Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act

Bill: 116-s-712
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2019-03-07 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
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

Summary:
action_date: 2019-03-07
text: 

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. 

action_date: 2020-06-03
text: 

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.

action_date: 2020-06-15
text: 

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.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-06-18
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2020-06-18
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2020-06-18
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2020-06-15
text: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2977-2979; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S2977-2979)
action_date: 2020-06-15
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S2977-2979; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S2977-2979)
action_date: 2020-06-03
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 462.
action_date: 2020-06-03
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. Without written report.
action_date: 2020-06-03
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. Without written report.
action_date: 2020-05-21
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2019-03-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2019-03-07
text: Introduced in Senate