Child Soldiers Accountability Act of 2008
Public Law 110-340 · S. 2135 · 110th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by George W. Bush (R) on Oct 3, 2008 · Crime and Law Enforcement
Sponsor: Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL)
Cosponsors (9): Sen. Thomas Coburn, Sen. Russell Feingold,
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 371 yea, 0 nay371–0
- SenateUnanimous consent
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Child Soldiers Accountability Act of 2008- Amends the federal criminal code to impose a fine and/or 20-year prison term for knowingly recruiting, enlisting, or conscripting a person under 15 years of age into an armed force or group (other than a group assembled solely for nonviolent political association) or using such person to participate actively in combat hostilities, or attempting or conspiring to do so, knowing such person is under 15 years of age. Imposes a life sentence if the death of any person results from a violation of this Act. Provides for: (1) expanded jurisdiction for prosecuting U.S. nationals and resident aliens who violate this Act; and (2) a 10-year limitation period for prosecuting violations.
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to render any alien who has recruited or used child soldiers inadmissible or deportable.
Directs the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security to promulgate final regulations to deny asylum or withholding of removal to aliens who are either inadmissible to the United States or deportable for recruiting or using child soldiers.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 110th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 371 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
371 yea0 nay62 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(194)
Rep. Dennis KucinichD-OH-10
Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-13
Rep. Jim McDermottD-WA-7
Rep. Lynn WoolseyD-CA-6
Rep. Yvette ClarkeD-NY-11
Rep. Maurice HincheyD-NY-22
Rep. John OlverD-MA-1
Rep. Mike HondaD-CA-15
Rep. Maxine WatersD-CA-35
Rep. George MillerD-CA-7
Rep. Tammy BaldwinD-WI-2
Rep. Donald PayneD-NJ-10
Rep. Gwen MooreD-WI-4
Rep. Barney FrankD-MA-4
Rep. Bob FilnerD-CA-51
Rep. John LewisD-GA-5
Rep. Louise SlaughterD-NY-28
Rep. Linda SánchezD-CA-39
Rep. Jan SchakowskyD-IL-9
Rep. Danny DavisD-IL-7
Rep. Diane WatsonD-CA-33
Rep. Luis GutiérrezD-IL-4
Rep. Sheila Jackson LeeD-TX-18
Rep. Jesse JacksonD-IL-2
Rep. José SerranoD-NY-16
Rep. Donna EdwardsD-MD-4
Rep. Eddie JohnsonD-TX-30
Rep. Mel WattD-NC-12
Rep. Jim McGovernD-MA-3
Rep. Ed MarkeyD-MA-7
Rep. Mazie HironoD-HI-2
Rep. Carolyn KilpatrickD-MI-13
Rep. Michael CapuanoD-MA-8
Rep. Neil AbercrombieD-HI-1
Rep. Alcee HastingsD-FL-23
Rep. Bennie ThompsonD-MS-2
Rep. Hilda SolisD-CA-32
Rep. Bill DelahuntD-MA-10
Rep. Niki TsongasD-MA-5
Rep. Emanuel CleaverD-MO-5
Rep. Lois CappsD-CA-23
Rep. Sam FarrD-CA-17
Rep. Grace NapolitanoD-CA-38
Rep. Hank JohnsonD-GA-4
Rep. Ed PastorD-AZ-4
Rep. Earl BlumenauerD-OR-3
Rep. Jackie SpeierD-CA-12
Rep. John DingellD-MI-15
Rep. Rush HoltD-NJ-12
Rep. Betty McCollumD-MN-4
Rep. John TierneyD-MA-6
Rep. Jim ClyburnD-SC-6
Rep. Robert WexlerD-FL-19
Rep. Frank PalloneD-NJ-6
Rep. David PriceD-NC-4
Rep. Jerrold NadlerD-NY-8
Rep. Betty SuttonD-OH-13
Rep. Doris MatsuiD-CA-5
Rep. Joe CrowleyD-NY-7
Rep. Peter WelchD-VT
Rep. Debbie Wasserman SchultzD-FL-20
Rep. Bobby ScottD-VA-3
Rep. Lucille Roybal-AllardD-CA-34
Rep. John LarsonD-CT-1
Rep. William JeffersonD-LA-2
Rep. Kathy CastorD-FL-11
Rep. Robert BradyD-PA-1
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-15
Rep. Zoe LofgrenD-CA-16
Rep. Chaka FattahD-PA-2
Rep. Steny HoyerD-MD-5
Rep. Al GreenD-TX-9
Rep. Charlie GonzalezD-TX-20
Rep. Michael DoyleD-PA-14
Rep. Bill PascrellD-NJ-8
Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-30
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8
Rep. Laura RichardsonD-CA-37
Rep. Alan MollohanD-WV-1
Rep. Rosa DeLauroD-CT-3
Rep. John SarbanesD-MD-3
Rep. Peter ViscloskyD-IN-1
Rep. Jay InsleeD-WA-1
Rep. Jim MoranD-VA-8
Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-3
Rep. Tim RyanD-OH-17
Rep. Gary AckermanD-NY-5
Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7
Rep. Patrick KennedyD-RI-1
Rep. Rick LarsenD-WA-2
Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12
Rep. Brad ShermanD-CA-27
Rep. Kendrick MeekD-FL-17
Rep. Loretta SanchezD-CA-47
Rep. Steven RothmanD-NJ-9
Rep. Lloyd DoggettD-TX-25
Rep. André CarsonD-IN-7
Rep. Nita LoweyD-NY-18
Rep. Anna EshooD-CA-14
Rep. Steve CohenD-TN-9
Rep. Anthony WeinerD-NY-9
Rep. Chris Van HollenD-MD-8
Rep. Joe BacaD-CA-43
Rep. Albio SiresD-NJ-13
Rep. Rubén HinojosaD-TX-15
Rep. Timothy BishopD-NY-1
Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-5
Rep. Brian HigginsD-NY-27
Rep. Jim LangevinD-RI-2
Rep. Tom AllenD-ME-1
Rep. Paul KanjorskiD-PA-11
Rep. Rahm EmanuelD-IL-5
Rep. Stephen LynchD-MA-9
Rep. Ellen TauscherD-CA-10
Rep. Brad MillerD-NC-13
Rep. David ScottD-GA-13
Rep. Jerry CostelloD-IL-12
Rep. Sanford BishopD-GA-2
Rep. David WuD-OR-1
Rep. Marcy KapturD-OH-9
Rep. Susan DavisD-CA-53
Rep. Steve IsraelD-NY-2
Rep. Carolyn McCarthyD-NY-4
Rep. Phil HareD-IL-17
Rep. Silvestre ReyesD-TX-16
Rep. John YarmuthD-KY-3
Rep. Solomon OrtizD-TX-27
Rep. Carol Shea-PorterD-NH-1
Rep. Adam SchiffD-CA-29
Rep. Gene GreenD-TX-29
Rep. Joe CourtneyD-CT-2
Rep. A. Dutch RuppersbergerD-MD-2
Rep. Jane HarmanD-CA-36
Rep. Christopher MurphyD-CT-5
Rep. Dennis CardozaD-CA-18
Rep. John HallD-NY-19
Rep. Allyson SchwartzD-PA-13
Rep. Mike ThompsonD-CA-1
Rep. Ciro RodriguezD-TX-23
Rep. Michael ArcuriD-NY-24
Rep. Michael MichaudD-ME-2
Rep. Darlene HooleyD-OR-5
Rep. Vic SnyderD-AR-2
Rep. Bob EtheridgeD-NC-2
Rep. Timothy WalzD-MN-1
Rep. Artur DavisD-AL-7
Rep. John SprattD-SC-5
Rep. Ike SkeltonD-MO-4
Rep. Ron KindD-WI-3
Rep. Steve KagenD-WI-8
Rep. Peter DeFazioD-OR-4
Rep. Shelley BerkleyD-NV-1
Rep. Charles WilsonD-OH-6
Rep. Daniel LipinskiD-IL-3
Rep. John SalazarD-CO-3
Rep. Dennis MooreD-KS-3
Rep. Chet EdwardsD-TX-17
Rep. Ed PerlmutterD-CO-7
Rep. Earl PomeroyD-ND
Rep. Ron KleinD-FL-22
Rep. Jim CostaD-CA-20
Rep. Brian BairdD-WA-3
Rep. Mike RossD-AR-4
Rep. Henry CuellarD-TX-28
Rep. Allen BoydD-FL-2
Rep. Bud CramerD-AL-5
Rep. Stephanie Herseth SandlinD-SD
Rep. Jim CooperD-TN-5
Rep. Lincoln DavisD-TN-4
Rep. John TannerD-TN-8
Rep. Nancy BoydaD-KS-2
Rep. Kirsten GillibrandD-NY-20
Rep. Jerry McNerneyD-CA-11
Rep. Bart GordonD-TN-6
Rep. Bill FosterD-IL-14
Rep. Patrick MurphyD-PA-8
Rep. Zack SpaceD-OH-18
Rep. Tim MahoneyD-FL-16
Rep. Mike McIntyreD-NC-7
Rep. Dan BorenD-OK-2
Rep. Gabrielle GiffordsD-AZ-8
Rep. Melissa BeanD-IL-8
Rep. Jim MathesonD-UT-2
Rep. Gene TaylorD-MS-4
Rep. Brad EllsworthD-IN-8
Rep. Christopher CarneyD-PA-10
Rep. Harry MitchellD-AZ-5
Rep. Jason AltmireD-PA-4
Rep. Jim MarshallD-GA-8
Rep. Joe DonnellyD-IN-2
Rep. Baron HillD-IN-9
Rep. John BarrowD-GA-12
Rep. Nick LampsonD-TX-22
Rep. Travis ChildersD-MS-1
Republicans who voted yea(177)
Rep. Chris SmithR-NJ-4
Rep. Frank LoBiondoR-NJ-2
Rep. Christopher ShaysR-CT-4
Rep. Tim MurphyR-PA-18
Rep. John McHughR-NY-23
Rep. Timothy JohnsonR-IL-15
Rep. Mike FergusonR-NJ-7
Rep. Jim WalshR-NY-25
Rep. Steven LaTouretteR-OH-14
Rep. Ray LaHoodR-IL-18
Rep. Walter JonesR-NC-3
Rep. Ileana Ros-LehtinenR-FL-18
Rep. David ReichertR-WA-8
Rep. Jim GerlachR-PA-6
Rep. Jon PorterR-NV-3
Rep. Michael CastleR-DE
Rep. Charles DentR-PA-15
Rep. Shelley CapitoR-WV-2
Rep. Rick RenziR-AZ-1
Rep. Phil EnglishR-PA-3
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16
Rep. Michael TurnerR-OH-3
Rep. Randy KuhlR-NY-29
Rep. Mike SimpsonR-ID-2
Rep. Todd PlattsR-PA-19
Rep. Heather WilsonR-NM-1
Rep. Frank WolfR-VA-10
Rep. Don YoungR-AK
Rep. Pete KingR-NY-3
Rep. Candice MillerR-MI-10
Rep. Jeff FortenberryR-NE-1
Rep. Ed WhitfieldR-KY-1
Rep. Deborah PryceR-OH-15
Rep. Jim RamstadR-MN-3
Rep. Rodney FrelinghuysenR-NJ-11
Rep. Dave HobsonR-OH-7
Rep. Greg WaldenR-OR-2
Rep. Thad McCotterR-MI-11
Rep. Tom LathamR-IA-4
Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-10
Rep. Robin HayesR-NC-8
Rep. Denny RehbergR-MT
Rep. Charles BoustanyR-LA-7
Rep. Rodney AlexanderR-LA-5
Rep. Fred UptonR-MI-6
Rep. Joe KnollenbergR-MI-9
Rep. Mike RogersR-AL-3
Rep. Vernon EhlersR-MI-3
Rep. Thomas ReynoldsR-NY-26
Rep. Vern BuchananR-FL-13
Rep. Jerry LewisR-CA-41
Rep. Mary Bono MackR-CA-45
Rep. Jerry MoranR-KS-1
Rep. Gus BilirakisR-FL-9
Rep. Robert AderholtR-AL-4
Rep. John BoozmanR-AR-3
Rep. Frank LucasR-OK-3
Rep. Henry BrownR-SC-1
Rep. Todd TiahrtR-KS-4
Rep. Ginny Brown-WaiteR-FL-5
Rep. Robert WittmanR-VA-1
Rep. Hal RogersR-KY-5
Rep. Ander CrenshawR-FL-4
Rep. Ken CalvertR-CA-44
Rep. Tom ColeR-OK-4
Rep. Judy BiggertR-IL-13
Rep. Cathy McMorris RodgersR-WA-5
Rep. Terry EverettR-AL-2
Rep. Jo BonnerR-AL-1
Rep. Pat TiberiR-OH-12
Rep. Sam GravesR-MO-6
Rep. Mike RogersR-MI-8
Rep. Bill ShusterR-PA-9
Rep. Randy ForbesR-VA-4
Rep. Thelma DrakeR-VA-2
Rep. John ShimkusR-IL-19
Rep. Mary FallinR-OK-5
Rep. Mark SouderR-IN-3
Rep. Duncan HunterR-CA-52
Rep. Ralph HallR-TX-4
Rep. Spencer BachusR-AL-6
Rep. Ron LewisR-KY-2
Rep. Elton GalleglyR-CA-24
Rep. Geoff DavisR-KY-4
Rep. Dave CampR-MI-4
Rep. Zach WampR-TN-3
Rep. Lamar SmithR-TX-21
Rep. Kay GrangerR-TX-12
Rep. John DoolittleR-CA-4
Rep. Roscoe BartlettR-MD-6
Rep. Michael McCaulR-TX-10
Rep. Vito FossellaR-NY-13
Rep. Doc HastingsR-WA-4
Rep. Ric KellerR-FL-8
Rep. Buck McKeonR-CA-25
Rep. Bob GoodlatteR-VA-6
Rep. Virgil GoodeR-VA-5
Rep. Jean SchmidtR-OH-2
Rep. Kevin McCarthyR-CA-22
Rep. Peter RoskamR-IL-6
Rep. Steve PearceR-NM-2
Rep. David DreierR-CA-26
Rep. Donald ManzulloR-IL-16
Rep. Steve BuyerR-IN-4
Rep. John MicaR-FL-7
Rep. Adam PutnamR-FL-12
Rep. Gary MillerR-CA-42
Rep. Roy BluntR-MO-7
Rep. Dave WeldonR-FL-15
Rep. Kevin BradyR-TX-8
Rep. Michael BurgessR-TX-26
Rep. Dean HellerR-NV-2
Rep. Louie GohmertR-TX-1
Rep. Robert LattaR-OH-5
Rep. Tom PetriR-WI-6
Rep. Devin NunesR-CA-21
Rep. George RadanovichR-CA-19
Rep. Rob BishopR-UT-1
Rep. John CarterR-TX-31
Rep. Tim WalbergR-MI-7
Rep. Wally HergerR-CA-2
Rep. Joe BartonR-TX-6
Rep. John CulbersonR-TX-7
Rep. Daniel LungrenR-CA-3
Rep. Brian BilbrayR-CA-50
Rep. Howard CobleR-NC-6
Rep. Marilyn MusgraveR-CO-4
Rep. John KlineR-MN-2
Rep. John SullivanR-OK-1
Rep. Steve ChabotR-OH-1
Rep. Jack KingstonR-GA-1
Rep. Steve ScaliseR-LA-1
Rep. David DavisR-TN-1
Rep. Cliff StearnsR-FL-6
Rep. Darrell IssaR-CA-49
Rep. Mac ThornberryR-TX-13
Rep. John BoehnerR-OH-8
Rep. Ted PoeR-TX-2
Rep. Michele BachmannR-MN-6
Rep. Dan BurtonR-IN-5
Rep. Joe WilsonR-SC-2
Rep. Kenny MarchantR-TX-24
Rep. Bob InglisR-SC-4
Rep. Sue MyrickR-NC-9
Rep. Michael ConawayR-TX-11
Rep. Paul RyanR-WI-1
Rep. Pete SessionsR-TX-32
Rep. Phil GingreyR-GA-11
Rep. Eric CantorR-VA-7
Rep. Connie MackR-FL-14
Rep. Patrick McHenryR-NC-10
Rep. Randy NeugebauerR-TX-19
Rep. Todd AkinR-MO-2
Rep. Tom FeeneyR-FL-24
Rep. Tom PriceR-GA-6
Rep. Virginia FoxxR-NC-5
Rep. Steve KingR-IA-5
Rep. Sam JohnsonR-TX-3
Rep. Bill SaliR-ID-1
Rep. Jeff MillerR-FL-1
Rep. Jim JordanR-OH-4
Rep. Scott GarrettR-NJ-5
Rep. Nathan DealR-GA-9
Rep. Lynn WestmorelandR-GA-3
Rep. J. Gresham BarrettR-SC-3
Rep. Ed RoyceR-CA-40
Rep. Jimmy DuncanR-TN-2
Rep. Mike PenceR-IN-6
Rep. James SensenbrennerR-WI-5
Rep. Tom TancredoR-CO-6
Rep. Doug LambornR-CO-5
Rep. John ShadeggR-AZ-3
Rep. Jeb HensarlingR-TX-5
Rep. John CampbellR-CA-48
Rep. Trent FranksR-AZ-2
Rep. Paul BrounR-GA-10
Rep. Jeff FlakeR-AZ-6
Data notes
The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 1744 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Judiciary Committee · House · referred toSubcommittee: Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee; Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Related bills
3 bills the Library of Congress relates to this one.
H.R. 2620Related bill
Child Soldier Prevention Act of 2007
H.R. 3028Related bill
Child Soldier Prevention Act of 2007
S. 1175Related bill
Child Soldier Prevention Act of 2007
Data notes
Related bills are identified by the Congressional Research Service, the House and the Senate: companion and identical bills, bills with similar text, bills that were folded into this law, and rules that brought it to the floor. A bill that is itself a public law in this site’s data links here; the others link to Congress.gov.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 31 actions.
- Oct 3, 2008Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 110-340.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Sep 25, 2008FloorFloor · Presented to President.
- Sep 16, 2008FloorFloor · Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Sep 15, 2008Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- OtherOther · Cleared for White House.
- OtherOther · Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to House amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Sep 9, 2008FloorFloor · Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.
- Sep 8, 2008FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 371 - 0 (Roll no. 569).House roll call 569
- FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · Considered as unfinished business.
- FloorFloor · At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
- FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2135.
- FloorFloor · Considered under suspension of the rules.
- FloorFloor · Ms. Jackson-Lee moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- May 6, 2008CommitteeCommittee · Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
- Apr 8, 2008CommitteeCommittee · Subcommittee Hearings Held.
- CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
- Feb 4, 2008CommitteeCommittee · Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.
- Dec 19, 2007FloorFloor · Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- FloorFloor · Received in the House.
- FloorFloor · Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent.
- FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Dec 11, 2007CalendarCalendar · Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 532.
- CommitteeCommittee · Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with an amendment. Without written report.
- Nov 8, 2007CommitteeCommittee · Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
- Oct 3, 2007CommitteeCommittee · Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- CommitteeCommittee · Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S12535)
Data notes
Every action the Library of Congress lists for the bill, from introduction to signing, plus the dated committee hearings. The source lists many steps twice (the chamber’s own entry and the Library of Congress copy, or a presidential and a became-law entry with the same words); those are shown once. Amendments are listed in their own section.
Amendments
1 amendment offered to the bill, with the last recorded step of each.
- Agreed to
S.Amdt. 3882SenateSen. Russell FeingoldD-WI· offered Dec 18, 2007Agreed to
To exclude groups assembled solely for non-violent political association from the definition of an armed force or group.
Dec 19, 2007: Amendment SA 3882 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.
Data notes
Amendments offered to this bill in either chamber, as the Library of Congress records them: each with a status read from its last recorded step: agreed to, rejected, withdrawn, ruled out of order, fell with another amendment, or offered with no vote recorded (most Senate amendments are only ever offered). The wording of each amendment is the source’s. Amendments to amendments and amendments to other bills are not listed.
Official record
The bill’s full text is on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.