I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION H. R. 10255 
To provide the United States Government with additional tools to deter 
state and non-state actors from wrongfully detaining United States na-
tionals for political leverage, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 22, 2024 
Ms. STEVENS (for herself and Mr. HILL) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the 
Committees on the Judiciary, and Transportation and Infrastructure, 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 com-
mittee concerned 
A BILL 
To provide the United States Government with additional 
tools to deter state and non-state actors from wrongfully 
detaining United States nationals for political leverage, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Countering Wrongful Detention Act of 2024’’. 
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(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
TITLE I—DETERRING AND PREVENTING UNLAWFUL OR 
WRONGFUL DETENTION 
Sec. 101. Designation of a foreign country as a State Sponsor of Unlawful or 
Wrongful Detention. 
Sec. 102. Options and strategies for reducing likelihood of United States na-
tionals being unlawfully or wrongfully detained or taken hos-
tage. 
Sec. 103. Additional funding for sanctions implementation. 
Sec. 104. Enhancing United States travel advisories. 
Sec. 105. Required certification regarding international travel advisories. 
Sec. 106. Privacy Act written consent and passport renewals. 
TITLE II—STRENGTHENING PROCESSES AND SERVICES FOR 
HOSTAGES AND UNLAWFUL OR WRONGFUL DETAINEES 
Sec. 201. Timeline for unlawful or wrongful detention determinations. 
Sec. 202. Declarations of invalidity. 
Sec. 203. Advisory Council on Hostage Taking and Unlawful or Wrongful De-
tention. 
Sec. 204. Chairmanship of the Hostage Response Group. 
TITLE I—DETERRING AND PRE-
VENTING 
UNLAWFUL 
OR 
WRONGFUL DETENTION 
SEC. 101. DESIGNATION OF A FOREIGN COUNTRY AS A 
STATE SPONSOR OF UNLAWFUL OR WRONG-
FUL DETENTION. 
The Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage- 
Taking Accountability Act (22 U.S.C. 1741 et seq.) is 
amended by inserting after section 306 the following: 
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‘‘SEC. 306A. DESIGNATION OF A FOREIGN COUNTRY AS A 
STATE SPONSOR OF UNLAWFUL OR WRONG-
FUL DETENTION. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State, in con-
sultation with the heads of other relevant Federal agen-
cies, may designate a foreign country that has provided 
support for or directly engaged in the unlawful or wrong-
ful detention of a United States national as a State Spon-
sor of Unlawful or Wrongful Detention based on any of 
the following criteria: 
‘‘(1) The unlawful or wrongful detention of a 
United States national occurs in the foreign country. 
‘‘(2) The government of the foreign country has 
failed to release an unlawfully or wrongfully detained 
United States national after having been notified by 
the Department of State. 
‘‘(3) Actions taken by the government of the 
foreign country indicate that the government is re-
sponsible for, complicit in, or materially supports the 
unlawful or wrongful detention of a United States 
national, including by acting as described in para-
graph (2) after having been notified by the Depart-
ment of State. 
‘‘(4) The actions of a state or nonstate actor in 
the foreign country, including any previous action 
relating to unlawful or wrongful detention or hostage 
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taking of a United States national, pose a risk to 
the safety and security of United States nationals 
abroad sufficient to warrant designation of the for-
eign country as a State Sponsor of Unlawful or 
Wrongful Detention, as determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(b) TERMINATION
OF DESIGNATION.—The Sec-
retary may terminate the designation of a foreign country 
under subsection (a) if the Secretary certifies to Congress 
that the government of the foreign country— 
‘‘(1) has released the United States nationals 
unlawfully or wrongfully detained within the terri-
tory of the foreign country; 
‘‘(2) has positively contributed to the release of 
United States nationals taken hostage within the 
territory of the foreign country or from the custody 
of a nonstate entity; 
‘‘(3) has demonstrated changes in leadership or 
policies with respect to unlawful or wrongful deten-
tion and hostage taking; or 
‘‘(4) has provided assurances that the govern-
ment of the foreign country will not engage or be 
complicit in or support acts described in subsection 
(a). 
‘‘(c) BRIEFING AND REPORTS TO CONGRESS; PUBLI-
CATION.— 
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‘‘(1) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
submit to Congress a report on— 
‘‘(i) each designation of a foreign 
country as a State Sponsor of Unlawful or 
Wrongful Detention under subsection (a) 
not later than 5 days after such designa-
tion is made; and 
‘‘(ii) each termination of a designation 
under subsection (b) not later than 30 
days after such termination is made. 
‘‘(B) ELEMENTS.— 
‘‘(i) DESIGNATION REPORT.—In each 
report 
submitted 
under 
subparagraph 
(A)(i) with respect to the designation of a 
foreign country as a State Sponsor of Un-
lawful or Wrongful Detention, the Sec-
retary shall include— 
‘‘(I) the justification for the des-
ignation; and 
‘‘(II) a description of any action 
taken by the United States Govern-
ment, including the Secretary of State 
or the head of any other relevant Fed-
eral agency, in response to the des-
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ignation to deter the unlawful or 
wrongful detention or hostage-taking 
of foreign nationals in the country. 
‘‘(ii) TERMINATION REPORT.—In each 
report submitted under clause (i)(II) with 
respect to the termination of a designation 
of a foreign country as a State Sponsor of 
Unlawful or Wrongful Detention, the Sec-
retary shall provide the justification for the 
termination, including the factor described 
in subsection (b) that supports the termi-
nation. 
‘‘(2) BRIEFING REQUIRED.—Not later than 60 
days after the date of the enactment of this section, 
the Secretary shall brief Congress on the following: 
‘‘(A) Whether any of the following coun-
tries should be designated as a State Sponsor 
of Unlawful or Wrongful Detention under sub-
section (a): 
‘‘(i) Afghanistan. 
‘‘(ii) Eritrea. 
‘‘(iii) The Islamic Republic of Iran. 
‘‘(iv) The People’s Republic of China. 
‘‘(v) The Russian Federation. 
‘‘(vi) Syria. 
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