Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act
- Last Action
- 3/4/2020
Actions
- 2020-03-04Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
- 2020-03-04Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
- 2019-04-08Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
- 2019-04-08Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
- 2019-03-07Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2019-03-07Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2019-03-07Introduced in House
- 2019-03-07Introduced in House
CRS Summary
As of 2019-03-07 (00)
Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act
This bill establishes various entities and procedures to address the wrongful detainment of U.S. nationals abroad.
The President shall appoint a Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs. The envoy's duties shall include leading diplomatic engagement on U.S. hostage policy and coordinating diplomatic engagements in support of hostage recovery efforts.
The President shall establish an interagency Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell, which shall assess and track all hostage cases of U.S. nationals and coordinate agency efforts to safely recover hostages. The President shall also establish the Hostage Recovery Group, which shall make recommendations regarding hostage recovery options and coordinate the development and implementation of U.S. hostage recovery policies.
The President is authorized to impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions against any foreign person responsible for or complicit in the unlawful or wrongful detention of a U.S. national abroad.
The Department of State shall review cases where U.S. nationals are detained abroad and refer instances of wrongful or unlawful detainment to the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs.
Cosponsors (19)
- Joe Wilson (R-SC)
- Ted Lieu (D-CA)
- Michael Waltz (R-FL)
- Mark Meadows (R-NC)
- Tom Malinowski (D-NJ)
- Adriano Espaillat (D-NY)
- Madeleine Dean (D-PA)
- Don Bacon (R-NE)
- Scott Perry (R-PA)
- Ann Kuster (D-NH)
- Will Hurd (R-TX)
- Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA)
- Abigail Spanberger (D-VA)
- Jefferson Van Drew (D-NJ)
- Susan Brooks (R-IN)
- Lee Zeldin (R-NY)
- Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA)
- BRAD SHERMAN (D-CA)
- William Keating (D-MA)
Subjects
- Congressional oversight
- Correctional facilities and imprisonment
- Criminal procedure and sentencing
- Department of State
- Detention of persons
- Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
- Due process and equal protection
- Executive agency funding and structure
- Foreign property
- Government information and archives
- Human rights
- Intergovernmental relations
- Sanctions
- Visas and passports
Sourced from Congress.gov (public domain).
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.