No Paydays for Hostage-Takers Act

Bill: 118-hr-5826
Sponsor: Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2]
Introduced: 2023-09-28 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Arms control and nonproliferation
Asia
Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Congressional oversight
Detention of persons
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Foreign and international banking
Human rights
Iran
Middle East
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Qatar
Sanctions
South Korea
Terrorism
Travel and tourism
United Nations
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2023-09-28
text: 

No Paydays for Hostage-Takers Act

 
This bill allows the President to deny a representative of the United Nations diplomatic entry to the United States if the individual is sanctioned under specified Executive Orders related to terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Currently, the President may deny entry to a United Nations representative if the individual is found to be engaged in specified espionage or terrorist activities directed against the United States or its allies and may pose a threat to security. 
 
The bill also requires the President to report to Congress on certain matters regarding Iran. The President must report on 
 
 
the $6 billion transferred from restricted Iranian accounts in South Korea to restricted accounts in Qatar on August 9, 2023; 
 
all cases of hostage taking of a U.S. national in Iran or at the direction of Iran during the last 10 years and whether specified sanctions apply; 
 
blocked Iranian assets; 
 
international efforts to find, freeze, and forfeit assets of those connected to Iran's hostage-taking, wrongful detention, and human rights violations; 
 
whether the travel of U.S. persons to Iran presents an imminent danger to travelers; and 
 
 a strategy to deter hostage-taking by U.S adversaries.
 
 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2024-04-17
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2024-04-16
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2024-04-16
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 391 - 34 (Roll no. 131). (text: CR H2423-2425)
action_date: 2024-04-16
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 391 - 34 (Roll no. 131). (text: CR H2423-2425)
action_date: 2024-04-16
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2434-2435)
action_date: 2024-04-16
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2024-04-16
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5826.
action_date: 2024-04-16
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2423-2426)
action_date: 2024-04-16
text: Mr. Wilson (SC) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2023-10-19
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 40 - 5.
action_date: 2023-10-19
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
action_date: 2023-09-28
text: 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.
action_date: 2023-09-28
text: 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.
action_date: 2023-09-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-09-28
text: Introduced in House