To amend title 28, United States Code, relating to jurisdictional immunities of foreign states, to grant jurisdiction to the courts of the United States in certain cases involving torture or extrajudicial killing occurring in that state.

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 17 · Reported to House with amendment(s) · Aug 16, 1994

Amends the Federal judicial code to make an exception to: (1) sovereign immunity for certain cases involving torture or extrajudicial killing, or genocide in a foreign state; and (2) immunity from attachment or execution relating to judgments of claims for which the foreign state is not immune by virtue of such provision.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Mazzoli, Romano L. [D-KY-3] · D–KY

Committees

Judiciary Committee
Judiciary Committee

2 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Oct 8, 1994
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Oct 7, 1994
Received in the Senate.
Oct 7, 1994
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
Oct 7, 1994
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Oct 7, 1994
On passage Passed without objection.
Oct 7, 1994
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.
Oct 7, 1994
Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR H11299-11300)
Oct 7, 1994
Mr. Brooks asked unanimous consent to discharge the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and consider.
Aug 16, 1994
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 384.
Aug 16, 1994
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 103-702.
Aug 16, 1994
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 103-702.
Jun 29, 1994
Ordered to be Reported (Amended).
Jun 29, 1994
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Sep 8, 1993
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended).
Sep 8, 1993
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
May 4, 1993
Referred to the Subcommittee on International Law, Immigration, and Refugees.
Feb 17, 1993
Referred to the House Committee on Judiciary.
Feb 17, 1993
Introduced in House
Feb 17, 1993
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Referred in Senate · Oct 8, 1994 Formatted Text PDF
Engrossed in House · Oct 7, 1994 Formatted Text PDF
Reported in House · Aug 16, 1994 Formatted Text PDF
Introduced in House · Feb 17, 1993 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 2363 · To amend the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act to provide for exceptions in cases of torture, extrajudicial killing, or war crimes.

Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.934 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.934, 103rd Congress: To amend title 28, United States Code, relating to jurisdictional immunities of foreign states, to grant jurisdiction to the courts of the United States in certain cases involving torture or extrajudicial killing occurring in that state.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-bill/934

Text version to examine: Referred in Senate · 1994-10-08.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/hr934/BILLS-103hr934rfs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:53:45Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.934 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.934 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.934, 103rd Congress: To amend title 28, United States Code, relating to jurisdictional immunities of foreign states, to grant jurisdiction to the courts of the United States in certain cases involving torture or extrajudicial killing occurring in that state.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-bill/934

Text version to examine: Referred in Senate · 1994-10-08.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/hr934/BILLS-103hr934rfs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:53:45Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.934 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.934 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.934, 103rd Congress: To amend title 28, United States Code, relating to jurisdictional immunities of foreign states, to grant jurisdiction to the courts of the United States in certain cases involving torture or extrajudicial killing occurring in that state.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-bill/934

Text version to examine: Referred in Senate · 1994-10-08.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/hr934/BILLS-103hr934rfs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:53:45Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.934 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.934 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.934, 103rd Congress: To amend title 28, United States Code, relating to jurisdictional immunities of foreign states, to grant jurisdiction to the courts of the United States in certain cases involving torture or extrajudicial killing occurring in that state.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-bill/934

Text version to examine: Referred in Senate · 1994-10-08.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/hr934/BILLS-103hr934rfs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:53:45Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.934 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.