Genocide Convention Implementation Act

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Genocide Convention Implementation Act of 1987 (the Proxmire Act) brings the Genocide Convention into U.S. federal law. It makes it a crime to commit or attempt acts with the specific intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group.

Penalties
- Genocide: up to $1,000,000 fine and/or up to 20 years in prison; life imprisonment if a group member is killed.
- Directly and publicly inciting genocide: up to $500,000 fine and/or up to 5 years in prison.

Notes
- The law does not override state or local laws, and it does not create new rights that can be enforced in court.

Legislative history
- Introduced as S.1851 by Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. on November 5, 1987.
- Passed the Senate on October 14, 1988; passed the House on October 19, 1988.
- Signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on November 4, 1988.
- Public Law 100-606.