
extreme hardship.
``(4) Upon the approval of adjustment of status under paragraph (1)
or (3), the Attorney General shall record the alien's lawful admission
for permanent residence as of the date of such approval.''.
TITLE VI--MISCELLANEOUS
SEC. 1601. NOTICE REQUIREMENTS FOR SEXUALLY VIOLENT OFFENDERS.
(a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Campus Sex
Crimes Prevention Act''.
(b) Notice With Respect to Institutions of Higher Education.--
(1) In general.--Section 170101 of the Violent Crime Control and Law
Enforcement Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 14071) is amended by adding at the
end the following:
``(j) Notice of Enrollment at or Employment by Institutions of Higher
Education.--
``(1) Notice by offenders.--
``(A) In general.--In addition to any other requirements of this
section, any person who is required to register in a State shall provide
notice as required under State law--
``(i) of each institution of higher education in that State at which
the person is employed, carries on a vocation, or is a student; and
``(ii) of each change in enrollment or employment status of such
person at an institution of higher education in that State.
``(B) Change in status.--A change in status under subparagraph
(A)(ii) shall be reported by the person in the manner provided by State
law. State procedures shall ensure that the updated information is
promptly made available to a law enforcement agency having jurisdiction
where such institution is located and entered into the appropriate State
records or data system.
``(2) State reporting.--State procedures shall ensure that the
registration information collected under paragraph (1)--
``(A) is promptly made available to a law enforcement agency having
jurisdiction where such institution is located; and
``(B) entered into the appropriate State records or data system.
``(3) Request.--Nothing in this subsection shall require an
educational institution to request such information from any State.''.
(2) Effective date.--The amendment made by this subsection shall
take effect 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act.
(c) Disclosures by Institutions of Higher Education.--
(1) In general.--Section 485(f)(1) of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(I) A statement advising the campus community where law
enforcement agency information provided by a State under section
170101(j) of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994
(42 U.S.C. 14071(j)), concerning registered sex offenders may be
obtained, such as the law enforcement office of the institution, a local
law enforcement agency with jurisdiction for the campus, or a computer
network address.''.
(2) Effective date.--The amendment made by this subsection shall
take effect 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act.
(d) Amendment to Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of
1974.--Section 444(b) of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C.
1232g(b)), also known as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
of 1974, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(7)(A) Nothing in this section may be construed to prohibit an
educational institution from disclosing information provided to the
institution under section 170101 of the Violent Crime Control and Law
Enforcement Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 14071) concerning registered sex
offenders who are required to register under such section.
``(B) The Secretary shall take appropriate steps to notify
educational institutions that disclosure of information described in
subparagraph (A) is permitted.''.
SEC. 1602. TEEN SUICIDE PREVENTION STUDY.
(a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Teen Suicide
Prevention Act of 2000''.
(b) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(1) measures that increase public awareness of suicide as a
preventable public health problem, and target parents and youth so that
suicide risks and warning signs can be recognized, will help to
eliminate the ignorance and stigma of suicide as barriers to youth and
families seeking preventive care;
(2) suicide prevention efforts in the year 2000 should--
(A) target at-risk youth, particularly youth with mental health
problems, substance abuse problems, or contact with the juvenile justice
system;
(B) involve--
(i) the identification of the characteristics of the at-risk youth
and other youth who are contemplating suicide, and barriers to treatment
of the youth; and
(ii) the development of model treatment programs for the youth;
(C) include a pilot study of the outcomes of treatment for juvenile
delinquents with mental health or substance abuse problems;
(D) include a public education approach to combat the negative
effects of the stigma of, and discrimination against individuals with,
mental health and substance abuse problems; and
(E) include a nationwide effort to develop, implement, and evaluate
a mental health awareness program for schools, communities, and
families;
(3) although numerous symptoms, diagnoses, traits, characteristics,
and psychosocial stressors of suicide have been investigated, no single
factor or set of factors has ever come close to predicting suicide with
accuracy;
(4) research of United States youth, such as a 1994 study by
Lewinsohn, Rohde, and Seeley, has shown predictors of suicide, such as a
history of suicide attempts, current suicidal ideation and depression, a
recent attempt or completed suicide by a friend, and low self-esteem;
and
(5) epidemiological data illustrate--
(A) the trend of suicide at younger ages as well as increases in
suicidal ideation among youth in the United States; and
(B) distinct differences in approaches to suicide by gender, with--
(i) 3 to 5 times as many females as males attempting suicide; and
(ii) 3 to 5 times as many males as females completing suicide.
(c) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to provide for a study
of predictors of suicide among at-risk and other youth, and barriers
that prevent the youth from receiving treatment, to facilitate the
development of model treatment programs and public education and
awareness efforts.
(d) Study.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this
Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall carry out,
directly or by grant or contract, a study that is designed to identify--
(1) the characteristics of at-risk and other youth age 13 through 21
who are contemplating suicide;
(2) the characteristics of at-risk and other youth who are younger
than age 13 and are contemplating suicide; and
(3) the barriers that prevent youth described in paragraphs (1) and
(2) from receiving treatment.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary.
SEC. 1603. DECADE OF PAIN CONTROL AND RESEARCH.
The calendar decade beginning January 1, 2001, is designated as the
``Decade of Pain Control and Research''.
DIVISION C--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SEC. 2001. AIMEE'S LAW.
(a) Short Title.-- This section may be cited as ``Aimee's Law''.
(b) Definitions.-- In this section:
(1) Dangerous sexual offense.--The term ``dangerous sexual offense''
means any offense under State law for conduct that would constitute an
offense under chapter 109A of title 18, United States Code, had the
conduct occurred in the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of
the United States or in a Federal prison.
(2) Murder.--The term ``murder'' has the meaning given the term in
part I of the Uniform Crime Reports of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation.
(3) Rape.--The term ``rape'' has the meaning given the term in part
I of the Uniform Crime Reports of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
(c) Penalty.--
(1) Single state.--In any case in which a State convicts an
individual of murder, rape, or a dangerous sexual offense, who has a
prior conviction for any one of those offenses in a State described in
paragraph (3), the Attorney General shall transfer an amount equal to
the costs of incarceration, prosecution, and apprehension of that
individual, from Federal law enforcement assistance funds that have been
allocated to but not distributed to the State that convicted the
individual of the prior offense, to the State account that collects
Federal law enforcement assistance funds of the State that convicted
that individual of the subsequent offense.
(2) Multiple states.--In any case in which a State convicts an
individual of murder, rape, or a dangerous sexual offense, who has a
prior conviction for any one or more of those offenses in more than one
other State described in paragraph (3), the Attorney General shall
transfer an amount equal to the costs of incarceration, prosecution, and
apprehension of that individual, from Federal law enforcement assistance
funds that have been allocated to but not distributed to each State that
convicted such individual of the prior offense, to the State account
that collects Federal law enforcement assistance funds of the State that
convicted that individual of the subsequent offense.
(3) State described.--A State is described in this paragraph if--
(A) the average term of imprisonment imposed by the State on
individuals convicted of the offense for which the individual described
in paragraph (1) or (2), as applicable, was convicted by the State is
less than the average term of imprisonment imposed for that offense in
all States; or
(B) with respect to the individual described in paragraph (1) or
(2), as applicable, the individual had served less than 85 percent of
the term of imprisonment to which that individual was sentenced for the
prior offense.
For purposes of subparagraph (B), in a State that has indeterminate
sentencing, the term of imprisonment to which that individual was
sentenced for the prior offense shall be based on the lower of the range
of sentences.
(d) State Applications.--In order to receive an amount transferred
under subsection (c), the chief executive of a State shall submit to the
Attorney General an application, in such form and containing such
information as the Attorney General may reasonably require, which shall
include a certification that the State has convicted an individual of
murder, rape, or a dangerous sexual offense, who has a prior conviction
for one of those offenses in another State.
(e) Source of Funds.--
(1) In general.--Any amount transferred under subsection (c) shall
be derived by reducing the amount of Federal law enforcement assistance
funds received by the State that convicted such individual of the prior
offense before the distribution of the funds to the State. The Attorney
General shall provide the State with an opportunity to select the
specific Federal law enforcement assistance funds to be so reduced
(other than Federal crime victim assistance funds).
(2) Payment schedule.--The Attorney General, in consultation with
the chief executive of the State that convicted such individual of the
prior offense, shall establish a payment schedule.
(f) Construction.--Nothing in this section may be construed to
diminish or otherwise affect any court ordered restitution.
(g) Exception.--This section does not apply if the individual
convicted of murder, rape, or a dangerous sexual offense has been
released from prison upon the reversal of a conviction for an offense
described in subsection (c) and subsequently been convicted for an
offense described in subsection (c).
(h) Report.--The Attorney General shall--
(1) conduct a study evaluating the implementation of this section; and
(2) not later than October 1, 2006, submit to Congress a report on
the results of that study.
(i) Collection of Recidivism Data.--
(1) In general.--Beginning with calendar year 2002, and each
calendar year thereafter, the Attorney General shall collect and
maintain information relating to, with respect to each State--
(A) the number of convictions during that calendar year for--
(i) any dangerous sexual offense;
(ii) rape; and
(iii) murder; and
(B) the number of convictions described in subparagraph (A) that
constitute second or subsequent convictions of the defendant of an
offense described in that subparagraph.
(2) Report.--Not later than March 1, 2003, and on March 1 of each
year thereafter, the Attorney General shall submit to Congress a report,
which shall include--
(A) the information collected under paragraph (1) with respect to
each State during the preceding calendar year; and
(B) the percentage of cases in each State in which an individual
convicted of an offense described in paragraph (1)(A) was previously
convicted of another such offense in another State during the preceding
calendar year.
(j) Effective Date.-- This section shall take effect on January 1,
2002.
SEC. 2002. PAYMENT OF CERTAIN ANTI-TERRORISM JUDGMENTS.
(a) Payments.--
(1) In general.--Subject to subsections (b) and (c), the Secretary
of the Treasury shall pay each person described in paragraph (2), at the
person's election--
(A) 110 percent of compensatory damages awarded by judgment of a
court on a claim or claims brought by the person under section
1605(a)(7) of title 28, United States Code, plus amounts necessary to
pay post-judgment interest under section 1961 of such title, and, in the
case of a claim or claims against Cuba, amounts awarded as sanctions by
judicial order on April 18, 2000 (as corrected on June 2, 2000), subject
to final appellate review of that order; or
(B) 100 percent of the compensatory damages awarded by judgment of a
court on a claim or claims brought by the person under section
1605(a)(7) of title 28, United States Code, plus amounts necessary to
pay post-judgment interest, as provided in section 1961 of such title,
and, in the case of a claim or claims against Cuba, amounts awarded as
sanctions by judicial order on April 18, 2000 (as corrected June 2,
2000), subject to final appellate review of that order.
Payments under this subsection shall be made promptly upon request.
(2) Persons covered.--A person described in this paragraph is a
person who--
(A)(i) as of July 20, 2000, held a final judgment for a claim or
claims brought under section 1605(a)(7) of title 28, United States Code,
against Iran or Cuba, or the right to payment of an amount awarded as a
judicial sanction with respect to such claim or claims; or
(ii) filed a suit under such section 1605(a)(7) on February 17,
1999, June 7, 1999, January 28, 2000, March 15, 2000, or July 27, 2000;
(B) relinquishes all claims and rights to compensatory damages and
amounts awarded as judicial sanctions under such judgments;
(C) in the case of payment under paragraph (1)(A), relinquishes all
rights and claims to punitive damages awarded in connection with such
claim or claims; and
(D) in the case of payment under paragraph (1)(B), relinquishes all
rights to execute against or attach property that is at issue in claims
against the United States before an international tribunal, that is the
subject of awards rendered by such tribunal, or that is subject to
section 1610(f)(1)(A) of title 28, United States Code.
(b) Funding of Amounts.--
(1) Judgments against cuba.--For purposes of funding the payments
under subsection (a) in the case of judgments and sanctions entered
against the Government of Cuba or Cuban entities, the President shall
vest and liquidate up to and not exceeding the amount of property of the
Government of Cuba and sanctioned entities in the United States or any
commonwealth, territory, or possession thereof that has been blocked
pursuant to section 5(b) of the Trading with the Enemy Act (50 U.S.C.
App. 5(b)), sections 202 and 203 of the International Emergency Economic
Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 1702), or any other proclamation, order, or
regulation issued thereunder. For the purposes of paying amounts for
judicial sanctions, payment shall be made from funds or accounts subject
to sanctions as of April 18, 2000, or from blocked assets of the
Government of Cuba.
(2) Judgments against iran.--For purposes of funding payments under
subsection (a) in the case of judgments against Iran, the Secretary of
the Treasury shall make such payments from amounts paid and liquidated
from--
(A) rental proceeds accrued on the date of enactment of this Act
from Iranian diplomatic and consular property located in the United
States; and
(B) funds not otherwise made available in an amount not to exceed
the total of the amount in the Iran Foreign Military Sales Program
account within the Foreign Military Sales Fund on the date of enactment
of this Act.
(c) Subrogation.--Upon payment under subsection (a) with respect to
payments in connection with a Foreign Military Sales Program account,
the United States shall be fully subrogated, to the extent of the
payments, to all rights of the person paid under that subsection against
the debtor foreign state. The President shall pursue these subrogated
rights as claims or offsets of the United States in appropriate ways,
including any negotiation process which precedes the normalization of
relations between the foreign state designated as a state sponsor of
terrorism and the United States, except that no funds shall be paid to
Iran, or released to Iran, from property blocked under the International
Emergency Economic Powers Act or from the Foreign Military Sales Fund,
until such subrogated claims have been dealt with to the satisfaction of
the United States.
(d) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the
President should not normalize relations between the United States and
Iran until the claims subrogated have been dealt with to the
satisfaction of the United States.
(e) Reaffirmation of Authority.--Congress reaffirms the President's
statutory authority to manage and, where appropriate and consistent with
the national interest, vest foreign assets located in the United States
for the purposes, among other things, of assisting and, where
appropriate, making payments to victims of terrorism.
(f) Amendments.--(1) Section 1610(f) of title 28, United States Code,
is amended--
(A) in paragraphs (2)(A) and (2)(B)(ii), by striking ``shall'' each
place it appears and inserting ``should make every effort to''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(3) Waiver.--The President may waive any provision of paragraph
(1) in the interest of national security.''.
(2) Subsections (b) and (d) of section 117 of the Treasury Department
Appropriations Act, 1999 (as contained in section 101(h) of Public Law
105 277) are repealed.
SEC. 2003. AID FOR VICTIMS OF TERRORISM.
(a) Meeting the Needs of Victims of Terrorism Outside the United
States.--
(1) In general.--Section 1404B(a) of the Victims of Crime Act of
1984 (42 U.S.C. 10603b(a)) is amended as follows:
``(a) Victims of Acts of Terrorism Outside United States.--
``(1) In general.-- The Director may make supplemental grants as
provided in 1402(d)(5) to States, victim service organizations, and
public agencies (including Federal, State, or local governments) and
nongovernmental organizations that provide assistance to victims of
crime, which shall be used to provide emergency relief, including crisis
response efforts, assistance, training, and technical assistance, and
ongoing assistance, including during any investigation or prosecution,
to victims of terrorist acts or mass violence occurring outside the
United States who are not persons eligible for compensation under title
VIII of the Omnibus Diplomatic Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1986.
``(2) Victim defined.-- In this subsection, the term `victim'--
``(A) means a person who is a national of the United States or an
officer or employee of the United States Government who is injured or
killed as a result of a terrorist act or mass violence occurring outside
the United States; and
``(B) in the case of a person described in subparagraph (A) who is
less than 18 years of age, incompetent, incapacitated, or deceased,
includes a family member or legal guardian of that person.
``(3) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection shall be
construed to allow the Director to make grants to any foreign power (as
defined by section 101(a) of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1801(a)) or to any domestic or foreign organization
operated for the purpose of engaging in any significant political or
lobbying activities.''.
(2) Applicability.--The amendment made by this subsection shall
apply to any terrorist act or mass violence occurring on or after
December 21, 1988, with respect to which an investigation or prosecution
was ongoing after April 24, 1996.
(3) Administrative provision.--Not later than 90 days after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Director shall establish guidelines under
section 1407(a) of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10604(a))
to specify the categories of organizations and agencies to which the
Director may make grants under this subsection.
(4) Technical Amendment.--Section 1404B(b) of the Victims of Crime
Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10603b(b)) is amended by striking
``1404(d)(4)(B)'' and inserting ``1402(d)(5)''.
(b) Amendments to Emergency Reserve Fund.--
(1) Cap increase.--Section 1402(d)(5)(A) of the Victims of Crime Act
of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10601(d)(5)(A)) is amended by striking
``$50,000,000'' and inserting ``$100,000,000''.
(2) Transfer.--Section 1402(e) of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984
(42 U.S.C 10601(e)) is amended by striking ``in excess of $500,000'' and
all that follows through ``than $500,000'' and inserting ``shall be
available for deposit into the emergency reserve fund referred to in
subsection (d)(5) at the discretion of the Director. Any remaining
unobligated sums''.
(c) Compensation to Victims of International Terrorism.--
(1) In general.--The Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10601
et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 1404B the following:
``SEC. 1404C. COMPENSATION TO VICTIMS OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) International terrorism.--The term `international terrorism'
has the meaning given the term in section 2331 of title 18, United
States Code.
``(2) National of the united states.--The term `national of the
United States' has the meaning given the term in section 101(a) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)).
``(3) Victim.--
``(A) In general.--The term `victim' means a person who--
``(i) suffered direct physical or emotional injury or death as a
result of international terrorism occurring on or after December 21,
1988 with respect to which an investigation or prosecution was ongoing
after April 24, 1996; and
``(ii) as of the date on which the international terrorism occurred,
was a national of the United States or an officer or employee of the
United States Government.
``(B) Incompetent, incapacitated, or deceased victims.--In the case
of a victim who is less than 18 years of age, incompetent,
incapacitated, or deceased, a family member or legal guardian of the
victim may receive the compensation under this section on behalf of the
victim.
``(C) Exception.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this
section, in no event shall an individual who is criminally culpable for
the terrorist act or mass violence receive any compensation under this
section, either directly or on behalf of a victim.
``(b) Award of Compensation.--The Director may use the emergency
reserve referred to in section 1402(d)(5)(A) to carry out a program to
compensate victims of acts of international terrorism that occur outside
the United States for expenses associated with that victimization.
``(c) Annual Report.--The Director shall annually submit to Congress
a report on the status and activities of the program under this section,
which report shall include--
``(1) an explanation of the procedures for filing and processing of
applications for compensation;
``(2) a description of the procedures and policies instituted to
promote public awareness about the program;
``(3) a complete statistical analysis of the victims assisted under
the program, including--
``(A) the number of applications for compensation submitted;
``(B) the number of applications approved and the amount of each
award;
``(C) the number of applications denied and the reasons for the
denial;
``(D) the average length of time to process an application for
compensation; and
``(E) the number of applications for compensation pending and the
estimated future liability of the program; and
``(4) an analysis of future program needs and suggested program
improvements.''.
(2) Conforming amendment.--Section 1402(d)(5)(B) of the Victims of
Crime Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10601(d)(5)(B)) is amended by inserting ``,
to provide compensation to victims of international terrorism under the
program under section 1404C,'' after ``section 1404B''.
(d) Amendments to Victims of Crime Fund.--Section 1402(c) of the
Victims of Crime Act 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10601(c)) is amended by adding at
the end the following: ``Notwithstanding section 1402(d)(5), all sums
deposited in the Fund in any fiscal year that are not made available for
obligation by Congress in the subsequent fiscal year shall remain in the
Fund for obligation in future fiscal years, without fiscal year
limitation.''.
SEC. 2004. TWENTY-FIRST AMENDMENT ENFORCEMENT.
(a) Shipment of Intoxicating Liquor in Violation of State Law.--The
Act entitled ``An Act divesting intoxicating liquors of their interstate
character in certain cases'', approved March 1, 1913 (commonly known as
the ``Webb-Kenyon Act'') (27 U.S.C. 122) is amended by adding at the end
the following:
``SEC. 2. INJUNCTIVE RELIEF IN FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section--
``(1) the term `attorney general' means the attorney general or
other chief law enforcement officer of a State or the designee thereof;
``(2) the term `intoxicating liquor' means any spirituous, vinous,
malted, fermented, or other intoxicating liquor of any kind;
``(3) the term `person' means any individual and any partnership,
corporation, company, firm, society, association, joint stock company,
trust, or other entity capable of holding a legal or beneficial interest
in property, but does not include a State or agency thereof; and
``(4) the term `State' means any State of the United States, the
District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any territory
or possession of the United States.
``(b) Action by State Attorney General.--If the attorney general has
reasonable cause to believe that a person is engaged in, or has engaged
in, any act that would constitute a violation of a State law regulating
the importation or transportation of any intoxicating liquor, the
attorney general may bring a civil action in accordance with this
section for injunctive relief (including a preliminary or permanent
injunction) against the person, as the attorney general determines to be
necessary to--
``(1) restrain the person from engaging, or continuing to engage, in
the violation; and
``(2) enforce compliance with the State law.
``(c) Federal Jurisdiction.--
``(1) In general.--The district courts of the United States shall
have jurisdiction over any action brought under this section by an
attorney general against any person, except one licensed or otherwise
authorized to produce, sell, or store intoxicating liquor in such State.
``(2) Venue.--An action under this section may be brought only in
accordance with section 1391 of title 28, United States Code, or in the
district in which the recipient of the intoxicating liquor resides or is
found.
``(3) Form of relief.--An action under this section is limited to
actions seeking injunctive relief (a preliminary and/or permanent
injunction).
``(4) No right to jury trial.--An action under this section shall be
tried before the court.
``(d) Requirements for Injunctions and Orders.--
``(1) In general.--In any action brought under this section, upon a
proper showing by the attorney general of the State, the court may issue
a preliminary or permanent injunction to restrain a violation of this
section. A proper showing under this paragraph shall require that a
State prove by a preponderance of the evidence that a violation of State
law as described in subsection (b) has taken place or is taking place.
``(2) Additional showing for preliminary injunction.--No preliminary
injunction may be granted except upon--
``(A) evidence demonstrating the probability of irreparable injury
if injunctive relief is not granted; and
``(B) evidence supporting the probability of success on the merits.
``(3) Notice.--No preliminary or permanent injunction may be issued
under paragraph (1) without notice to the adverse party and an
opportunity for a hearing.
``(4) Form and scope of order.--Any preliminary or permanent
injunction entered in an action brought under this section shall--
``(A) set forth the reasons for the issuance of the order;
``(B) be specific in terms;
``(C) describe in reasonable detail, and not by reference to the
complaint or other document, the act or acts sought to be restrained;
and
``(D) be binding upon--
``(i) the parties to the action and the officers, agents, employees,
and attorneys of those parties; and
``(ii) persons in active concert or participation with the parties
to the action who receive actual notice of the order by personal service
or otherwise.
``(5) Admissibility of evidence.--In a hearing on an application for
a permanent injunction, any evidence previously received on an
application for a preliminary injunction in connection with the same
civil action and that would otherwise be admissible, may be made a part
of the record of the hearing on the permanent injunction.
``(e) Rules of Construction.--This section shall be construed only to
extend the jurisdiction of Federal courts in connection with State law
that is a valid exercise of power vested in the States--
``(1) under the twenty-first article of amendment to the
Constitution of the United States as such article of amendment is
interpreted by the Supreme Court of the United States including
interpretations in conjunction with other provisions of the Constitution
of the United States; and
``(2) under the first section herein as such section is interpreted
by the Supreme Court of the United States; but shall not be construed to
grant to States any additional power.
``(f) Additional Remedies.--
``(1) In general.--A remedy under this section is in addition to any
other remedies provided by law.
``(2) State court proceedings.--Nothing in this section may be
construed to prohibit an authorized State official from proceeding in
State court on the basis of an alleged violation of any State law.
``SEC. 3. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
``(a) Effect on Internet Tax Freedom Act.--Nothing in this section
may be construed to modify or supersede the operation of the Internet
Tax Freedom Act (47 U.S.C. 151 note).
``(b) Inapplicability to Service Providers.--Nothing in this section
may be construed to--
``(1) authorize any injunction against an interactive computer
service (as defined in section 230(f) of the Communications Act of 1934
(47 U.S.C. 230(f)) used by another person to engage in any activity that
is subject to this Act;
``(2) authorize any injunction against an electronic communication
service (as defined in section 2510(15) of title 18, United States Code)
used by another person to engage in any activity that is subject to this
Act; or
``(3) authorize an injunction prohibiting the advertising or
marketing of any intoxicating liquor by any person in any case in which
such advertising or marketing is lawful in the jurisdiction from which
the importation, transportation or other conduct to which this Act
applies originates.''.
(b) Effective Date.--This section and the amendments made by this
section shall become effective 90 days after the date of this enactment
of this Act.
(c) Study.--The Attorney General shall carry out the study to
determine the impact of this section and shall submit the results of
such study not later than 180 days after the enactment of this Act.
Amend the title so as to read: ``An Act to combat trafficking in
persons, especially into the sex trade, slavery, and involuntary
servitude, to reauthorize certain Federal programs to prevent violence
against women, and for other purposes.''.
And the Senate agree to the same.
Benjamin Gilman,
Bill Goodling,
Chris Smith,
Henry J. Hyde,
Nancy L. Johnson,
Sam Gejdenson,
Tom Lantos,
Ben Cardin,
Managers on the Part of the House.
From the Committee on the Judiciary:
Orrin Hatch,
Strom Thurmond,
From the Committee on Foreign Relations:
Jesse Helms,
Sam Brownback,
Joe Biden,
Paul Wellstone,
Managers on the Part of the Senate.
JOINT EXPLANATORY STATEMENT OF THE COMMITTEE OF CONFERENCE
The managers on the part of the House and the Senate at the
conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the amendment
of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 3244) an Act to combat trafficking of
persons, especially into the sex trade, slavery, and slavery-like
conditions, in the United States and countries around the world through
prevention, through prosecution and enforcement against traffickers, and
through protection and assistance to victims of trafficking, submit the
following joint statement to the House and the Senate in explanation of
the effect of the action agreed upon by the managers and recommended in
the accompanying conference report:
Division A of the conference agreement is the Trafficking Victims
Protection Act of 2000, an act to combat trafficking in persons,
especially into the sex trade, slavery, and involuntary servitude, in
the United States and foreign countries. Division B is the Violence
Against Women Act of 2000, an act to reauthorize federal programs that
combat violence against women, to strengthen law enforcement to reduce
violence against women, to strengthen services to victims of violence,
to limit the effects of violence on children, to strengthen education
and training to combat violence against women, to enact new procedures
for the protection of battered immigrant women, and to extend the
Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund. Division C consists of anti-crime
measures including provisions to encourage States to incarcerate
individuals convicted of murder, rape, or child molestation, to
facilitate recovery by victims of terrorism against the assets of
foreign entities that have been held responsible for such terrorism; and
to provide for injunctive relief in Federal district court to enforce
State laws relating to the interstate transportation of intoxicating
liquor.
CONCERNING DIVISION A
The managers on the part of the House and the Senate at the
conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the amendment
of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 3244), an Act to combat trafficking of
persons, especially into the sex trade, slavery, and involuntary
servitude, in the United States and foreign countries, through
prevention, through prosecution and enforcement against traffickers, and
through protection and assistance to victims of trafficking, submit the
following joint statement to the House and the Senate in explanation of
the effect of the action agreed upon by the managers and recommended in
the accompanying conference report:
Sec. 1. Short Title; Table of contents
Section 1 of the House bill states that this Act may be cited as the
Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 and lists its contents.
Section 1 of the Senate amendment is substantially identical to the
House provision. The conference agreement provides that this Act may be
cited as the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 and includes a
table of contents.
Sec. 2. Purposes and findings
Section 2 of the House bill states that the purposes of this Act are
to combat trafficking in persons, to ensure just punishment of
traffickers, and to protect their victims. Section 2 of the House bill
also includes findings to the effect that every year millions of people,
predominantly women and children, are trafficked within or across
international borders; that many victims are trafficked into the
international sex industry, often through force, fraud, or coercion;
that trafficking in persons is not limited to sex trafficking, but often
involves forced labor and other violations of human rights; that
trafficking is a growing transnational problem that is increasingly
perpetrated by organized criminal enterprises; that existing legislation
and law enforcement in the United States and abroad are inadequate to
deter trafficking, bring traffickers to justice, and
meet the safe reintegration needs of trafficking victims; that
in some countries, anti-trafficking efforts are hindered by official
indifference, corruption, and sometimes even official participation in
trafficking; that trafficking in persons is a matter of pressing
international concern, and that the United States must work bilaterally
and multilaterally to abolish trafficking and protect trafficking
victims. The House findings also include references to the Declaration
of Independence, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and numerous
treaties and other international instruments.
Section 2 of the Senate amendment contains identical purposes and
similar findings, with a more succinct set of references to
international agreements. Section 2 of the Senate amendment also
contains findings to the effect that victims of severe forms of
trafficking in persons should not be inappropriately incarcerated,
fined, or otherwise penalized, and that existing United States statutes
on involuntary servitude have been narrowly construed, in the absence of
a definition by Congress, to exclude certain cases in which persons are
held in a condition of servitude by nonviolent coercion.
Section 2 of the conference agreement is substantially identical to
section 2 of the Senate amendment.
sec. 3. definitions
Section 3 of the House bill defines certain terms used in this Act.
``Sex trafficking'' is defined as the purchase, sale, recruitment,
harboring, transportation, transfer, or receipt of a person for the
purpose of a commercial sex act. ``Severe forms of trafficking in
persons'' is defined as sex trafficking induced by force, coercion,
fraud, or deception, or involving a person under the age of 18, as well
as trafficking for the purpose of subjecting the trafficked person to
involuntary servitude, slavery, or slavery-like practices by force,
coercion, fraud, or deception. ``Slavery-like practices'' means
inducement of a person to perform labor or other services by force,
coercion, or by any scheme, plan, or pattern to cause the person to
believe that failure to perform the work will result in the infliction
of serious harm, debt bondage amounting to involuntary servitude, or
subjection to conditions so harsh or degrading as to provide a clear
indication that the person has been subjected to them by force, fraud,
or coercion. In the context of this bill, ``serious harm'' could include
physical restraint that severely limits freedom of movement.
``Coercion,'' as defined, includes the use of force, violence, and
physical restraint, as well as acts calculated to have the same effect
(such as the credible threat of serious harm). The House provision also
defines ``nonhumanitarian foreign assistance'' to include certain
assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the
Export-Import Bank Act of 1945.
Section 3 of the Senate amendment contains definitions similar to
those in the House bill, with several exceptions. The Senate provision
defines ``debt bondage'' as a condition in which personal services are
pledged as security for a debt but in which either the reasonable value
of such services is not in fact applied to the debt or the length and
nature of such services are unlimited or undefined. The Senate
definitions do not use the term ``deception'' in the definition of
severe forms of trafficking. The Senate provision omits the House
definition of ``slavery-like practices'' because this term is not
contained elsewhere in the Senate bill. Instead, the Senate provision
makes clear that ``involuntary servitude'' includes a condition of
servitude induced by means of any act, scheme, plan, or pattern intended
to cause a belief that serious harm or physical restraint would
otherwise occur, or by the abuse or threatened abuse of the legal
process and also includes a definition of ``coercion.'' The Senate
provision also includes definitions of ``State'' and ``United States''
which include the District of Columbia and United States territories and
possessions. Finally, the Senate omits the definitions of ``act of a
severe form of trafficking'' and ``nonhumanitarian foreign assistance''
contained in the House bill.
Section 3 of the conference agreement is similar to the Senate
provision, except that it includes a definition of ``nonhumanitarian,
nontrade-related foreign assistance'' similar to the definition
contained in the House provision, but excluding assistance under the
Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 and under title IV of chapter 2 of part I
of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, relating to the Overseas Private
Investment Corporation. The conference agreement also includes a
definition of ``coercion'' corresponding to the definition included in
18 U.S.C. sec. 1591, added by section 12 of this Act, which provides for
a criminal offense of sex trafficking.
In various sections, the conference agreement uses more general
terms such as ``trafficking'' or ``trafficking in persons'' rather than
the more limited term ``severe forms of trafficking in persons.'' In
such contexts, these terms are intended to be used in a more general
sense, giving the President and other officials some degree of
discretion to apply the relevant provisions to a broader range of
actions or victims beyond those associated with severe forms of
trafficking in persons. Such discretion is particularly appropriate in
assistance to and protection of victims, because trafficked women and
children may have a compelling need for such assistance and protection
even though they have not been subjected to severe forms of trafficking.
In this connection, the conference agreement includes a definition of
``victims of trafficking'' that would encompass a broader class of
victims in certain programs. Where, however, this Act uses the term
``victims of severe forms of trafficking,'' even in provisions related
to protection and assistance, the application of such provisions is
limited to such victims.
sec. 4. annual country reports on human rights practices
Section 4 of the House bill requires the Secretary of State to
include in the annual Country Reports a list of foreign countries that
are countries of origin, transit, or destination for a significant
number of victims of severe forms of trafficking, as well as information
such as the extent to which government officials in such countries are
involved in such trafficking, and an assessment of the steps governments
are taking to combat trafficking and to assist victims of trafficking
and protect their rights. Section 4 of the Senate amendment is
substantially identical to the House provision, except that it does not
require a list of countries and would therefore effectively require
information about severe forms of trafficking in persons to be provided
in the annual Country Report for each foreign country.
Section 4 of the conference agreement is similar to the Senate
provision except that it amends sections 116(f) and 502B of the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961, requiring certain information on trafficking in
persons to be provided in the Country Reports. The section as amended
will limit
the required reporting in the Country Reports to severe forms
of trafficking in persons, but gives the Secretary of State discretion
to include such other information on trafficking as the Secretary deems
appropriate. As with other human rights violations, the extent to which
trafficking in persons is discussed in the Country Report for a
particular country should be commensurate with the extent of the problem
in such country.
sec. 5. interagency task force to monitor and combat trafficking
Section 5 of the House bill provides that the President shall
establish an Inter-Agency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking
and authorizes the establishment an Office in the State Department to
provide assistance to the Task Force. Section 5 of the Senate provision
is substantially identical to the House provision, except that it
requires the Task Force, beginning in 2002, to publish an annual list of
countries which do not meet the minimum standards set forth in section
8, and authorizes interim reports with respect to such countries.
Section 5 of the conference agreement is substantially identical to the
House provision, although the conference agreement does provide in
section 10 for annual and interim reports on countries whose governments
do not comply with the minimum standards. It also provides that the Task
Force will have primary responsibility for advising the Secretary of
State on preparation of the reports in section 10.
sec. 6. prevention of trafficking
Section 6 of the House bill charges the President, acting through
the Agency for International Development and other agencies and in
consultation with appropriate non-governmental organizations, with
establishing initiatives to enhance economic opportunity for potential
trafficking victims as a means of deterring trafficking, such as
microcredit lending programs, training, and education. It also directs
the President to establish programs to increase public awareness of the
dangers of trafficking and the protections available to victims. Section
6 of the of the Senate amendment is substantially identical to section 6
of the House bill. Section 6 of the conference agreement is identical to
the Senate provision.
sec. 7. protection and assistance for victims of trafficking
Subsection 7(a) of the House bill charges the State Department and
the Agency for International Development (AID) with establishing
programs and initiatives in foreign countries to assist victims of
trafficking. Subsection 7(a) of the Senate amendment is substantially
identical to the House provision. Subsection 7(a) of the conference
agreement is identical to the Senate provision, except that all
authorities are vested in the President.
Subsection 7(b) of the House bill directs the Attorney General, the
Secretaries of Labor and of Health and Human Services, and the Board of
Directors of the Legal Services Corporation to expand assistance to
victims of severe forms of tafficking in the United States. The
provision makes clear that for the purpose of receiving benefits, a
``victim of a severe form of trafficking'' means only a person who has
been subjected to such trafficking and who either has not obtained the
age of 15 years or is the subject of a certification that he or she (1)
is willing to assist in every reasonable way in the investigation and
prosecution of severe forms of trafficking in persons, and (2) either
has made a bona fide application for a visa under the provisions of
immigration law added by section 7(f), or is a person whose presence in
the United States the Attorney General is ensuring in order to
effectuate prosecution of traffickers. In addition, the section makes
victims of severe forms of trafficking in the United States eligible for
benefits under the Crime Victims Fund without regard to their
immigration status, and allows the Attorney General to make grants to
local governments and nonprofit organizations to expand services for
victims of trafficking. It also provides trafficking victims a civil
right of action against traffickers for violations of 18 U.S.C. 1589
(trafficking into slavery-like conditions) or 1589A (sex trafficking of
children or by force, fraud, or coercion).
Subsection 7(b) of the Senate amendment is similar to the House
provision except that it does not contain the certification requirement
as a condition on eligibility for benefits. It also contains no
reference to the Crime Victims Fund and does not provide a civil right
of action.
Subsection 7(b) of the conference agreement contains the
certification requirement for benefit eligibility. The conference
agreement, however, requires a certification only for victims who have
attained the age of 18 years. This subsection of the conference
agreement is similar to the Senate provision in that it provides no
civil right of action. The conferees emphasize that nothing in this Act
will preclude trafficking victims from availing themselves of applicable
State, local or other Federal laws in seeking compensatory or other
damages and relief in any civil proceeding. The House provision making
victims eligible for benefits under the Crime Victims Fund has been
deleted as unnecessary, because current law does not bar such victims
from receiving such benefits on account of their immigration status. The
conferees expect that the Office of Victims of Crimes will provide
assistance to these victims, even though this provision was deleted. In
addition, the conferees believe that in making grants under this
section, the Attorney General and other federal officials should
consider whether the prospective grantee denies services to a
trafficking victim solely on account of conduct incident to that
person's status as a victim.
Subsection 7(c) of the House bill requires the Attorney General and
the Secretary of State to promulgate regulations to ensure that: (1)
victims of severe forms of trafficking are provided with appropriate
shelter and care while in Federal custody; (2) victims are not jailed or
fined merely because they were trafficked; (3) victims have access to
legal assistance and translation services; (4) victims are assured
continuous presence in the United States to assist in the prosecution of
traffickers; and (5) State and Justice Department personnel are trained
in identifying and protecting victims of severe forms of trafficking.
Subsection 7(c) of the Senate amendment is similar to the House
provision, with to principal exceptions. First, it does not require
regulations that explicitly prohibit incarceration, fines, or other
penalties against victims on account of their having been trafficked.
Instead, it requires regulations that prohibit the detention of victims
in facilities inappropriate to their status as crime
victims. Second, it requires regulations under which the
Attorney General ``may'' ensure the continued presence of a person in
the United States in order to effectuate prosecution of traffickers if
the person is both a victim and a potential witness.
Subsection 7(c) of the Senate conference agreement is substantially
identical to the Senate provision. The conferees believe that the House
provision with respect to jailing, fining, or otherwise penalizing
victims of serious crimes on account of their status as crime victims or
on account of conduct committed under duress incident to such status
restates existing criminal law and is therefore unnecessary. The
conferees also believe that training provided to State Department and
Justice Department personnel should include methods for achieving
antitrafficking objectives through nondiscriminatory application of
immigration laws and others laws.
Subsection 7(d) of the House bill makes clear that nothing in
subsection (c) creates a private cause of action against the United
States or its employees. Subsection 7(d) of the Senate amendment is
identical to the House provision. Subsection 7(d) of the conference
agreement is identical to both provisions.
Subsection 7(e) of the House bill makes funds derived from the sale
of assets seized from and forfeited by traffickers (pursuant to section
12(a) of the House bill) available for the victim assistance under
subsections (a) and (b). The Senate amendment contains no corresponding
provision. The conference agreement is identical to the Senate
amendment.
Section 7(f) of the House bill creates a new nonimmigrant ``T'' visa
for certain victims of severe forms of trafficking. Eligibility would be
limited to persons who: (1) are victims of a severe form of trafficking
in persons, as defined in section 3 of the act; (2) are in the United
States or at a United States port of entry by reason of having been
trafficked here; (3) are no older than 14 years of age or were induced
to participate in the sex trade or slavery-like practices by force,
coercion, fraud, or deception, did not voluntarily agree to any
arrangement including such participation, and have complied with any
reasonable request for assistance in the investigation or prosecution of
trafficking acts; and (4) have a well-founded fear of retribution
involving the infliction of severe harm upon removal from the United
States or would suffer extreme hardship in connection with the
trafficking upon removal from the United States. It also permits the
Attorney General to grant a ``T'' visa if necessary to avoid extreme
hardship to the victim's spouse, sons and daughters (who are not
children), and the parents if the victim is under 21 years old. A
victim's children who are unmarried and under 21 years old need not
establish extreme hardship to receive a ``T'' visa. It precludes anyone
in this section from receiving a ``T'' visa if there is substantial
reason to believe that the person has committed an act of a severe form
of trafficking in persons. The House provision permits the Attorney
General to waive grounds of inadmissibility, including health-related
grounds, public charge, and, with the exception of security,
international child abduction, and former citizens who renounced
citizenship to avoid taxation, any other provision of section 212(a) of
the INA if the activities rendering the alien inadmissible were caused
by the trafficking. It states that the INS is not prohibited from
instituting removal proceedings against an alien admitted with a ``T''
visa for conduct committed after the alien's admission into the United
States, or for conduct or a condition that was not disclosed to the
Attorney General prior to the alien's admission. The House provision
also places an annual cap of 5,000 on ``T'' visas for trafficking
victims. Finally, the House provision permits the Attorney General to
adjust the status of a ``T'' visa holder to that of a permanent resident
if the alien: (1) has been physically present in the United States for a
continuous period of at least 3 years since the date of admission; (2)
has throughout such period been a person of good moral character; (3)
has during such period complied with any reasonable request for
assistance in the investigation or prosecution of trafficking acts; and
(4) has a well-founded fear of retribution involving the infliction of
severe harm upon removal from the United States, or would suffer extreme
hardship in connection with the trafficking upon removal from the United
States. It also permits the Attorney General to adjust the status of the
victim's spouse, parents, and married and unmarried sons and daughters,
if admitted with a ``T'' visa, to that of an alien lawfully admitted for
permanent residence. An annual cap of 5,000 is placed on adjustments of
status for victims. The provision also permits the Attorney General to
waive grounds of inadmissibility, including health-related grounds,
public charge, and, with the exception of security, international child
abduction, and former citizens who renounced citizenship to avoid
taxation, any other provision of section 212(a) of the INA if the
activities rendering the alien inadmissible were caused by the
trafficking.
Subsections 7(e) and (f) of the Senate amendment are similar to
section 7(f) of the House bill. The Senate provision allows victims who
meet all other eligibility requirements for the ``T'' visa to make a
showing of ``extreme hardship'' whether or not such hardship is ``in
connection with the victimization.'' The Senate provision also makes a
victim's spouse and minor children eligible for visas only on a showing
that their presence in the United States would be ``necessary to avoid
extreme hardship.'' The Senate provision makes a victim's parents
eligible for visas only if the victim is under the age of 21, and
provides no eligibility for a victim's sons and daughters who are not
minor children. The Senate provision contained no annual limitation on
the number of nonimmigrant visas or on the number of persons eligible to
adjust status to permanent residence. The Senate provision allowing to
waive grounds of inadmissibility was broader than the House provision,
allowing waivers of all grounds except participation in Nazi
persecution, genocide, and related grounds.
Subsections 7(e) and (f) of the conference agreement are similar to
the House bill but incorporate elements of the Senate amendment. The
conferees believe that an applicant who voluntarily agrees to be
smuggled into the United States in exchange for working to pay off the
smuggling fee is not eligible for the ``T'' visa, unless the applicant
becomes a victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons as defined
by the Act. The conference provision requires that a victim would face
``extreme hardship involving unusual and severe harm'' upon removal as
an element in establishing eligibility for a visa. The conferees expect
that the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the Executive Office
for Immigration Review will interpret the ``extreme hardship involving
unusual and severe harm'' to be a higher standard than just ``extreme
hardship.'' The standard shall cover those cases where a victim likely
would face genuine and serious hardship if removed from the United
States, whether or not the severe harm is physical harm or on account of
having been trafficked. The extreme hardship shall involve more than the
normal economic and social disruptions involved in
deportation. The conference provision is also similar to the Senate
provision in requiring a showing of extreme hardship for the admission
of a victim's spouse and minor children and in containing no provision
for admission of adult sons and daughters. The conference provision is
identical to the House provision with respect to waivers of grounds of
inadmissibility.
The conference agreement limits the number of nonimmigrant visas to
5000 per year and also contains an annual limit of 5000 on the number of
``T'' visa holders who are eligible to adjust their status to lawful
permanent residence. The conference provision also adds a new subsection
(g), directing the Immigration and Naturalization Service to report
annually on whether any otherwise eligible applicant has been denied a
visa or adjustment of status solely on account of the annual limitation.
The conferees expect that this report will list the number of visa and
adjustment applications filed, the number of denials for any reason, and
the number denied on account of the annual limitation. The conferees
believe that the annual limitation of 5000 is sufficient to include all
bona fide victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons who meet all
other eligibility requirements. If experience should indicate that the
number is insufficient to include all such bona fide eligible victims,
it would be appropriate for Congress to consider enacting legislation to
increase the annual limitation.
Sec. 8. Minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking
Section 8 of the House bill establishes minimums standards
applicable to governments of countries that are countries of origin,
transit, or destination for a significant number of victims of severe
forms of trafficking in persons. The section provides that such
governments should enact laws that prohibit and severely punish such
trafficking and should make serious and sustained efforts to eliminate
such trafficking. The section sets forth a number of indicia of such
serious and sustained efforts, including vigorous prosecution of
offenders, protection of victims, education of the public and of
potential victims, and cooperation with international efforts to stop
trafficking. Section 8 of the Senate amendment is substantially similar
to the House provision. Section 8 of the conference agreement is
substantially similar to the House and Senate provisions. The conferees
do not expect that a government would be required to fulfill all the
criteria in subsection 8(b) in order to be making ``serious and
sustained efforts'' to eliminate severe forms of trafficking in persons.
Rather, the subsection requires only that the Secretary consider these
factors in determining whether the government is making such efforts.
Sec. 9. Assistance to foreign countries to meeting minimum standards
Section 9 of the House bill authorizes the Agency for International
Development to fund activities designed to help foreign countries meet
the minimum standards outlined in section 8(a) of this Act. Such
activities include, but are not limited to, assistance in drafting
anti-trafficking legislation, training law enforcement and judicial
system officials in the investigation and prosecution of trafficking
cases, and efforts by foreign governments to assist victims. Section 9
of the Senate amendment is similar to the House provision but makes
clear that such activities may be conducted through nongovernmental or
multilateral organizations and may include the expansion of exchange
programs and international visitor programs. Section 9 of the conference
agreement is substantially identical to the Senate provision.
sec. 10. Actions against governments failing to meet minimum standards
Section 10 of the House bill requires the Secretary of State to
submit to Congress an annual report on the status of severe forms of
trafficking, consisting of a list of countries that do not meet the
minimum standards set forth in section 8 of the Act, together with such
other information as the Secretary may wish to provide. The section
provides that the Secretary may also file interim reports. Beginning in
FY 2002, the section requires that for each government that fails to
meet the minimum standards, the President ``shall'' either (a) withhold
nonhumanitarian U.S. foreign assistance to that government and direct
that the U.S. executive directors of multilateral lending instutions
vote against nonhumanitarian assistance to that government during the
following fiscal year; or (b) waive these requirements if the President
finds that the provision of nonhumanitarian assistance to that country
is in the national interest of the United States.
Section 10 of the Senate amendment provides that, with respect to
each country that does not meet the minimum standards set forth in
section 8, the President ``may'' take any of a number of actions,
including withholding foreign assistance, instructing the U.S. executive
directors of multilateral lending institutions to vote against loans or
assistance to such countries, prohibiting arms sales, and restricting
exports to such countries.
Section 10 of the conference agreement is similar to the Senate
provision with respect to countries whose governments do not comply with
the minimum standards but are making significant efforts to bring
themselves into compliance, in that is contains no provision for actions
against such countries, thereby leaving the President free to take no
action or to take any action that is within the President's discretion
under current law. This section of the conference agreement is similar
to the House provision only with respect to countries whose governments
not only fail to comply with the minimum standards, but also fail to
make significant efforts to comply with such standards. With respect to
this small number of truly egregious offenders, the conference agreement
contains a provision similar to the House bill, but with the following
additional limitations: (1) The requirement that the President either
withhold assistance to the foreign government or waive the withholding
requirement is limited to assistance which is ``nonhumanitarian'' and
also ``nontrade-related.'' (2) Similarly, the provision with respect to
international financial institutions is limited to non-humanitarian,
nontrade-related loans and other utilizations of funds. For the purposes
of this provision, the conferees consider humanitarian assistance to
include debt relief extended by international financial institutions to
governments in order to allow such governments to meet the basic needs
of the people of their countries. (3) The President may waive these
requirements if a waiver would promote the purposes of this Act, such as
in a case in which the President believes providing assistance will
cause the offending government to attempt to comply with the minimums
standards. (4) The President may also waive the requirements if for any
other reason he believes a waiver to be in
the national interest. (5) The President may use the waiver
authority with respect to all assistance and extensions of credit to a
government or with respect to any subset of such assistance or
extensions of credit. (6) The President must use the waiver authority as
necessary to avoid substantial adverse impact on vulnerable populations
including women and children. (7) In lieu of notifying Congress that aid
will be withdrawn or that one of the waiver authorities granted by this
section will be used, the President may notify Congress that the
government of a country is already subject to broad-based reductions in
assistance due to human rights violations and that no additional
measures are deemed appropriate. Finally, (8) the requirement will not
go into effect until 2003. The three-year delay in implementation of
this provision is intended to give foreign governments time to begin
making efforts to comply with the minimum standards. The conferees
emphasize that the provisions of this Act clearly require that in
assessing the records of foreign governments with respect to the minimum
standards for the elimination of trafficking, the President and other
executive branch officials must not limit their scrutiny to the
governments of countries of origin for victims of severe forms of
trafficking in persons, but must apply equally close scrutiny to the
governments of transit countries and countries of destination for such
victims.
sec. 11. actions against significant traffickers in persons
Section 11 of the House bill authorizes the Secretary of State to
compile and publish a list of foreign persons who have a significant
role in a severe form of trafficking in persons, directly or indirectly
in the United States, who materially support such persons, or who are
owned or controlled by such persons. It allows the President to impose
International Emergency Economic Power Acts (IEEPA) sanctions, including
the freezing of assets located in the United States, without regard to
section 202 of such Act against any foreign person on that list, and
requires that the President report to Congress on any such sanctions. It
also allows for the non-disclosure of persons on the list for
intelligence and law enforcement reasons, and requires that Congress be
notified of such exclusions on an annual basis. Subsection 11(e)
excludes significant traffickers, persons who knowingly assist them, and
their spouses, sons, and daughters who knowingly benefit from the
proceeds of their trafficking activities, from entry into the United
States. This approach is similar to that adopted by the Foreign
Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act, enacted in Title VIII of the
Intelligence Authorization Act of 2000, P.L. 106 120.
Section 11 of the Senate amendment is similar to the House provision
in that it provides authority to the President to block assets and
transactions of foreign persons who were traffickers in persons and
foreign persons who materially assist or are owned, controlled or
directed by such persons. The House bill and the Senate amendment also
include similar provisions for compiling lists of such persons and for
reporting on what persons were subject to the authority to block assets
and transactions. Finally, the Senate section also includes a provision
similar to the House amendment to the Immigration and Nationality Act
making inadmissible persons subject to blocking under section 11 as well
as spouses, sons and daughters who had obtained financial benefit from
such persons and who knew or should have known that the financial
benefit was the product of trafficking in persons.
Section 11 of the conference agreement is similar in substance to
the House and Senate provisions. The conferees determined that in light
of the discretionary character of both proposals, a streamlined
provision for designating and reporting on persons subject to the
section was warranted, with all authority vested in the President rather
than in other executive branch officials. A provision was added
explicitly providing the President authority to delegate any
responsibility. While the provision explicitly refers to the authority
to make derivative designations, the conferees intend that any authority
or responsibility in this section may be delegated. The conferees expect
that a substantial part of this authority will be delegated to the
Secretary of the Treasury, since the Office of Foreign Assets Control
within the Department of the Treasury is responsible for administering
other blocking programs. However, the conferees also expect that the
delegation of authority under section 11 or regulations promulgated to
implement this section will ensure that appropriate agencies such as the
Departments of State and Justice are involved in the designation process
contemplated under this section.
The conferees remain concerned regarding administrative actions that
may seriously affect the livelihood of persons subject to such actions
but that are not subject to a hearing prior to their application. The
conferees have been assured that blocking authority of this type is
generally exercised only on persons who have most of their assets
abroad, and the chief effect of blocking orders is to prohibit U.S.
persons from engaging in transactions with such persons. While this
assurance decreases the concern of the conferees that the provisions may
inadvertently be used against an innocent person who would then be
unable to use any of his or her assets to live during a challenge to a
determination, the conferees included a provision requiring the agency
administering this section to provide an expedited process for hearing
from any person subject to this section, including any designation made
directly by the President. It also provides that nothing in this section
precludes judicial review of determinations under this section. The
conferees recognize, however, that courts will give significant
deference to a foreign policy determination of the President, which
would be basis for making determinations under this section.
Finally, several of the conferees raised concerns regarding the
provision making certain spouses and children of traffickers
inadmissible. In order to address these concerns, the conference
agreement contains an exception for sons and daughters who were minor
children at the time they received a benefit from trafficking
enterprises.
sec. 12. strengthening prosecution and punishment of traffickers
Section 12 of the House bill amends chapter 77 of title 18 of the
United States Code to increase penalties for involuntary servitude and
other existing crimes, adds several new criminal violations in the areas
of trafficking in persons, and amends the sentencing guidelines related
to these crimes. Subsection (a) increases the penalties for involuntary
servitude, peonage and other existing crimes from 10 years to 20 years
and provides for life imprisonment if the violation includes kidnaping,
aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to kill. Subsection (a) also adds
several new crimes to title 18. Section 1589 creates a new crime of
forced labor for persons who knowingly provide or obtain the labor or
services of a person by threats of serious harm to, or physical
restraint against that person or another; by use of fraud, deceit or
misrepresentation if
the person is a minor, mentally disabled, or otherwise
particularly susceptible to undue influence; by means of any scheme,
plan or pattern intended to cause the person to believe that if the
person did not perform such labor or services, serious harm or physical
restraint would be inflicted on that person or another; or by means of
the abuse or threatened abuse of law or the legal process. New section
1590 would criminalize trafficking of any person in violation of Chapter
77 of title 18, including by those who benefit financially or otherwise
by such trafficking. New Section 1591 creates a crime for trafficking
persons into a criminal sex act by coercion, fraud, deceit,
misrepresentation or other abusive practices, as defined in this
section. Subsection (a) also establishes a crime for unlawful conduct
with respect to documents in furtherance of trafficking, peonage,
slavery, involuntary servitude or forced labor, and provides for
mandatory restitution to victims of offenses under chapter 77 of title
18. A new subsection 1594 provides general provisions ensuring that
attempts and conspiracy of certain crimes in chapter 77 are treated in
the same manner as a completed violation and provides for asset
forfeiture and witness protection. Finally, section 12(b) provides
amendments to U.S. sentencing guidelines regarding crimes contained in
the amended chapter 77 of title 18.
Section 12 of the Senate amendment is similar to the House bill, but
with certain important differences. Rather than add a new section 1589,
the Senate amendment provides a definition of involuntary servitude in
section 1584 to include a condition of servitude induced by means of any
act, scheme, plan, or pattern intended to cause a person to believe that
the person or another person would suffer serious harm or physical
restraint or the abuse or threatened abuse of the legal process. The
Senate amendment also provides for new crimes for trafficking with
respect to peonage, slavery or involuntary servitude, but does not
extend the criminal misconduct to persons who benefit financially or
otherwise from trafficking. The Senate amendment provides for a new
section of title 18 of the United States Code for sex trafficking, but
limits it to cases of force, fraud, or coercion, as defined in that
section. The Senate amendment also includes new sections relating to
unlawful conduct with respect to documents in furtherance of trafficking
and other crimes, and likewise has provisions identical to the House
bill on mandatory restitution. Finally, the Senate amendment provides
general provisions regarding asset forfeiture, witness protection and
amendments to U.S. sentencing guidelines.
Section 12 of the conference agreement is substantially similar to
the House provision, but incorporates a number of provisions contained
in the Senate amendment. In order to address issues raised by the
decision of the United States Supreme Court in United States v.
Kozminski, 487 U.S. 931 (1988), the agreement creates a new section 1589
on forced labor in form similar to the House bill. The agreement does
not contain a provision included in the House bill addressing fraud or
deception to obtain labor or services of minors, mentally incompetent
persons, or persons otherwise particularly susceptible. In deleting
these provisions, the conferees addressed the concerns of some members
of the conference that the similar House bill provision might have
criminalized conduct that is currently regulated by labor law. However,
the conferees are aware that the Department of Justice may seek
additional statutory changes in future years to further address the
issues raised in Kozminski, as courts and prosecutors develop experience
with the new crimes created by this Act.
Section 1589 is intended to address the increasingly subtle methods
of traffickers who place their victims in modern-day slavery, such as
where traffickers threaten harm to third persons, restrain their victims
without physical violence or injury, or threaten dire consequences by
means other than overt violence. Section 1589 will provide federal
prosecutors with the tools to combat severe forms of worker exploitation
that do not rise to the level of involuntary servitude as defined in
Kozminski. Because provisions within section 1589 only require a showing
of a threat of ``serious harm,'' or of a scheme, plan, or pattern
intended to cause a person to believe that such harm would occur,
federal prosecutors will not have to demonstrate physical harm or
threats of force against victims. The term ``serious harm'' as used in
this Act refers to a broad array of harms, including both physical and
nonphysical, and section 1589's terms and provisions are intended to be
construed with respect to the individual circumstances of victims that
are relevant in determining whether a particular type or certain degree
of harm or coercion is sufficient to maintain or obtain a victim's labor
or services, including the age and background of the victims.
For example, it is intended that prosecutors will be able to bring
more cases in which individuals have been trafficked into domestic
service, an increasingly common occurrence, not only where such victims
are kept in service through overt beatings, but also where the
traffickers use more subtle means designed to cause their victims to
believe that serious harm will result to themselves or others if they
leave, as when a nanny is led to believe that children in her care will
be harmed if she leaves the home. In other cases, a scheme, plan, or
pattern intended to cause a belief of serious harm may refer to
intentionally causing the victim to believe that her family will face
harms such as banishment, starvation, or bankruptcy in their home
country. Section 1589 will in certain instances permit prosecutions
where children are brought to the United States and face extreme
nonviolent and psychological coercion (e.g. isolation, denial of sleep,
and other punishments). A claim by an adult of a false legal
relationship with a child in order to put the child in a condition of
servitude may constitute a scheme, plan or pattern that violates the
statute, if there is a showing that such a scheme was intended to create
the belief that the victim or some other person would suffer serious
harm.
The conference agreement also includes new section 1590 for the
crime of trafficking with respect to peonage, slavery, involuntary
servitude, or forced labor. The conferees adopted the approach of the
Senate bill with respect to this new crime and agreed not to extend it
to persons who benefit financially or otherwise from the trafficking out
of a concern that such a provision might include within its scope
persons, such as stockholders in large companies, who have an attenuated
financial interest in a legitimate business where a few employees might
act in violation of the new statute. The conference agreement also
creates new section 1591 punishing sex trafficking, which is similar to
comparable provisions in both the House bill and the Senate amendment.
Also, the conference agreement creates new section 1592, which punishes
wrongful conduct with respect to immigration and identification
documents in the course of a violation of one of several provisions of
chapter 77 of title 18, when such conduct is engaged in with the intent
to violate one of the sections, or when such conduct is for the purpose
of preventing or restricting, without lawful authority, a person's
liberty to move or travel in interstate or foreign commerce, or to
maintain the labor or services of another, knowing that such person is a
victim of severe forms of trafficking, as defined by section 3 of this
Act. This revision is intended to address, in part, cases where one of
the other crimes of chapter 77 is not completed, but where
there is evidence that a trafficker intended to commit such a
crime and withheld or destroyed immigration or identification documents
for the purpose of preventing the trafficking victim from escaping.
Finally, the conference agreement contains provisions similar to the
Senate bill regarding mandatory restitution, general provisions, and
sentencing guidelines.
sec. 13. authorization of appropriations
Section 13 of the House bill authorizes a total of $94.5 million
($31.5 million for FY2000, $63 million for FY01) in the following
categories: (a) Interagency Task Force: $1.5 million for fiscal year
2000, $3 million for fiscal year 2001; (b) Health and Human Services for
victim assistance in the United States: $5 million for fiscal year 2000,
$10 million for fiscal year 2001; (c) Department of State for foreign
victim assistance: $5 million for fiscal year 2000, $10 million for
fiscal year 2001; (d) The Attorney General for victim assistance in the
United States: $5 million for fiscal year 2000, $10 million for fiscal
year 2001; (e) The President for (1) foreign victim assistance: $5
million for fiscal year 2000, $10 million for fiscal year 2001, and (2)
assistance to help countries meet minimum trafficking standards: $5
million for fiscal year 2000, $10 million for fiscal year 2001; and (f)
Department of Labor for victim assistance in the United States: $5
million for fiscal year 2000, $10 million for fiscal year 2001.
Section 13 of the Senate bill is similar to the House provision,
except that it authorizes funding for fiscal years 2001 and 2002. It
also authorizes $300,000 in fiscal year 2001 for a voluntary
contribution to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
and such sums as may be necessary to include the additional information
required by section 4 in the annual Country Reports on Human Rights
Practices.
Section 13 of the conference agreement is substantially identical to
the Senate provision.
CONCERNING DIVISION B, THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT OF 2000
The Violence Against Women Act of 2000 accomplishes two basic things:
First, the bill reauthorizes through Fiscal Year 2005 the key
programs included in the original Violence Against Women Act, such as
the STOP, Pro-Arrest, Rural Domestic Violence and Child Abuse
Enforcement, and campus grants; battered women's shelters; the National
Domestic Violence Hotline; rape prevention and education grant programs;
and three victims of child abuse programs, including the court-appointed
special advocate program (CASA).
Second, the Violence Against Women Act of 2000 makes some targeted
improvements that our experience with the original Act has shown to be
necessary, such as--
(1) Authorizing grants for legal assistance for victims of domestic
violence, stalking, and sexual assault;
(2) Providing funding for transitional housing assistance;
(3) Improving full faith and credit enforcement and computerized
tracking of protection orders;
(4) Strengthening and refining the protections for battered
immigrant women;
(5) Authorizing grants for supervised visitation and safe visitation
exchange of children between parents in situations involving domestic
violence, child abuse, sexual assault, or stalking; and
(6) Expanding several of the key grant programs to cover violence
that arises in dating relationships.
We append to this joint statement a section by section analysis of
the bill and a more detailed section by section analysis of the
provisions contained in Title V, which addresses the plight of battered
immigrant women.
DIVISION B--THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT OF 2000
section-by-section summary
Sec. 1001. Short Title
Names this division the Violence Against Women Act of 2000.
Sec. 1002. Definitions
Restates the definitions ``domestic violence'' and ``sexual
assault'' as currently defined in the STOP grant program.
Sec. 1003. Accountability and Oversight
Requires the Attorney General or Secretary of Health and Human
Services, as applicable, to require grantees under any program
authorized or reauthorized by this division to report on the
effectiveness of the activities carried out. Requires the Attorney
General or Secretary, as applicable, to report biennially to the Senate
and House Judiciary Committees on these grant programs.
TITLE I--STRENGTHENING LAW ENFORCEMENT TO REDUCE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
Sec. 1101. Improving Full Faith and Credit Enforcement of
Protection Orders
Helps states and tribal courts improve interstate enforcement of
protection orders as required by the original Violence Against Women Act
of 1994. Renames Pro-Arrest Grants to expressly include enforcement of
protection orders as a focus for grant program funds, adds as a grant
purpose technical assistance and use of computer and other equipment for
enforcing orders; instructs the Department of Justice to identify and
make available information on promising order enforcement practices;
adds as a funding priority the development and enhancement of data
collection and sharing systems to promote enforcement of protection
orders.
Amends the full faith and credit provision in the original Act to
prohibit requiring registration as a prerequisite to enforcement of
out-of-state orders and to prohibit notification of a batterer without
the victim's consent when an out-of-state order is registered in a new
jurisdiction. Requires recipients of STOP and Pro-Arrest grant funds, as
a condition of funding, to facilitate filing and service of protection
orders without cost to the victim in both civil and criminal cases.
Clarifies that tribal courts have full civil jurisdiction to enforce
protection orders in matters arising within the authority of the tribe.
Sec. 1102. Enhancing the Role of Courts in Combating Violence
Against Women
Engages state courts in fighting violence against women by targeting
funds to be used by the courts for the training and education of court
personnel, technical assistance, and technological improvements. Amends
STOP and Pro-Arrest grants to make state and local courts expressly
eligible for funding and dedicates 5 percent of states' STOP grants for
courts.
Sec. 1103. STOP Grants Reauthorization
Reauthorizes through 2005 this vital state formula grant program
that has succeeded in bringing police and prosecutors in close
collaboration with victim services providers into the fight to end
violence against women. (``STOP'' means ``Services and Training for
Officers and Prosecutors''). Preserves the original Act's allocations of
states' STOP grant funds of 25 percent to police and 25 percent to
prosecutors, but increases grants to victim services to 30 percent (from
25 percent), in addition to the 5 percent allocated to state, tribal,
and local courts.
Sets aside five percent of total funds available for State and
tribal domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions and increases the
allocation for Indian tribes to 5 percent (up from 4 percent in the
original Act).
Amends the definition of ``underserved populations'' and adds
additional purpose areas for which grants may be used.
Authorization level is $185 million/year (FY 2000 appropriation was
$206.75 million (including a $28 million earmark for civil legal
assistance)).
Sec. 1104. Pro-Arrest Grants Reauthorization
Extends this discretionary grant program through 2005 to develop and
strengthen programs and policies that mandate and encourage police
officers to arrest abusers who commit acts of violence or violate
protection orders.
Sets aside 5 percent of total amounts available for grants to Indian
tribal governments.
Authorization level is $65 million/year (FY 2000 appropriation was
$34 million).
Sec. 1105. Rural Domestic Violence and Child Abuse
Enforcement Grants Reauthorization
Extends through 2005 these direct grant programs that help states
and local governments focus on problems particular to rural areas.
Sets aside 5 percent of total amounts available for grants to Indian
tribal governments.
Authorization level is $40 million/year (FY 2000 appropriation was
$25 million).
Sec. 1106. National Stalker and Domestic Violence Reduction
Grants Reauthorization
Extends through 2005 this grant program to assist states and local
governments in improving databases for stalking and domestic violence.
Authorization level is $3 million/year (FY 1998 appropriation was
$2.75 million).
Sec. 1107. Clarify Enforcement to End Interstate Battery/Stalking
Clarifies federal jurisdiction to ensure reach to persons crossing
United States borders as well as crossing state lines by use of
``interstate or foreign commerce language.'' Clarifies federal
jurisdiction to ensure reach to battery or violation of specified
portions of a protection order before travel to facilitate the
interstate movement of the victim. Makes the nature of the ``harm''
required for domestic violence, stalking, and interstate travel offenses
consistent by removing the requirement that the victim suffer actual
physical harm from those offenses that previously had required such
injury.
Resolves several inconsistencies between the protection order
offense involving interstate travel of the offender, and the protection
order offense involving interstate travel of the victim.
Revises the definition of ``protection order'' to clarify that
support or child custody orders are entitled to full faith and credit to
the extent provided under other Federal law--namely, the Parental
Kidnaping Prevention Act of 1980, as amended.
Extends the interstate stalking prohibition to cover interstate
``cyber-stalking'' that occurs by use of the mail or any facility of
interstate or foreign commerce, such as by telephone or by computer
connected to the Internet.
Sec. 1108. School and Campus Security
Extends the authorization through 2005 for the grant program
established in the Higher Education Amendments of 1998 and administered
by the Justice Department for grants for on-campus security, education,
training, and victim services to combat violence against women on
college campuses. Incorporates ``dating violence'' into purpose areas
for which grants may be used. Amends the definition of ``victim
services'' to include public, nonprofit organizations acting in a
nongovernmental capacity, such as victim services organizations at
public universities.
Authorization level is $10 million/year (FY 2000 STOP grant
appropriation included a $10 million earmark for this use).
Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants through 2003 to
states, units of local government, and Indian tribes to provide improved
security, including the placement and use of metal detectors and other
deterrent measures, at schools and on school grounds.
Authorization level is $30 million/year.
Sec. 1109. Dating Violence
Incorporates ``dating violence'' into certain purpose areas for
which grants may be used under the STOP, Pro-Arrest, and Rural Domestic
Violence and Child Abuse Enforcement grant programs. Defines ``dating
violence'' as violence committed by a person: (A) who is or has been in
a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim;
and (B) where the existence of such a relationship shall be determined
based on consideration of the following factors: (i) the length of the
relationship; (ii) the type of relationship; and (iii) the frequency of
interaction between the persons involved in the relationship.
TITLE II--STRENGTHENING SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE
Sec. 1201. Legal Assistance to Victims of Domestic Violence
and Sexual Assault
Building on set-asides in past STOP grant appropriations since
fiscal year 1998 for civil legal assistance, this section authorizes a
separate grant program for those purposes through 2005. Helps victims of
domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault who need legal
assistance as a consequence of that violence to obtain access to trained
attorneys and lay advocacy services, particularly pro bono legal
services. Grants support training, technical assistance, data
collection, and support for cooperative efforts between victim advocacy
groups and legal assistance providers.
Defines the term ``legal assistance'' to include assistance to
victims of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault in family,
immigration, administrative agency, or housing matters, protection or
stay away order proceedings, and other similar matters. For purposes of
this section, ``administrative agency'' refers to a federal, state, or
local governmental agency that provides financial benefits.
Sets aside 5 percent of the amounts made available for programs
assisting victims of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault in
Indian country; sets aside 25 percent of the funds used for direct
services, training, and technical assistance for the use of victims of
sexual assault.
Appropriation is $40 million/year (FY 2000 STOP grant appropriation
included a $28 million earmark for this use).
Sec. 1202. Expanded Shelter for Battered Women and Their Children
Reauthorizes through 2005 current programs administered by the
Department of Health and Human Services to help communities provide
shelter to battered women and their children, with increased funding to
provide more shelter space to assist the tens of thousands who are now
being turned away.
Authorization level is $175 million/year (FY 2000 appropriation was
$101.5 million).
Sec. 1203. Transitional Housing Assistance for Victims of
Domestic Violence
Authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services to make
grants to provide short-term housing assistance and support services to
individuals and their dependents who are homeless or in need of
transitional housing or other housing assistance as a result of fleeing
a situation of domestic violence, and for whom emergency shelter
services are unavailable or insufficient.
Authorization level is $25 million for FY 2001.
Sec. 1204. National Domestic Violence Hotline
Extends through 2005 this grant to meet the growing demands on the
National Domestic Violence Hotline established under the original
Violence Against Women Act due to increased call volume since its
inception. Requires annual reports on the Hotline's operation.
Authorization level is $2 million/year (FY 2000 appropriation was $2
million).
Sec. 1205. Federal Victims Counselors Grants Reauthorization
Extends through 2005 this program under which U.S. Attorney offices
can hire counselors to assist victims and witnesses in prosecution of
sex crimes and domestic violence crimes.
Authorization level is $1 million/year (FY 1998 appropriation was $1
million).
Sec. 1206. Study of State Laws Regarding Insurance
Discrimination Against Victims of Violence Against Women
Requires the Attorney General to conduct a national study to
identify state laws that address insurance discrimination against
victims of domestic violence and submit recommendations based on that
study to Congress.
Sec. 1207. Study of Workplace Effects From Violence Against Women
Requires the Attorney General to conduct a national survey of
programs to assist employers on appropriate responses in the workplace
to victims of domestic violence or sexual assault and submit
recommendations based on that study to Congress.
Sec. 1208. Study of Unemployment Compensation for Victims of
Violence Against Women
Requires the Attorney General to conduct a national study to
identify the impact of state unemployment compensation laws on victims
of domestic violence when the victim's separation from employment is a
direct result of the domestic violence, and to submit recommendations
based on that study to Congress.
Sec. 1209. Enhancing Protections for Older and Disabled Women
From Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
Adds as new purposes areas to STOP grants and Pro-Arrest grants the
development of policies and initiatives that help in identifying and
addressing the needs of older and disabled women who are victims of
domestic violence or sexual assault.
Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants for training programs
through 2005 to assist law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and
relevant court officers in recognizing, addressing, investigating, and
prosecuting instances of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation and
violence against individuals with disabilities, including domestic
violence and sexual assault, against older or disabled individuals.
Authorization is $5 million/year.
TITLE III--LIMITING THE EFFECTS OF VIOLENCE ON CHILDREN
Sec. 1301. Safe Havens for Children Pilot Program
Establishes through 2002 a pilot Justice Department grant program
aimed at reducing the opportunity for domestic violence to occur during
the transfer of children for visitation purposes by expanding the
availability of supervised visitation and safe visitation exchange for
the children of victims of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual
assault, or stalking.
Authorization level is $15 million for each year.
Sec. 1302. Reauthorization of Victims of Child Abuse Act Grants
Extends through 2005 three grant programs geared to assist children
who are victims of abuse. These are the court-appointed special advocate
program, child abuse training for judicial personnel and practitioners,
and grants for televised testimony of children.
Authorization levels are $12 million/year for the special advocate
program, $2.3 million/year for the judicial personnel training program,
and $1 million/year for televised testimony (FY 2000 appropriations were
$10 million, $2.3 million, and $1 million respectively).
Sec. 1303. Report on Parental Kidnaping Laws
Requires the Attorney General to study and submit recommendations on
federal and state child custody laws, including custody provisions in
protection orders, the Parental Kidnaping Prevention Act of 1980, and
the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act adopted by
the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws in July
1997, and the effect of those laws on child custody cases in which
domestic violence is a factor. Amends emergency jurisdiction to cover
domestic violence.
Authorization levels is $200,000.
TITLE IV--STRENGTHENING EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO COMBAT VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
Sec. 1401. Rape Prevention and Education Program Reauthorization
Extends through 2005 this Sexual Assault Education and Prevention
Grant program; includes education for college students; provides funding
to continue the National Resource Center on Sexual Assault at the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Authorization level is $80 million/year (FY 2000 appropriation was
$45 million).
Sec. 1402. Education and Training to End Violence Against and
Abuse of Women With Disabilities
Establishes a new Justice Department grant program through 2005 to
educate and provide technical assistance to providers on effective ways
to meet the needs of disabled women who are victims of domestic
violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
Authorization level is $7.5 million/year.
Sec. 1403. Reauthorization of Community Initiatives to
Prevent Domestic Violence
Reauthorizes through 2005 this grant program to fund collaborative
community projects targeted for the intervention and prevention of
domestic violence.
Authorization level is $6 million/year (FY 2000 appropriation was $6
million).
Sec. 1404. Development of Research Agenda Identified Under
the Violence Against Women Act
Requires the Attorney General to direct the National Institute of
Justice, in consultation with the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the
National Academy of Sciences, through its National Research Council, to
develop a plan to implement a research agenda based on the
recommendations in the National Academy of Science report
``Understanding Violence Against Women,'' which was produced under a
grant awarded under the original Violence Against Women Act.
Authorization is for such sums as may be necessary to carry out this
section.
Sec. 1405. Standards, Practice, and Training for Sexual
Assault Forensic Examinations
Requires the Attorney General to evaluate existing standards of
training and practice for licensed health care professionals performing
sexual assault forensic examinations and develop a national recommended
standard for training; to recommend sexual assault forensic examination
training for all health care students; and to review existing protocols
on sexual assault forensic examinations and, based on this review,
develop a recommended national protocol and establish a mechanism for
its nationwide dissemination.
Authorization level is $200,000 for FY 2001.
Sec. 1406. Education and Training for Judges and Court Personnel.
Amends the Equal Justice for Women in the Courts Act of 1994,
authorizing $1,500,000 each year through 2005 for grants for education
and training for judges and court personnel in state courts, and
$500,000 each year through 2005 for grants for education and training
for judges and court personnel in federal courts. Adds three areas of
training eligible for grant use.
Sec. 1407. Domestic Violence Task Force
Requires the Attorney General to establish a task force to
coordinate research on domestic violence and to report to Congress on
any overlapping or duplication of efforts among the federal agencies
that address domestic violence.
Authorization level is $500,000.
TITLE V--BATTERED IMMIGRANT WOMEN
Strengthens and refines the protections for battered immigrant women
in the original Violence Against Women Act. Eliminates a number of
``catch-22'' policies and unintended consequences of subsequent changes
in immigration law to ensure that domestic abusers with immigrant
victims are brought to justice and that the battered immigrants Congress
sought to help in the original Act are able to escape the abuse.
TITLE VI--MISCELLANEOUS
Sec. 1601. Notice Requirements for Sexually Violent Offenders
Amends the Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually
Violent Offender Registration Act to require sex offenders already
required to register in a State to provide notice, as required under
State law, or each institution of higher education in that State at
which the person is employed, carried on a vocation, or is a student.
Requires that state procedures ensure that this registration information
is promptly made available to law enforcement agencies with jurisdiction
where the institutions of higher education are located and that it is
entered into appropriate State records or data systems. These changes
take effect 2 years after enactment.
Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require institutions of
higher education to issue a statement, in addition to other disclosures
required under that Act, advising the campus community where law
enforcement agency information provided by a State concerning registered
sex offenders may be obtained. This change takes effect 2 years after
enactment.
Amends the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 to
clarify that nothing in that Act may be construed to prohibit an
educational institution from disclosing information provided to the
institution concerning registered sex offenders; requires the Secretary
of Education to take appropriate steps to notify educational
institutions that disclosure of this information is permitted.
Sec. 1602. Teen Suicide Prevention Study
Authorizes a study by the Secretary of Health and Human Services of
predictors of suicide among at-risk and other youth, and barriers that
prevent the youth from receiving treatment, to facilitate the
development of model treatment programs and public education and
awareness efforts.
Authorization is for such sums as may be necessary.
Sec. 1603. Decade of Pain Control and Research
Designates the calendar decade beginning January 1, 2001, as the
``Decade of Pain Control and Research.''
DIVISION B--THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT OF 2000
TITLE V--THE BATTERED IMMIGRANT WOMEN PROTECTION ACT OF 2000
section-by-section analysis
Generally designed to improve on efforts made in VAWA 1994 to
prevent immigration law from being used by an abusive citizen or lawful
permanent resident spouse as a tool to prevent an abused immigrant
spouse from reporting abuse or leaving the abusive relationship. This
could happen because generally speaking, U.S. immigration law gives
citizens and lawful permanent residents the right to petition for their
spouses to be granted a permanent resident visa, which is the necessary
prerequisite for immigrating to the United States. In the vast majority
of cases, granting the right to seek the visa to the citizen or lawful
permanent resident spouse makes sense, since the purpose of family
immigration visas is to allow U.S. citizens or lawful permanent
residents to live here with their spouses and children. But in the
unusual case of the abusive relationship, an abusive citizen or lawful
permanent resident can use control over his or her spouse's visa as a
means to blackmail and control the spouse. The abusive spouse would do
this by withholding a promised visa petition and then threatening to
turn the abused spouse in to the immigration authorities if the abused
spouse sought to leave the abuser or report the abuse.
VAWA 1994 changed this by allowing immigrants who demonstrate that
they have been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty by their U.S.
citizen or lawful permanent resident spouses to file their own petitions
for visas without the cooperation of their abusive spouse. VAWA 1994
also allowed abused spouses placed in removal proceedings to seek
``cancellation of removal,'' a form of discretionary relief from removal
available to individuals in unlawful immigration status with strong
equities, after three years rather than the seven ordinarily required.
Finally, VAWA 1994 granted similar rights to minor children abused by
their citizen or lawful permanent resident parent, whose immigration
status, like that of the abused spouse, would otherwise be dependent on
the abusive parent. VAWA 2000 addresses residual immigration law
obstacles standing in the path of battered immigrant spouses and
children seeking to free themselves from abusive relationships that
either had not come to the attention of the drafters of VAWA 1994 or
have arisen since as a result of 1996 changes to immigration law.
Sec. 1501. Short Title
Names this title the Battered Immigrant Women Protection Act of 2000.
Sec. 1502. Findings and Purposes
Lays out as the purpose of the title building on VAWA 1994's efforts
to enable battered immigrant spouses and children to free themselves of
abusive relationships and report abuse without fear of immigration law
consequences controlled by their abusive citizen or lawful permanent
resident spouse or parent.
Sec. 1503. Improved Access to Immigration Protections of the
Violence Against Women Act of 1994 for Battered Immigrant Women
Allows abused spouses and children who have already demonstrated to
the INS that they have been the victims of battery or extreme cruelty by
their spouse or parent to file their own petition for a lawful permanent
resident visa without also having to show they will suffer ``extreme
hardship'' if forced to leave the U.S., a showing that is not required
if their citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse or parent files the
visa petition on their behalf. Eliminates U.S. residency as a
prerequisite for a spouse or child of a citizen or lawful permanent
resident who has been battered in the U.S. or whose spouse is a member
of the uniformed services or a U.S. government employee to file for his
or her own visa, since there is no U.S. residency prerequisite for
non-battered spouses' or children's visas. Retains current law's special
requirement that abused spouses and children filing their own petitions
(unlike spouses and children for whom their citizen or lawful permanent
resident spouse or parent petitions) demonstrate good moral character,
but modifies it to give the Attorney General authority to find good
moral character despite certain otherwise disqualifying acts if those
acts were connected to the abuse.
Allows a victim of battery or extreme cruelty who believed himself
or herself to be a citizen's or lawful permanent resident's spouse and
went through a marriage ceremony to file a visa petition as a battered
spouse if the marriage was not valid solely on account of the citizen's
or lawful permanent resident's bigamy. Allows a battered spouse whose
citizen spouse died, whose spouse lost citizenship, whose spouse lost
lawful permanent residency, or from whom the battered spouse was
divorced to file a visa petition as an abused spouse within two years of
the death, loss of citizenship or lawful permanent residency, or
divorce, provided that the loss of citizenship, status or divorce was
connected to the abuse suffered by the spouse. Allows a battered spouse
to naturalize after three years residency as other spouses may do, but
without requiring the battered spouse to live in marital union with the
abusive spouse during that period.
Allows abused children or children of abused spouses whose petitions
were filed when they were minors to maintain their petitions after they
attain age 21, as their citizen or lawful permanent resident parent
would be entitled to do on their behalf had the original petition been
filed during the child's minority, treating the petition as filed on the
date of the filing of the original petition for purposes of determining
its priority date.
Sec. 1504. Improved Access to Cancellation of Removal and
Suspension of Deportation under the Violence Against Women Act of 1994
Clarifies that with respect to battered immigrants, IIRIRA's rule,
enacted in 1996, that provides that with respect to any applicant for
cancellation of removal, any absence that exceeds 90 days, or any series
of absences that exceed 180 days, interrupts continuous physical
presence, does not apply to any absence or portion of an absence
connected to the abuse. Makes this change retroactive to date of
enactment of IIRIRA. Directs Attorney General to parole children of
battered immigrants granted cancellation until their adjustment of
status application has been acted on, provided the battered immigrant
exercises due diligence in filing such an application.
Sec. 1505. Offering Equal Access to Immigration Protections
of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 for All Qualified Battered
Immigrant Self-Petitioners
Grants the Attorney General the authority to waive certain bars to
admissibility or grounds of deportability with respect to battered
spouses and children. New Attorney General waiver authority granted (1)
for crimes of domestic violence or stalking where the spouse or child
was not the primary perpetrator of violence in the relationship, the
crime did not result in serious bodily injury, and there was a
connection between the crime and the abuse suffered by the spouse or
child; (2) for misrepresentations connected with seeking an immigration
benefit in cases of extreme hardship to the alien (paralleling the AG's
waiver authority for spouses and children petitioned for by their
citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse or parent in cases of
extreme hardship to the spouse or parent); (3) for crimes of moral
turpitude not constituting aggravated felonies where the crime was
connected to the abuse (similarly paralleling the AG's waiver authority
for spouses and children petitioned for by their spouse or parent); (4)
for health related grounds of inadmissibility (also paralleling the AG's
waiver authority for spouses and children petitioned for by their spouse
or parent); and (5) for unlawful presence after a prior immigration
violation, if there is a connection between the abuse and the alien's
removal, departure, reentry, or attempted reentry. Clarifies that a
battered immigrant's use of public benefits specifically made available
to battered immigrants in PRWORA does not make the immigrant
inadmissible on public charge ground.
Sec. 1506. Restoring Immigration Protections under the
Violence Against Women Act of 1994
Establishes mechanism paralleling mechanism available to spouses and
children petitioned for by their spouse or parent to enable
VAWA-qualified battered spouse or child to obtain status as lawful
permanent resident in the United States rather than having to go abroad
to get a visa.
Addresses problem created in 1996 for battered immigrants' access to
cancellation of removal by IIRIRA's new stop-time rule. That rule was
aimed at individuals gaming the system to gain access to cancellation of
removal. To prevent this, IIRIRA stopped the clock on accruing any time
toward continuous physical presence at the times INS initiates removal
proceedings against an individual. This section eliminates application
of this rule to battered immigrant spouses and children, who, if they
are sophisticated enough about immigration law and had sufficient
freedom of movement to ``game the system'', presumably would have filed
self-petitions, and more likely do not even know that INS has initiated
proceedings against them because their abusive spouse or parent has
withheld their mail. To implement this change, allows a battered
immigrant spouse or child to file a motion to reopen removal proceedings
within 1 year of the entry of an order of removal (which deadline may be
waived in the Attorney General's discretion if the Attorney General
finds extraordinary circumstances or extreme hardship to the alien's
child) provided the alien files a complete application to be classified
as VAWA-eligible at the time the alien files the reopening motion.
Sec. 1507. Remedying Problems with Implementation of the
Immigration Provisions of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994
Clarifies that negative changes of immigration status of abuser or
divorce after abused spouse or child files petition under VAWA have no
effect on status of abused spouse or child. Reclassifies abused spouse
or child as spouse or child of citizen if abuser becomes citizen
notwithstanding divorce or termination of parental rights (so as not to
create incentive for abuse victim to delay leaving abusive situation on
account of potential future improved immigration status of abuser).
Clarifies that remarriage has no effect on pending VAWA immigration
petition.
Sec. 1508. Technical Correction to Qualified Alien Definition
for Battered Immigrants
Makes technical change of description of battered aliens allowed to
access certain public benefits so as to use correct pre-IIRIRA name for
equitable relief from
deportation/removal (``suspension of deportation'' rather than
``cancellation of removal'') for pre-IIRIRA cases.
Sec. 1509. Access to Cuban Adjustment Act for Battered
Immigrant Spouses and Children
Allows battered spouses and children to access special immigration
benefits available under Cuban Adjustment Act to other spouses and
children of Cubans on the basis of the same showing of battery or
extreme cruelty they would have to make as VAWA self-petitioners;
relieves them of Cuban Adjustment Act showing that they are residing
with their spouse/parent.
Sec. 1510. Access to the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central
American Relief Act for Battered Spouses and Children
Provides access to special immigration benefits under NACARA to
battered spouses and children similarly to the way section 509 does with
respect to Cuban Adjustment Act.
Sec. 1511. Access to the Haitian Refugee Fairness Act of 1998
for Battered Spouses and Children
Provides access to special immigration benefits under HRIFA to
battered spouses and children similarly to the way section 509 does with
respect to Cuban Adjustment Act.
Sec. 1512. Access to Services and Legal Representation for
Battered Immigrants
Clarifies that Stop grants, Grants to Encourage Arrest, Rural VAWA
grants, Civil Legal Assistance grants, and Campus grants can be used to
provide assistance to battered immigrants. Allows local battered women's
advocacy organizations, law enforcement or other eligible Stop grant
applicants to apply for Stop funding to train INS officers and
immigration judges as well as other law enforcement officers on the
special needs of battered immigrants.
Sec. 1513. Protection for Certain Crime Victims Including
Victims of Crimes Against Women
Creates new nonimmigrant visa for victims of certain serious crimes
that tend to target vulnerable foreign individuals without immigration
status if the victim has suffered substantial physical or mental abuse
as a result of the crime, the victim has information about the crime,
and a law enforcement official or a judge certifies that the victim has
been helpful, is being helpful, or is likely to be helpful in
investigating or prosecuting the crime. The crime must involve rape,
torture, trafficking, incest, sexual assault, domestic violence, abusive
sexual contact, prostitution, sexual exploitation, female genital
mutilation, being held hostage, peonage, involuntary servitude, slave
trade, kidnapping, abduction, unlawful criminal restraint, false
imprisonment, blackmail, extortion, manslaughter, murder, felonious
assault, witness tampering, obstruction of justice, perjury, attempt or
conspiracy to commit any of the above, or other similar conduct in
violation of Federal, State, or local criminal law. Caps visas at 10,000
per fiscal year. Allows Attorney General to adjust these individuals to
lawful permanent resident status if the alien has been present for 3
years and the Attorney General determines this is justified on
humanitarian grounds, to promote family unity, or is otherwise in the
public interest.
aimee's law
This bill penalizes States that fail to incarcerate criminals
convicted of murder, rape, and dangerous sexual offenses for long prison
terms. In cases in which a State convicts a person of murder, rape, or a
dangerous sexual offense, and that person has a prior conviction for any
one of those offenses in a designated State, the designated State must
pay, from federal law enforcement assistance funds, the incarceration
and prosecution cost of the latter State. (The Attorney General would
transfer the federal law enforcement funds from the prior State to the
subsequent State.)
A State is a designated State and is subject to penalty under this
section if (1) the average term of imprisonment imposed by the State on
persons convicted of the offense for which that person was convicted is
less than the average term of imprisonment imposed for that offense in
all states; or (2) that person had served less than 85 percent of the
prison term to which he was sentenced for the prior offense. (In making
this calculation, if the State has an indeterminate sentencing system,
the prison term shall be considered the lower range of the sentence. For
example, if a person is sentenced 10-to-12 years, then the calculation
is whether the person served 85 percent of 10 years.)
Concerning Sec. 2002 and 2003 of Division C
Sections 2002 and 2003, which may be referred to as the Justice for
Victims of Terrorism Act, helps American victims of terrorism abroad
collect court-awarded compensation and ensures that the responsible
state sponsors of terrorism pay a price for their crimes.
In March 1985, Terry Anderson, an American journalist working in
Beirut, was kidnapped by agents of the Islamic Republic of Iran. He was
held captive by his kidnappers in deplorable conditions until early
December 1991.
During the 1980's three other individuals working in Lebanon, David
Jacobsen, an administrator of the American University hospital in
Beirut, Joseph Ciccippio, a comptroller of the American University
school and hospital and Frank Reed, a principal of a private secondary
school in Beirut, were also held captive by agents of the Islamic
Republic of Iran.
In April 1995, Alisa Flatow, a 20-year-old college student from New
Jersey, was on a bus on the Gaza strip going to a Passover holiday
celebration. A terrorist from the Iranian backed Islamic Jihad rammed
his car loaded with explosives into the bus, killing Ms. Flatow and
seven others.
Two Americans studying in Israel, Matthew Eisenfeld and Sara Duker
were killed in a suicide bombing of a bus in Jerusalem in February 1996.
Those responsible were provided training, money, and resources by Iran.
Also in February 1996, Cuban pilots flying MiG aircraft shot down
two aircraft flown by the ``Brothers to the Rescue'' humanitarian
organization in international airspace over the Florida Straits. Three
American citizens were killed in the attack by the Cuban government.
Section 221 of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of
1996 (P.L. 104 132) gave these and other American citizens injured or
killed in acts of terrorism (or their survivors) to bring a lawsuit
against the terrorist state responsible for that act. Congress and the
President deliberately created an exception to the doctrine of foreign
sovereign immunity and to the statutory protections of the Foreign
Sovereign Immunities Act, limited to victims' cases against countries on
the State Department's list of state sponsors of terrorism.
Following enactment of the Antiterrorism Act of 1996, numerous
American victims filed suit against terrorist states. Each of the
victims described above, or surviving family members, has been awarded
judgements by U.S. courts. However, the victims were not able to collect
on their judgements. Iran and Cuba have few, if any, assets in the
United States not blocked by the Treasury Department under existing
sanctions laws or otherwise held by the U.S. Government. The President
did not exercise existing authorities to make those assets available.
After the Brothers to the Rescue incident, at a February 26, 1996,
White House press briefing President Clinton stated ``I am asking that
Congress pass legislation that will provide immediate compensation to
the families, something to which they are entitled under international
law, out of Cuba's blocked assets here in the United States. If Congress
passes this legislation, we can provide the compensation immediately,''
The President did vest funds from blocked Cuban accounts to make modest
payments to the Brothers to the Rescue families as a ``humanitarian
gesture.''
Section 117 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations
Act for fiscal year 1999, explicitly made the assets of foreign
terrorist states blocked by the Treasury Department under existing
sanctions laws available for attachment by U.S. courts for the very
limited purpose of satisfying Antiterrorism Act judgements.
That legislation authorized the President to waive the requirements
of that provision in the interest of national security, but the scope of
that waiver authority remains in dispute. Presidential Determination 99
1 asserted broad authority to waive the entirety of the provision. But
the District Court of the Southern District of Florida, in Alejandre v.
Republic of Cuba, rejected the Administration's view and held, instead,
that the President's authority applied only to Section 117's requirement
that the Secretaries of State and Treasury assist a judgement creditor
in identifying, locating, and executing against non-blocked property of
a foreign terrorist state. 42 F. Supp. 2d 1317 (S.D. Fla. 1999) vacated
and remanded on other grounds , 183 F. 3d 1277 (11th Cir. 1999). Another
federal district court reached a contrary opinion. Flatow v. Islamic
Republic of Iran , 76 F. Supp. 2d 16 (D.D.C. 1999) (construing the
waiver authority broadly).
Subsection 1(f) of this bill repeals the waiver authority granted in
Section 117 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act
for fiscal year 1999, replacing it with a clearer but narrower waiver
authority in the underlying statute. The Committee hopes clarity in the
legislative history and intent of subsection 1(f), in the context of the
section as a whole, will ensure appropriate application of the new
waiver authority.
This is a key issue for American victims of state-sponsored
terrorism who have sued or who will in the future sue the responsible
terrorism-list state, as they are entitled to do under the
Anti-Terrorism Act of 1996. Victims who already hold U.S. court
judgements, and a few whose related cases will soon be decided, will
receive their compensatory damages as a result of this legislation.
The Committee intends that this legislation will similarly help
other pending and future Antiterrorism Act plaintiffs as and when U.S.
courts issue judgements against the foreign state sponsors of specific
terrorist acts. The Committee shares the particular interest of the
sponsors of this legislation in ensuring that the families of the
victims of Pan Am flight 103 should be able to collect damages promptly
if they can demonstrate to the satisfaction of a U.S. court that Libya
is indeed responsible for that heinous bombing. The Committee is
similarly interested in pending suits against Iraq.
In replacing the waiver, the conferees accept that the President
should have the authority to waive the court's authority to attach
blocked assets. But to understand the view of the committee with respect
to the use of the waiver, it must be read within the context of other
provisions of the legislation.
A waiver of the attachment provision would seem appropriate for
final and pending Anti-Terrorism Act cases identified in subsection
(a)(2) of this bill. In these cases, judicial attachment is not
necessary because the executive branch will appropriately pay
compensatory damages to the victims and use blocked assets to collect
the funds from terrorist states.
Of particular significance, this section reaffirms the President's
statutory authority, inter alia, to vest blocked foreign government
assets and where appropriate make payments to victims of terrorism. The
President has the authority to assist victims with pending and future
cases.
The Committee's intent is that the President will review each case
when the court issues a final judgement to determine whether to use the
national security waiver, whether to help the plaintiffs collect from a
foreign state's non-blocked assets in the United States whether to allow
the courts to attach and execute against blocked assets, or whether to
use existing authorities to vest and pay those assets as damages to the
victims of terrorism.
When a future President does make a decision whether to invoke the
waiver, he should consider seriously whether the national security
standard for a waiver has been met. In enacting this legislation,
Congress is expressing the view that the attachment and execution of
frozen assets to enforce judgements in cases under the Anti-Terrorism
Act of 1996 is not by itself contrary to the national security interest.
Indeed, in the view of the Committee, it is generally in the national
security interest of the United States to make foreign state sponsors of
terrorism pay court-awarded damages to American victims, so neither the
Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act nor any other law will stand in the way
of justice. Thus, in the view of the committee the waiver authority
should not be exercised in a routine or blanket manner, but only where
U.S. national security interests would be implicated in taking action
against particular blocked assets or where alternative recourse--such as
vesting and paying those assets--may be preferable to court attachment.
Future Presidents should follow the precedent set by this
legislation, and find the best way to help victims of terrorism collect
on their judgements and make terrorist states pay for their crimes.
The conference report also includes a section, Section 2003, dealing
with support for victims of international terrorism. This section will
enable the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) to provide more immediate
and effective assistance to Americans who are victims of terrorism
abroad--Americans like those killed or injured in the embassy bombings
in Kenya and Tanzania, and in the Pan Am 103 bombing over Lockerbie,
Scotland. These victims deserve help, but existing programs are failing
to meet their needs.
Section 2003(a) of the conference report will permit OVC to serve
these victims better by expanding the types of assistance for which the
Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) emergency reserve fund may be used, and the
range of organizations to which assistance may be provided. These
changes will not require new or appropriated funds: They simply allow
OVC greater flexibility in using existing reserve funds to assist
victims of terrorism abroad, including the victims of the Lockerbie and
embassy bombings.
Section 2003(b) will authorize OVC to raise the cap on the VOCA
emergency reserve fund from $50 million to $100 million, so that the
fund is large enough to cover the extraordinary costs that would be
incurred if a terrorist act caused massive casualties, and to replenish
the reserve fund with unobligated funds from its other grant programs.
Section 2003(c) will simplify the presently-authorized system of
using VOCA funds to provide victim compensation to American victims of
terrorism abroad, by permitting OVC to establish and operate an
international crime victim compensation program. This program will, in
addition, cover foreign nationals who are employees of any American
government institution targeted for terrorist attack. The source of
funding is the VOCA emergency reserve fund, which Congress authorized in
an amendment to the 1996 Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act.
Section 2003(d) clarifies that deposits into the Crime Victims Fund
remain available for intended uses under VOCA when not expended
immediately. This should quell concerns raised regarding the effect of
spending caps included in appropriations bills last year and this. The
appropriations' actions were meant to defer spending, not to remove
deposits from the Fund. This provision makes that explicit.
Summary of S. 577--Twenty-First Amendment Enforcement Act
The purpose of S. 577 is to provide a mechanism to enable States to
effectively enforce their laws against the illegal interstate shipment
of alcoholic beverages. While Federal law already prohibits the
interstate shipment of alcohol in violation of state law, unfortunately,
that general prohibition lacks any enforcement mechanism. S. 577
provides that mechanism by permitting the Attorney General of a State,
who has reasonable cause to believe that his or her State laws
regulating the importation and transportation of alcohol are being
violated, to file an action in federal court for an injunction to stop
those illegal shipments.
S. 577 only reaches those that violate the law. It only allows
actions for an injunction if a person is ``engaged in'' or ``has engaged
in'' an act that would constitute a violation of a State law, but
prohibits injunctions to restrain otherwise lawful advertising.
Additionally, S. 577 provides that no preliminary injunctions could be
obtained without: (1) proving irreparable injury, and (2) a probability
of success on the merits. S. 577 also includes a provision on the
``Rules of Construction,'' which states that the power conveyed by this
act is limited to the valid exercise of power vested in the states under
the 21st Amendment in accordance with Supreme Court precedent and
interpretation, and shall not be interpreted to grant to states any
additional power.
Benjamin Gilman,
Bill Goodling,
Chris Smith,
Henry J. Hyde,
Nancy L. Johnson,
Sam Gejdenson,
Tom Lantos,
Ben Cardin,
Managers on the Part of the House.
From the Committee on the Judiciary:
Orrin Hatch,
Strom Thurmond,
From the Committee on Foreign Relations:
Jesse Helms,
Sam Brownback,
Joe Biden,
Paul Wellstone,
Managers on the Part of the Senate.
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