Spartz's War Crimes Bill Passes Both Chambers, Heads to President’s Desk

Washington, D.C. - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Justice for Victims of War Crimes Act, led by Reps. Victoria Spartz (IN-05), David Cicilline (RI-01),Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Patrick Leahy (D-VT). This bipartisan, bicameral legislation passed the Senate by unanimous consent earlier this week.

“War criminals should never be able to escape justice in the United States,” said Rep. Spartz. “I was proud to co-lead this bipartisan, bicameral legislation with Rep. Cicilline and I am grateful to my colleagues for voting to close this loophole for good.” 

If enacted, the Justice for Victims of War Crimes Act would close a loophole in the federal statute to enable prosecution of war criminals who commit atrocities against non-U.S. citizens overseas. Currently, aliens who commit war crimes abroad could be immune to prosecution on U.S. soil, effectively giving them safe haven in the United States. This legislation would ensure that all war crimes are prosecutable under our law.

“We cannot allow the United States to be a safe haven for war criminals to avoid accountability. With this legislation, we will ensure that any person present in the United States, regardless of nationality, can be brought to justice for their brutal, unwarranted, and illegal human rights violations committed under the guise of war. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation finally negates the ‘get out of jail free card’ that has existed in our judicial system for far too long,” said Rep. Cicilline.

Following the House and Senate’s unanimous passage of this legislation this week, the Justice for Victims of War Crimes Act will head to the President’s desk for signature.

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