A joint resolution regarding the implementation of the policy of the United States Government in opposition to the practice of torture by any foreign government.
Public Law 98-447 · H.J.Res. 605 · 98th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Oct 4, 1984 · International Affairs
Sponsor: Rep. Dante Fascell (D-FL-19)
Cosponsors (188): Rep. Lee Hamilton, Rep. Gus Yatron,
Passage votes
- HouseVoice vote
- SenateVoice vote
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.
Reaffirms that it is U.S. policy to oppose the practice of torture by foreign governments through the implementation of laws and through public and private diplomacy.
Requests the President to: (1) instruct the U.S. representative to the United Nations to continue to raise the issue of torture by such governments; and (2) continue to involve the U.S. Government in the formulation of international standards, particularly the draft Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Requests the Secretary of State to issue specified formal instructions to each U.S. mission chief regarding U.S. policy with respect to such torture.
States that the Secretary of Commerce should continue to enforce the current restrictions on the export of crime control equipment pursuant to the Export Administration Act of 1979. Directs the heads of U.S. departments that furnish military and law enforcement training to foreign personnel to include in such training instruction regarding international human rights standards with respect to torture.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Foreign Affairs Committee · House · markup by, referred toSubcommittee: Arms Control, International Security and Science Subcommittee; International Operations Subcommittee; International Economic Policy and Trade Subcommittee; Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations 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.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 16 actions.
- Oct 4, 1984Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 98-447.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Sep 26, 1984PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Sep 21, 1984FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Voice Vote.
- Sep 11, 1984FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
- Sep 6, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Foreign Affairs Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Arms Control, International Security and Science Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from International Operations Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from International Economic Policy and Trade Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
- Jul 6, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Arms Control, International Security and Science Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to International Operations Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to International Economic Policy and Trade Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
- Jun 26, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Foreign Affairs Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.