
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 22USC2715a]

 
               TITLE 22--FOREIGN RELATIONS AND INTERCOURSE
 
                     CHAPTER 38--DEPARTMENT OF STATE
 
Sec. 2715a. Provision of information on certain violent crimes 
        abroad to victims and victims' families
        

(a) Sense of Congress

    It is the sense of Congress that--
        (1) it is in the national interests of the United States to 
    provide information regarding the killing, abduction, torture, or 
    other serious mistreatment of United States citizens abroad to the 
    victims of such crimes, or the families of victims of such crimes if 
    they are United States citizens; and
        (2) the provision of such information is sufficiently important 
    that the discharge of the responsibility for identifying and 
    disseminating such information should be vested in a cabinet-level 
    officer of the United States Government.

(b) Responsibility

    The Secretary of State shall take appropriate actions to ensure that 
the United States Government takes all appropriate actions to--
        (1) identify promptly information (including classified 
    information) in the possession of the departments and agencies of 
    the United States Government regarding the killing, abduction, 
    torture, or other serious mistreatment of United States citizens 
    abroad; and
        (2) subject to subsection (c) of this section, promptly make 
    such information available to--
            (A) the victims of such crimes; or
            (B) when appropriate, the family members of the victims of 
        such crimes if such family members are United States citizens.

(c) Limitations

    The Secretary shall work with the heads of appropriate departments 
and agencies of the United States Government in order to ensure that 
information relevant to a crime covered by subsection (b) of this 
section is promptly reviewed and, to the maximum extent practicable, 
without jeopardizing sensitive sources and methods or other vital 
national security interests, or without jeopardizing an on-going 
criminal investigation or proceeding, made available under that 
subsection unless such disclosure is specifically prohibited by law.

(Pub. L. 105-107, title III, Sec. 307, Nov. 20, 1997, 111 Stat. 2252.)
