I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION H. R. 10256 
To authorize sentencing enhancements for certain criminal offenses directed 
by or coordinated with foreign governments. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 22, 2024 
Mrs. WAGNER
(for herself, Mr. SCHNEIDER, Mr. MORAN, and Mr. 
MOSKOWITZ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To authorize sentencing enhancements for certain criminal 
offenses directed by or coordinated with foreign governments. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Deterring External 
Threats and Ensuring Robust Responses to Egregious and 
Nefarious Criminal Endeavors Act’’ or the ‘‘DETER-
RENCE Act’’. 
SEC. 2. KIDNAPPING. 
Section 1201 of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended— 
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spiracy were knowingly acting in coordination 
with a foreign government or an agent of a for-
eign government. 
‘‘(3) ATTEMPT.—The sentence of a person con-
victed of an attempt to violate subsection (a) may be 
increased by up to 5 years if such attempt was 
knowingly at the direction of or in coordination with 
a foreign government or an agent of a foreign gov-
ernment.’’; and 
(3) in subsection (i), as so designated, by in-
serting ‘‘DEFINITION.—’’ before ‘‘As used in this 
section’’. 
SEC. 3. USE OF INTERSTATE COMMERCE FACILITIES IN 
THE COMMISSION OF MURDER-FOR-HIRE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1958 of title 18, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (b) as sub-
section (c); 
(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(b) SENTENCE ENHANCEMENTS FOR OFFENSES DI-
RECTED BY OR COORDINATED WITH FOREIGN GOVERN-
MENTS.—The sentence of a person convicted of an offense 
under subsection (a)— 
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‘‘(1) may be increased by up to 5 years, if such 
offense was committed knowingly at the direction of 
or in coordination with a foreign government or an 
agent of a foreign government; and 
‘‘(2) may be increased by up to 10 years— 
‘‘(A) if such offense was committed know-
ingly at the direction of or in coordination with 
a foreign government or an agent of a foreign 
government; and 
‘‘(B) personal injury results.’’; and 
(3) in subsection (c), as so redesignated, by in-
serting ‘‘DEFINITIONS.—’’ before ‘‘As used in this 
section’’. 
(b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) Section 2332b(g)(2) of title 18, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘section 
1958(b)(2)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 1958’’. 
(2) Section 1010A(d) of the Controlled Sub-
stances Import and Export Act (21 U.S.C. 960a(d)) 
is amended by striking ‘‘section 1958(b)(1)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘section 1958’’. 
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SEC. 
4. 
INFLUENCING, 
IMPEDING, 
OR 
RETALIATING 
AGAINST A FEDERAL OFFICIAL BY THREAT-
ENING OR INJURING A FAMILY MEMBER. 
Section 115(b) of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) The sentence of a person convicted of an 
offense under subsection (a), if such offense was 
committed knowingly at the direction of or in coordi-
nation with a foreign government or an agent of a 
foreign government— 
‘‘(A) may be increased by up to 5 years if 
the offense committed was an assault involving 
physical contact with the victim of that assault 
or the intent to commit another felony; 
‘‘(B) may be increased by up to 10 years 
if— 
‘‘(i) the offense committed was an as-
sault resulting in bodily injury (including 
serious bodily injury (as that term is de-
fined in section 1365 of this title)); 
‘‘(ii) the offense involved any conduct 
that, if the conduct occurred in the special 
maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the 
United States, would violate section 2241 
or 2242 of this title; or 
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‘‘(iii) a dangerous weapon was used 
during and in relation to the offense; and 
‘‘(C) may be increased by up to 10 years 
if the offense committed was a murder, at-
tempted murder, or conspiracy to murder.’’. 
SEC. 5. STALKING. 
Section 2261A of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘Whoever—’’ and inserting ‘‘(a) 
IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection (b), 
whoever—’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) ENHANCED PENALTIES
FOR OFFENSES IN-
VOLVING FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS.—The sentence of a 
person convicted of an offense under paragraph (1) or (2) 
of subsection (a), if such offense was committed knowingly 
at the direction of or in coordination with a foreign gov-
ernment or an agent of a foreign government— 
‘‘(1) may be increased by up to 5 years if— 
‘‘(A) serious bodily injury (including per-
manent disfigurement or life threatening bodily 
injury) to the victim results; 
‘‘(B) the offender uses a dangerous weap-
on during the offense; or 
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‘‘(C) the victim of the offense is under the 
age of 18 years; 
‘‘(2) may be increased by up to 10 years if 
death of the victim results; and 
‘‘(3) may be increased by up to 30 months in 
any other case.’’. 
SEC. 6. PROTECTION OF OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF 
THE UNITED STATES. 
Section 1114 of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (b) as sub-
section (c); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(b) SENTENCE ENHANCEMENTS FOR OFFENSES DI-
RECTED BY OR COORDINATED WITH FOREIGN GOVERN-
MENTS.—The sentence of a person convicted of an offense 
under subsection (a) may be increased by up to 10 years 
if such offense was committed knowingly at the direction 
of or in coordination with a foreign government or an 
agent of a foreign government.’’. 
SEC. 7. PRESIDENTIAL AND PRESIDENTIAL STAFF ASSAS-
SINATION, KIDNAPPING, AND ASSAULT. 
Section 1751 of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended— 
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(1) by redesignating subsections (f) through (k) 
as subsections (g) through (i), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (e) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(f)(1) The sentence of a person convicted of an of-
fense under subsection (a), (b), or (c) may be increased 
by up to 10 years if such offense was committed knowingly 
at the direction of or in coordination with a foreign gov-
ernment or an agent of a foreign government. 
‘‘(2) The sentence of a person convicted of conspiring 
to kill or kidnap any individual designated in subsection 
(a) as part of a conspiracy under the elements specified 
in subsection (d) may be increased by up to 10 years if— 
‘‘(A) 1 or more of the persons involved in such 
conspiracy were knowingly acting in coordination 
with a foreign government or an agent of a foreign 
government; and 
‘‘(B) the person convicted of conspiring to kill 
or kidnap an individual designated in subsection (a) 
knew that 1 or more of the persons involved in such 
conspiracy were knowingly acting in coordination 
with a foreign government or an agent of a foreign 
government. 
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