I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 9669 
To amend the Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Pre-
vention and Return Act of 2014 to expand protections for abducted 
children, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 21, 2022 
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey introduced the following bill; which was referred 
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 
A BILL 
To amend the Sean and David Goldman International Child 
Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 2014 to expand 
protections for abducted children, 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 
‘‘Bring Abducted Children Home Amendments Act’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
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Sec. 2. Amendments to purposes and definitions. 
Sec. 3. Annual report on international child abduction expanded. 
Sec. 4. Amendments to standards and assistance. 
Sec. 5. Amendments relating to notification required to be provided to congres-
sional representatives. 
Sec. 6. Amendments to authorities to respond to international child abductions. 
Sec. 7. Amendments to actions in response to patterns of noncompliance. 
Sec. 8. Amendments relating to training. 
Sec. 9. Modifications to the Office of Children’s Issues of the Department of 
State. 
Sec. 10. Increasing sentencing guideline for international parental kidnapping. 
Sec. 11. Clerical amendments. 
Sec. 12. Expanding notification requirements for missing children. 
Sec. 13. Legal expense grants for victims of international parental child abduc-
tion. 
SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS TO PURPOSES AND DEFINITIONS. 
The Sean and David Goldman International Child 
Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 2014 (22 U.S.C. 
9101 et seq.) is amended as follows: 
(1) In section 2(c) (22 U.S.C. 9101 note)— 
(A) by amending paragraph (4) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(4) to enhance the prompt resolution of abduc-
tion cases by returning children to the United 
States;’’; 
(B) 
by 
redesignating 
paragraphs 
(5) 
through (7) as paragraphs (6) through (8), re-
spectively; and 
(C) by inserting after paragraph (4) the 
following: 
‘‘(5) to enhance the prompt resolution of access 
cases by reuniting children with their left-behind 
parents with unfettered and enforceable access;’’. 
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(2) In section 3 (22 U.S.C. 9101)— 
(A) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘; 
and’’ at the end and inserting a semicolon; 
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
the period at the end and inserting ‘‘; 
and’’; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(C) includes all cases reported involving 
an application filed with the Central Authority 
of the United States or directly with the foreign 
central authority by a parent seeking rights of 
access or return.’’; 
(B) by amending paragraph (7) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(7) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—The term ‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’ means— 
‘‘(A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, 
the Committee on Appropriations, and the 
Committee on Homeland Security of the House 
of Representatives; and 
‘‘(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations, 
the Committee on Appropriations, and the 
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Committee on Homeland Security and Govern-
mental Affairs of the Senate.’’; 
(C) in paragraph (11), by striking ‘‘16’’ 
and inserting ‘‘18’’; 
(D) by amending subparagraph (A) of 
paragraph (19) to read as follows: 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘pattern of 
noncompliance’ means the persistent failure— 
‘‘(i) of a Convention country— 
‘‘(I) with respect to abduction 
cases pending as of the date on which 
the country entered the Hague Abduc-
tion Convention— 
‘‘(aa) to work with the Cen-
tral Authority of the United 
States to resolve such cases; and 
‘‘(bb) to abide by any bilat-
eral procedures established be-
tween the United States and 
such country; or 
‘‘(II) with respect to cases initi-
ated after such date of entry, to im-
plement and abide by provisions of 
such Convention; 
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‘‘(ii) of a non-Convention country to 
abide by bilateral procedures that have 
been established between the United States 
and such country; or 
‘‘(iii) of a non-Convention country to 
work with the Central Authority of the 
United States to resolve abduction cases.’’; 
(E) in paragraph (23)— 
(i) by amending subparagraph (A) to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘unresolved 
abduction case’ means an abduction case— 
‘‘(i) that does not meet the criteria to 
be considered resolved pursuant to sub-
paragraph (B), (C), or (D) of this para-
graph; and 
‘‘(ii) for which the completed applica-
tion for return of the child or access to the 
child is submitted by the Central Authority 
of the United States, or directly by the 
parent, for determination to the foreign 
Central Authority, foreign ministry, judi-
cial ministry, or the judicial or administra-
tive authority, as applicable, of the country 
in which the child is located.’’; and 
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(ii) by striking subparagraph (B) and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(B) RESOLUTION OF CASE WITH A RE-
TURN.—An abduction case shall be considered 
to be resolved if the child is returned to the 
left-behind parent, pursuant to the Hague Ab-
duction Convention or other appropriate bilat-
eral procedures, if applicable. 
‘‘(C) RESOLUTION
OF
CASE
WITHOUT
A 
RETURN.—An abduction case shall be consid-
ered to be resolved without a return if— 
‘‘(i) the left-behind parent reaches a 
voluntary arrangement with the other par-
ent or custodian of the child; 
‘‘(ii) the left-behind parent submits to 
the Department of State a written with-
drawal of the application under the Hague 
Convention on the Civil Aspects of Child 
Abduction for Return or the request for 
assistance in returning the child; or 
‘‘(iii) the left-behind parent submits to 
the Department of State a written with-
drawal of the application for the organiza-
tion of rights of Access under the Hague 
Convention on the Civil Aspects of Inter-
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national Child Abduction or the request for 
assistance in obtaining access to the child. 
‘‘(D) 
FAILED
TO
RETURN; 
CASE 
CLOSED.—An abduction case shall be consid-
ered to be resolved as ‘failed to return; case 
closed’ if— 
‘‘(i) the judicial or administrative 
branch, as applicable, of the government of 
the country in which the child is located— 
‘‘(I) has implemented, and is 
complying with, the provisions of the 
Hague Abduction Convention or other 
bilateral procedures, as applicable; 
‘‘(II) has denied with finality the 
Petition for return of the child under 
the Convention or request under other 
bilateral procedure, as applicable; and 
‘‘(III) has determined that the 
child need not be returned to the left- 
behind parent; 
‘‘(ii) the Department of State cannot 
locate the left-behind parent for one year 
despite the documented efforts of the De-
partment to locate the parent; 
‘‘(iii) the child is deceased; 
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‘‘(iv) the left-behind parent is de-
ceased and no amended petition has been 
filed; or 
‘‘(v) the abducted child attains the 
age of 18.’’; 
(F) 
by 
redesignating 
paragraphs 
(5) 
through (23) (as amended) as paragraphs (6) 
through (24), respectively; and 
(G) by inserting the following new para-
graph after paragraph (4): 
‘‘(5) AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE TO MONITOR AND 
COMBAT CHILD ABDUCTIONS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The term ‘Ambas-
sador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Child 
Abductions’ means the Ambassador-at-Large to 
Monitor and Combat Child Abductions ap-
pointed pursuant to section 201(a) of the Admi-
ral James W. Nance and Meg Donovan Foreign 
Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 2000 
and 2001 (22 U.S.C. 9009). 
‘‘(B) DUTIES.—The duties and responsibil-
ities of the Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor 
and Combat Child Abductions shall be carried 
out, during any period in which such Ambas-
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sador has not been duly appointed and con-
firmed, by— 
‘‘(i) the Director of the Office of Chil-
dren’s Issues of the Department of State, 
as provided in section 201(a)(2)(B) of the 
Admiral James W. Nance and Meg Dono-
van Foreign Relations Authorization Act, 
Fiscal Years 2000 and 2001; or 
‘‘(ii) if such Director has also not 
been appointed or confirmed, the Secretary 
of State.’’. 
SEC. 3. ANNUAL REPORT ON INTERNATIONAL CHILD AB-
DUCTION EXPANDED. 
Section 101 of the Sean and David Goldman Inter-
national Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 
2014 (22 U.S.C. 9111) is amended as follows: 
(1) In subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘abduction and’’ 
after ‘‘of such new’’; and 
(II) by striking ‘‘, respectively,’’ 
and inserting ‘‘as were’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (G), by striking 
‘‘; and’’ and inserting a semicolon; 
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(iii) by redesignating subparagraphs 
(A) through (H) as subparagraphs (C) 
through (J), respectively; 
(iv) by inserting the following new 
subparagraphs before subparagraph (C) 
(as so redesignated): 
‘‘(A) the number of children abducted from 
the United States and the number of children 
returned to the United States with respect to 
such country for each year of the 10-year pe-
riod ending on the date of the submission of the 
report; 
‘‘(B) the total number of children abducted 
from the United States and the total number of 
children returned to the United States with re-
spect to such country during the period begin-
ning January 1, 1994, and the ending on the 
date of the submission of the report;’’; and 
(v) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(K) the number of cases resolved with a 
return to the United States; 
‘‘(L) for cases resolved without a return, 
the number resolved with respect to which the 
left-behind parent— 
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‘‘(i) reached a voluntary arrangement 
with the other parent or custodian of the 
child; 
‘‘(ii) submitted to the Department of 
State a written withdrawal of the applica-
tion under the Hague Abduction Conven-
tion for the return of, or requesting assist-
ance in returning, the child; or 
‘‘(iii) submitted to the Department of 
State a written withdrawal of the applica-
tion for organization of rights of access 
under the Hague Abduction Convention or 
requesting for assistance in obtaining ac-
cess to the child; and 
‘‘(M) for cases closed with a failure to re-
turn, the number of cases with respect to 
which— 
‘‘(i) the judicial or administrative 
branch, as applicable, of the government of 
the country in which the child is located— 
‘‘(I) has implemented, and is 
complying with, the provisions of the 
Hague Abduction Convention or other 
bilateral procedures, as applicable; 
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‘‘(II) has denied with finality the 
petition for return of the child under 
the Convention, or request under 
other bilateral procedure, as applica-
ble; and 
‘‘(III) has determined that the 
child need not be returned to the left- 
behind parent; 
‘‘(ii) the Department of State cannot 
locate the left-behind parent for one year 
despite the documented efforts of the De-
partment to locate the parent; 
‘‘(iii) the child is deceased; 
‘‘(iv) the left-behind parent is de-
ceased and no amended petition has been 
filed; or 
‘‘(v) the victim of the abduction is 
now over 18 years old.’’; 
(B) in paragraph (9), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(C) in paragraph (10), by striking the pe-
riod at the end and inserting a semicolon; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraphs: 
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‘‘(11) the total number of children abducted 
from the United States and the total number of chil-
dren returned to the United States with respect to 
all countries, for each year in the 10-year period 
ending on the date of the submission of the report; 
‘‘(12) the total number of children abducted 
from each State with respect to all countries during 
the period beginning January 1, 1994, and the end-
ing on the date of the submission of the report; and 
‘‘(13) the total number of children abducted 
from the United States and the total number of chil-
dren returned to the United States with respect to 
all countries during the period beginning January 1, 
1994, and the ending on the date of the submission 
of the report.’’. 
(2) In subsection (d)— 
(A) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘; and’’ 
at the end and inserting a semicolon; 
(B) in paragraph (5), by striking the pe-
riod at the end and inserting a semicolon; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraphs: 
‘‘(6) a section that includes— 
‘‘(A) a ‘tier 1’ list of countries and terri-
tories— 
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‘‘(i) with respect to which there are 
one or more pending or unresolved abduc-
tion cases; and 
‘‘(ii) the governments of which the 
Secretary of State determines have neither 
engaged in a persistent failure described in 
section 3(20)(B) nor in a pattern of non-
compliance, as defined in section 3(20)(A); 
‘‘(B) a ‘tier 2’ list of countries and terri-
tories the governments of which the Secretary 
of State determines have engaged in a per-
sistent failure described in section 3(20)(B), 
but are making significant efforts to bring 
themselves into compliance with those stand-
ards, and with respect to which— 
‘‘(i) the estimated number of unre-
solved abduction and access cases is very 
significant or is significantly increasing 
and the country is not taking proportional 
concrete actions; or 
‘‘(ii) there is a failure to provide evi-
dence of increasing efforts to resolve unre-
solved abduction and access cases from the 
previous year; and 
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‘‘(C) a ‘tier 3’ list of countries and terri-
tories the governments of which the Secretary 
of State determines have engaged in both a per-
sistent failure described in section 3(20)(B) as 
well as a pattern of noncompliance, as defined 
in section 3(20)(A); and 
‘‘(7) a section describing the status of legal pro-
tections for victims of domestic violence and their 
children, with appropriate links to substantive inter-
governmental reports (such as a United States coun-
try report documenting issues of domestic violence 
against vulnerable populations within the country), 
including— 
‘‘(A) a description of the ability of a victim 
of domestic abuse to obtain urgent protective 
and restraining measures with respect to such 
victim and any child of such victim; 
‘‘(B) an indication of where victims of do-
mestic violence may obtain access to justice and 
essential services; 
‘‘(C) whether official findings of domestic 
or family violence are available outside of the 
criminal process, and are considered evidential 
in child custody cases; 
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‘‘(D) whether evidentiary standards and 
burdens of proof in legal proceedings are con-
sistent with United States judicial proceedings; 
and 
‘‘(E) whether foreign court and law en-
forcement will honor orders containing arrange-
ments for the protection of a child.’’. 
(3) By striking subsection (e) and redesignating 
subsection (f) as subsection (e). 
SEC. 4. AMENDMENTS TO STANDARDS AND ASSISTANCE. 
Section 102 of the Sean and David Goldman Inter-
national Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 
2014 (22 U.S.C. 9112) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘SEC. 102. STANDARDS AND 
ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary of State shall—’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘SEC. 102. STANDARDS AND ASSISTANCE. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State shall— 
’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) ADDITIONAL
ACTIONS
BY
SECRETARY
OF 
STATE.— 
‘‘(1) ACTION PLAN FOR TIER 3 COUNTRIES.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 
days after the submission of each annual report 
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required by section 101, the Secretary of State, 
acting through the Ambassador-at-Large to 
Monitor and Combat Child Abductions and the 
Assistant Secretary of the appropriate regional 
bureau, shall— 
‘‘(i) prepare an action plan for each 
country upgraded from the ‘tier 3’ list de-
scribed in subparagraph (C) of section 
101(d)(6) to the ‘tier 2’ list described in 
subparagraph (B) of such section, to fur-
ther improve such country’s tier ranking; 
and 
‘‘(ii) present the relevant action plan 
to the government of each such country. 
‘‘(B) CONSULTATION.—In preparing the 
plan required by subparagraph (A), the Sec-
retary of State shall seek to consult with the 
Central Authority from the government of each 
applicable country with the assistance of the 
United States ambassador to or charge´ d’af-
faires for such country. 
‘‘(2) TRANSMISSION OF INFORMATION TO TIER 
3 COUNTRIES.—Not less frequently than annually, 
the Secretary of State shall provide to the foreign 
minister of each country that has been downgraded 
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to the ‘tier 3’ list described in subparagraph (C) of 
section 101(d)(6) in the most recent report sub-
mitted in accordance with such section— 
‘‘(A) a copy of the Annual Report on 
International Child Abductions; and 
‘‘(B) information pertinent to that coun-
try’s downgrade, including— 
‘‘(i) confirmation of the country’s in-
clusion in such ‘tier 3’ list; 
‘‘(ii) the factors that contributed to 
the downgrade; and 
‘‘(iii) the steps that the country must 
take to be considered for an upgrade in 
status of designation. 
‘‘(c) ASSISTANCE PROVIDED
BY
THE OFFICE
OF 
CHILDREN’S ISSUES.— 
‘‘(1) DOCUMENTATION RELATING TO DOMESTIC 
VIOLENCE.—For each application that the Director 
of the Office of Children’s Issues transmits to a 
Central Authority, the Director shall include docu-
mentation of— 
‘‘(A) domestic violence protections under 
the laws of the country from which the child 
has been removed; and 
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‘‘(B) the availability of such protections to 
a parent alleged to have fled the United States 
due to domestic violence. 
‘‘(2) VOLUNTEER
NATIONAL
ATTORNEY
NET-
WORK.—The Director of the Office of Children’s 
Issues shall take such steps as may be necessary to 
expand its volunteer national attorney network— 
‘‘(A) to provide attorneys willing to rep-
resent a responding parent in an incoming ab-
duction case on a pro bono or reduced fee basis, 
with respect to which— 
‘‘(i) the parent is advancing the de-
fense that such parent is a victim of do-
mestic violence; or 
‘‘(ii) in an incoming case brought 
under the International Child Abduction 
Remedies Act (22 U.S.C. 9001 et seq.), 
with respect to which a defense of domestic 
violence has been made; and 
‘‘(B) to assist parents, on a pro bono or 
reduced fee basis, in outgoing cases, with— 
‘‘(i) an application for return or ac-
cess under the Hague Abduction Conven-
tion to be transmitted by the Secretary of 
State to a foreign Central Authority; 
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‘‘(ii) referrals to foreign counsel, or 
judicial or administrative officials, willing 
to represent the interests of the child in 
proceedings in the courts of foreign coun-
tries to secure the entry and enforcement 
of any undertaking orders entered by the 
foreign court to facilitate access to that 
child or that child’s return; or 
‘‘(iii) obtaining, where appropriate, 
protective orders related to allegations or 
findings of domestic violence, until the 
court of competent jurisdiction in the 
United States can address the child cus-
tody case on the merits.’’. 
SEC. 5. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO NOTIFICATION RE-
QUIRED TO BE PROVIDED TO CONGRES-
SIONAL REPRESENTATIVES. 
Section 104 of the Sean and David Goldman Inter-
national Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 
2014 (22 U.S.C. 9114) is amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(a) NOTIFICATION.—The Secretary of State shall 
submit written notification to the Member of Congress and 
Senators, or Resident Commissioner or Delegate, as ap-
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propriate, representing the legal residence of a left-behind 
parent if such parent reports an abduction to the Central 
Authority of the United States (without regard to whether 
such report occurred before, on, or after the date of the 
enactment of this subsection).’’; and 
(2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(b) TIMING.—The notification required under sub-
section (a) shall be provided— 
‘‘(1) not later than 90 days after the date of 
the enactment of such subsection, with respect to a 
report from a left-behind parent that was made on 
or before such date of enactment; or 
‘‘(2) not later than 90 days after the date of a 
report from a left-behind parent made after such 
date of enactment.’’. 
SEC. 6. AMENDMENTS TO AUTHORITIES TO RESPOND TO 
INTERNATIONAL CHILD ABDUCTIONS. 
Section 201 of the Sean and David Goldman Inter-
national Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 
2014 (22 U.S.C. 9121) is amended as follows: 
(1) By amending subsection (b) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(b) ACTIONS
IN
RESPONSE
TO
UNRESOLVED 
CASES.— 
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‘‘(1) DETERMINATION OF ACTION.—For each 
abduction or access case relating to a child whose 
habitual residence is in the United States that re-
mains pending after the Central Authority of the 
United States or the parent submits such case to a 
foreign country, the Secretary of State shall deter-
mine whether the government of such foreign coun-
try has failed to take appropriate steps to resolve 
the case. If such determination is affirmative that 
such failure occurred, the Secretary should, as expe-
ditiously as practicable— 
‘‘(A) take 3 or more of the actions de-
scribed in subsections (d) and (e) of section 
202; and 
‘‘(B) direct the chief of mission in that for-
eign country to address the resolution of the 
case with senior officials in the foreign govern-
ment. 
‘‘(2) AUTHORITY FOR DELAY OF ACTION.—The 
Secretary of State may delay any action described in 
paragraph (1) for up to 1 year if the Secretary de-
termines that such additional time will substantially 
assist in resolving the case. 
‘‘(3) REPORT.—If the Secretary of State deter-
mines to delay an action pursuant to paragraph (2) 
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or decides not to take any action described in sub-
section (d) or (e) of section 202 after making the de-
termination described in paragraph (1), the Sec-
retary shall provide a report to the appropriate con-
gressional committees, not later than 15 days after 
such delay or decision, that describes the reasons for 
such delay or decision. 
‘‘(4) CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFINGS.—At the re-
quest of the appropriate congressional committees, 
the Secretary of State shall provide a briefing, in-
cluding a written report, if requested, on actions 
taken to resolve a case or the cause for delay.’’. 
(2) By amending subsection (c) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(c) IMPLEMENTATION.— 
‘‘(1) SENSE
OF
CONGRESS.—In carrying out 
subsection (b), the Secretary of State should— 
‘‘(A) take 3 or more actions pursuant to 
subparagraph (A) of subsection (b)(1) that 
most appropriately respond to the nature and 
severity of the governmental failure to resolve 
the unresolved abduction case; and 
‘‘(B) seek, to the fullest extent possible— 
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‘‘(i) to initially respond to such a fail-
ure by communicating with the Central 
Authority of the country; and 
‘‘(ii) if such communication is unsuc-
cessful in addressing the failure, to target 
subsequent actions— 
‘‘(I) as narrowly as practicable, 
with respect to the agencies or instru-
mentalities of the foreign government 
that are responsible for such failures; 
and 
‘‘(II) in ways that respect the 
separation of powers and independ-
ence of the judiciary of the foreign 
country, as applicable. 
‘‘(2) ADDITIONAL
GUIDELINES
FOR
ACTIONS 
UNDER SECTION 202.—In addition to the guidelines 
under paragraph (1), in determining whether to take 
1 or more actions under paragraphs (5) through (7) 
of section 202(d) or section 202(e) pursuant to sub-
paragraph (A) of subsection (b)(1), the Secretary of 
State shall seek to minimize any adverse impact 
on— 
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‘‘(A) the population of the country the gov-
ernment of which is targeted by the action or 
actions; 
‘‘(B) the humanitarian activities of United 
States and nongovernmental organizations in 
the country; and 
‘‘(C) the national security interests of the 
United States.’’. 
(3) By adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) ACTION IN THE CASE OF ABDUCTED CHILDREN 
WHO REACH THE AGE OF 16.—When an individual who 
is an abducted child attains 16 years of age, a consular 
officer from a United States diplomatic mission in the 
country in which such individual resides shall, until either 
the parent seeking assistance or the individual (after at-
taining 18 years of age) requests the officer to cease, an-
nually— 
‘‘(1) attempt to contact such individual, engag-
ing other agencies and foreign counterparts as nec-
essary to obtain a verified location; 
‘‘(2) advise such individual of applicable rights 
under section 51.28 of title 22, Code of Federal 
Regulations, including with respect to executing an 
application for a passport on the individual’s own 
behalf; and 
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‘‘(3) advise such individual of applicable rights 
under sections 3301 through 3327 of title 38, 
United States Code.’’. 
SEC. 7. AMENDMENTS TO ACTIONS IN RESPONSE TO PAT-
TERNS OF NONCOMPLIANCE. 
Section 202 of the Sean and David Goldman Inter-
national Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 
2014 (22 U.S.C. 9122) is amended as follows: 
(1) In the section heading, by striking ‘‘BY 
THE SECRETARY OF STATE’’. 
(2) In subsection (c)— 
(A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘BY THE 
SECRETARY OF STATE’’; and 
(B) by amending paragraph (4) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(4) REPORTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 90 
days after the submission of the Annual Report, 
the Secretary of State shall submit a report to 
Congress on the specific actions taken against 
countries determined to have engaged in a pat-
tern of noncompliance under this section. 
‘‘(B) BRIEFING.—The Secretary of State 
shall annually brief the appropriate congres-
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sional committees on the report described in 
subparagraph (A).’’. 
(3) In subsection (d), by striking ‘‘subsection 
(f)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (g)’’. 
(4) In subsection (e), by striking paragraphs 
(1) and (2) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in sub-
section (g), the Secretary of State may substitute 
any other action authorized by law for any action 
described in subsection (d) if the Secretary deter-
mines that such action— 
‘‘(A) is commensurate in effect to the ac-
tion substituted; and 
‘‘(B) would substantially further the pur-
poses of this Act. 
‘‘(2) NOTIFICATION.—If commensurate action 
is taken pursuant to this subsection, the Secretary 
of State shall submit to the appropriate congres-
sional committees a report that— 
‘‘(A) describes such action; 
‘‘(B) explains the reasons for taking such 
action; and 
‘‘(C) specifically describes the basis for the 
Secretary’s determination under paragraph (1) 
that such action— 
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‘‘(i) is commensurate with the action 
substituted; and 
‘‘(ii) substantially furthers the pur-
poses of this Act.’’. 
(5) By inserting the following new subsections 
after subsection (g): 
‘‘(h) STUDY ON INTERNATIONAL PARENTAL CHILD 
ABDUCTION.— 
‘‘(1) STUDY REQUIRED.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of the enactment of this subsection, 
the Secretary of State shall seek to enter into an 
agreement with an appropriate nongovernmental or-
ganization to study and publish a report on the 
grave harm to abducted children and left-behind 
parents as a result of international parental child 
abduction. 
‘‘(2) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000 
for each of fiscal years 2023 and 2024 to carry out 
the study described in paragraph (1). 
‘‘(3) APPROPRIATE NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGA-
NIZATION.—In this subsection, the term ‘appropriate 
nongovernmental organization’ means a nongovern-
mental organization that has significant expertise in 
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the trauma associated with international parental 
abductions. 
‘‘(i) AUDIT OF EFFORTS.—The Secretary of State 
shall perform an annual audit of the efforts of the Depart-
ment of State to monitor and combat international child 
abductions. Upon the completion of the first such audit, 
the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congres-
sional committees the results of the audit, specifically de-
scribing the effects of actions taken under subsections (d) 
and (e). 
‘‘(j) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the Sec-
retary of State submits the first Annual Report required 
to be submitted after the date of the enactment of this 
subsection, the Secretary of State shall submit to the ap-
propriate committees a report that contains the following: 
‘‘(1) A description of the activities undertaken 
to conduct the study required by subsection (h). 
‘‘(2) An update on the progress of the audit re-
quired by subsection (i).’’. 
SEC. 8. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO TRAINING. 
Title III of the Sean and David Goldman Inter-
national Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 
2014 is amended— 
(1) by repealing section 301; 
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(2) by redesignating section 302 (as amended 
by subsection (a)) as section 301; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 302. ADDITIONAL INTERNATIONAL PARENTAL CHILD 
ABDUCTION TRAINING. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State shall 
make training available on international parental child ab-
ductions to domestic and foreign professionals employed 
in the judicial, family court, or law enforcement profes-
sions. 
‘‘(b) AUTHORIZATIONS OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000 for each fiscal 
year to carry out the training described in subsection 
(a).’’. 
SEC. 9. MODIFICATIONS TO THE OFFICE OF CHILDREN’S 
ISSUES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF UNITED STATES AMBAS-
SADOR-AT-LARGE TO MONITOR AND COMBAT CHILD AB-
DUCTIONS.—Section 201(a) of the Admiral James W. 
Nance and Meg Donovan Foreign Relations Authorization 
Act, Fiscal Years 2000 and 2001 (22 U.S.C. 9009) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(a) AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE
TO
MONITOR
AND 
COMBAT CHILD ABDUCTIONS.— 
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‘‘(1) APPOINTMENT.—The Office of Children’s 
Issues of the Department of State (in this section 
referred to as the ‘Office’) shall be led by an Ambas-
sador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Child Abduc-
tions (in this section referred to as the ‘Ambas-
sador’), who shall be appointed by the President by 
and with the advice and consent of the Senate and 
who shall report directly to the Secretary of State. 
‘‘(2) DIPLOMATIC
REPRESENTATION.—Subject 
to the direction of the President and the Secretary 
of State, the Ambassador is authorized to represent 
the United States— 
‘‘(A) in matters and cases relevant to child 
abduction affairs, through— 
‘‘(i) contacts with foreign govern-
ments, intergovernmental organizations, 
specialized agencies of the United Nations, 
and other international organizations of 
which the United States is a member; and 
‘‘(ii) 
multilateral 
conferences 
and 
meetings relating to international child ab-
ductions; and 
‘‘(B) in matters and cases relevant to 
inter-country adoptions. 
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‘‘(3) ADDITIONAL
DUTIES
AND
RESPONSIBIL-
ITIES.—The Ambassador shall also be responsible 
for carrying out the duties and responsibilities as-
signed to the Secretary of State under the Sean and 
David Goldman International Child Abduction Pre-
vention and Return Act of 2014 (22 U.S.C. 9101 et 
seq.). 
‘‘(4) DIRECTOR REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary of 
State shall appoint to the position of Director 
of the Office of the Department of State an in-
dividual described in subparagraph (B) who can 
ensure long-term continuity in the management 
and policy matters of the Office. Such Director 
shall report directly to the Ambassador. 
‘‘(B) QUALIFIED
APPOINTEES.—An indi-
vidual described in this subparagraph is an in-
dividual— 
‘‘(i) of senior rank in the Department 
of State; 
‘‘(ii) who is serving, at the time of the 
appointment, as a foreign affairs civil serv-
ice officer; and 
‘‘(iii) who has a strong background in 
consular affairs. 
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‘‘(C) ASSIGNMENT
OF
DUTIES.—During 
any period in which an Ambassador has not 
been appointed and confirmed pursuant to 
paragraph (1), the Director of the Office shall 
carry out all duties and responsibilities other-
wise assigned to the Ambassador.’’. 
(b) EXPANSION OF DUTIES.—Section 201 of the Ad-
miral James W. Nance and Meg Donovan Foreign Rela-
tions Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 2000 and 2001 (22 
U.S.C. 9009) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(e) FORMAL REQUEST REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Office 
shall ensure that with respect to any abduction case 
relating to a non-Convention country, a formal re-
quest by the Central Authority of the United States 
to the Central Authority of such country for the re-
turn of the abducted child and for rights of contact 
with the abducted child— 
‘‘(A) is submitted within 30 days of a case 
being opened by a parent with the Office; and 
‘‘(B) is renewed, or the Central Authority 
of the non-Convention country is otherwise ap-
propriately re-engaged, every 90 days thereafter 
until the case is resolved. 
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‘‘(2) ACCESSION TO CONVENTION.—In the case 
of a case relating to a non-Convention country that 
subsequently accedes to the Hague Abduction Con-
vention, the Director of the Office shall ensure that 
a formal request described in paragraph (1) that is 
submitted prior to such date of entry is renewed or 
re-submitted in accordance with the requirements of 
the Convention, or the Central Authority of such 
country continues to otherwise be appropriately re- 
engaged, and the case continues to be pursued until 
resolved. 
‘‘(f) ASSISTANCE FOR PARENTS.—In addition to the 
matters described in subsection (d), the Director of the 
Office shall ensure that parents are provided— 
‘‘(1) information about domestic reporting and 
remedies, the existence of humanitarian case assist-
ance through Interpol, and the availability of welfare 
and whereabout visits in foreign countries; 
‘‘(2) assistance in— 
‘‘(A) locating internationally abducted chil-
dren, including with respect to coordination be-
tween United States and foreign law enforce-
ment officials or other foreign authorities; 
‘‘(B) serving process on an abducting par-
ent through a diplomatic or consular post or 
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through engagement with United States offi-
cials at such posts; 
‘‘(C) requesting in-person welfare and 
whereabout visits to be conducted by a consular 
officer at a diplomatic or consular post, includ-
ing seeking cooperation from the abducting par-
ent or from appropriate foreign authorities; and 
‘‘(D) obtaining reports of the results of 
such visits; and 
‘‘(3) liaison assistance with appropriate coun-
terparts of the Department of Justice to facilitate— 
‘‘(A) the entry of a child into the National 
Crime Information Center database; 
‘‘(B) the issuance and maintenance of 
Interpol Red or Yellow notices; and 
‘‘(C) appropriate Federal criminal prosecu-
tion. 
‘‘(g) IN-PERSON WELFARE AND WHEREABOUTS VIS-
ITS.—Upon receiving an one-time request from a parent, 
a consular officer at a diplomatic or consular post shall 
conduct in-person welfare and whereabout visits described 
in subsection (f)(2)(C) every 90 days. Such visits may be 
discontinued only upon the written notice to discontinue 
such visits at the election of the non-abducting parent.’’. 
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(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 433 of the 
Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 241) is amend-
ed by striking ‘‘Secretary of State’’ each place it appears 
and inserting ‘‘Secretary of State (acting through the Am-
bassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Child Abduc-
tions of the Department of State)’’. 
(d) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that, in addition to the authorities provided by the 
amendments made by this section, the Secretary of State, 
acting through the Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and 
Combat Child Abductions, should exercise to the fullest 
extent all authorities available to the Secretary, such as 
through mutual legal assistance treaties and other bilat-
eral or multilateral treaties and agreements, to— 
(1) repatriate abducted children; and 
(2) extradite abducting parents. 
SEC. 10. INCREASING SENTENCING GUIDELINE FOR INTER-
NATIONAL PARENTAL KIDNAPPING. 
Section 1204 of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘3’’ and in-
serting ‘‘10’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ‘‘16’’ and 
inserting ‘‘18’’. 
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SEC. 11. CLERICAL AMENDMENTS. 
(a) WAIVER.—Section 204 of the Sean and David 
Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and 
Return Act of 2014 (22 U.S.C. 9124) is amended by strik-
ing the heading and inserting ‘‘WAIVER.’’. 
(b) TERMINATION OF ACTIONS.—Section 205 of the 
Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction 
Prevention and Return Act of 2014 (22 U.S.C. 9125) is 
amended by striking the heading and inserting ‘‘TERMI-
NATION OF ACTIONS.’’. 
(c) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—Section 1(b) of the Sean 
and David Goldman International Child Abduction Pre-
vention and Return Act of 2014 (22 U.S.C. 9101 note) 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents 
for this Act is as follows: 
‘‘Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents. 
‘‘Sec. 2. Findings; sense of Congress; purposes. 
‘‘Sec. 3. Definitions. 
‘‘TITLE I—DEPARTMENT OF STATE ACTIONS 
‘‘Sec. 101. Annual report. 
‘‘Sec. 102. Standards and assistance. 
‘‘Sec. 103. Bilateral procedures, including memoranda of understanding. 
‘‘Sec. 104. Report to congressional representatives. 
‘‘TITLE II—ACTIONS BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE 
‘‘Sec. 201. Response to international child abductions. 
‘‘Sec. 202. Actions in response to patterns of noncompliance in cases of inter-
national child abductions. 
‘‘Sec. 203. Consultations with foreign governments. 
‘‘Sec. 204. Waiver. 
‘‘Sec. 205. Termination of actions. 
‘‘TITLE III—PREVENTION OF INTERNATIONAL CHILD ABDUCTION 
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‘‘Sec. 301. Authorization for judicial training on international parental child 
abduction. 
‘‘Sec. 302. Additional international parental child abduction training.’’. 
SEC. 12. EXPANDING NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR 
MISSING CHILDREN. 
Subsection (a) of section 3701 of the Crime Control 
Act of 1990 (34 U.S.C. 41307) is amended to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Each Federal, State, and 
local law enforcement agency shall report each case 
of a missing child under the age of 21 reported to 
such agency to the National Crime Information Cen-
ter of the Department of Justice, except that in the 
case of an international parental child abduction, 
such agency shall report the case to the Federal Bu-
reau of Investigation. 
‘‘(2) INTERNATIONAL PARENTAL CHILD ABDUC-
TIONS.— 
‘‘(A) REQUIREMENT ON FBI.—In each case 
of international parental child abduction, the 
Federal Bureau of Investigation shall— 
‘‘(i) report each case of a missing 
child under the age of 21 reported to such 
agency to the National Crime Information 
Center of the Department of Justice; and 
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‘‘(ii) request that the United States 
National Central Bureau, as the official 
United States representative to the Inter-
national 
Criminal 
Police 
Organization 
(INTERPOL), issue a Yellow Notice. 
‘‘(B) APPLICATION
TO
PREVIOUSLY
AB-
DUCTED CHILDREN.—Not later than 30 days 
after the date of enactment of the Bring Ab-
ducted Children Home Amendments Act, for 
each covered international parental child abduc-
tion— 
‘‘(i) the Federal Bureau of Investiga-
tion shall comply with the requirements 
under subparagraph (A); and 
‘‘(ii) the Office of Children’s Issues 
shall provide information to left-behind 
parents of the resources and authorities 
available pursuant to the amendments 
made by such Act and assist them by 
liaising with the Department of Justice to 
ensure that the Federal Bureau of Inves-
tigations complies with the requirements 
under subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(C) REMOVAL FROM THE NCIC.—A child 
who is the victim of an international parental 
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child abduction who is entered into the National 
Crime Information Center database of the De-
partment of Justice may not be removed from 
such database until the child— 
‘‘(i) is returned to the left-behind par-
ent; or 
‘‘(ii) after reaching the age of 21, re-
quests their removal in person to a United 
States consular official or Federal law en-
forcement officer. 
‘‘(D) INTERPOL YELLOW
NOTICE.—A 
Yellow Notice issued by the United States Na-
tional Central Bureau with respect to a child 
who is the victim of an international parental 
abduction shall remain active until the child— 
‘‘(i) is returned to the left-behind par-
ent; or 
‘‘(ii) after reaching the age of 21, re-
quests their removal in person to a United 
States consular official or Federal law en-
forcement officer. 
‘‘(3) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
‘‘(A) The term ‘international parental child 
abduction’ has the meaning given the term ‘ab-
duction’ in section 3 of the Sean and David 
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Goldman International Child Abduction Preven-
tion and Return Act of 2014 (22 U.S.C. 9101), 
to the extent that the perpetrator of such ab-
duction is a parent of the child. 
‘‘(B) The term ‘left-behind parent’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 3 of the 
Sean and David Goldman International Child 
Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 2014 
(22 U.S.C. 9101). 
‘‘(C) The term ‘covered international pa-
rental child abduction’ means an international 
parental child abduction— 
‘‘(i) that occurred prior to the date of 
enactment of the Bring Abducted Children 
Home Amendments Act— 
‘‘(I) with respect to which para-
graph (1) would apply if such abduc-
tion were to have occurred on or after 
the date of enactment of such Act; or 
‘‘(II) that was reported to the 
Office of Children’s Issues of the De-
partment of State; and 
‘‘(ii) with respect to which the child 
who was abducted has not been returned 
to the left-behind parent.’’. 
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SEC. 13. LEGAL EXPENSE GRANTS FOR VICTIMS OF INTER-
NATIONAL PARENTAL CHILD ABDUCTION. 
Section 1403 of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 
(34 U.S.C. 20102) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)(1)— 
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
(A), by striking ‘‘including drunk driving and 
domestic violence’’ and inserting ‘‘including 
international parental child abduction, drunk 
driving, and domestic violence’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(C) in subparagraph (C), by adding ‘‘and’’ 
at the end; and 
(D) by inserting after subparagraph (C) 
the following: 
‘‘(D) legal expenses in United States and 
foreign countries attributable to efforts to repa-
triate a victim of international parental child 
abduction 
resulting 
from 
a 
compensable 
crime;’’; 
(2) in subsection (d)— 
(A) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘that 
constitute international parental child abduc-
tion,’’ after ‘‘that are described in section 247 
of title 18, United States Code,’’; 
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(B) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(C) in paragraph (5), by striking the pe-
riod at the end and inserting a semicolon; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(6) the term ‘international parental child ab-
duction’ has the meaning given such term in section 
3701 of the Crime Control Act of 1990 (34 U.S.C. 
41307)); and 
‘‘(7) the term ‘left-behind parent’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 3 of the Sean 
and David Goldman International Child Abduction 
Prevention and Return Act of 2014 (22 U.S.C. 
9101).’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—For purposes of this 
section, a left-behind parent shall be considered a victim 
of international parental child abduction.’’. 
Æ 
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H9669
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB