Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act

11/1/2022, 5:17 PM

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.

Congress
116

Number
HR - 1611

Introduced on
2019-03-07

# Amendments
0

Sponsors
+5

Cosponsors
+5

Variations and Revisions

3/7/2019

Status of Legislation

Bill Introduced
Introduced to House
House to Vote
Introduced to Senate
Senate to Vote

Purpose and Summary

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.

Alternative Names
Official Title as IntroducedTo provide assistance for United States citizens and nationals taken hostage or unlawfully or wrongfully detained abroad, and for other purposes.

Policy Areas
International Affairs

Potential Impact
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

Comments

Recent Activity

Latest Summary10/29/2019

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 Speci...


Latest Action3/4/2020
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.