Treason and Passport Revocation Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-2020
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-52]
Introduced: 2015-04-23
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Espionage and treason

Immigration status and procedures

Terrorism

Visas and passports
Latest action: action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-04-23
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Treason and Passport Revocation Act of 2015</strong></p> <p> Amends the federal criminal code to include an organization that the Department of State has designated as a foreign terrorist organization as an enemy of the United States for purposes of the crime of treason.</p> <p>Amends the Passport Act of 1926 to: (1) prohibit, with a discretionary exception for emergency or humanitarian reasons, the Department of State from issuing a passport or passport card to an individual who is a member of, or affiliated with, a foreign terrorist organization; and (2) require the Department to revoke a passport or passport card previously issued to any such individual. Authorizes the Department, before revocation, to: (1) limit a previously issued passport or passport card to only return travel to the United States, or (2) issue a limited passport or passport card that permits only return travel to the United States. </p>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2020 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 23, 2015 Mr. Peters (for himself, Mr. Vargas , and Mrs. Davis of California ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary , and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs , 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 title 18, United States Code, to include foreign terrorist organizations as enemies of the United States for purposes of treason, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Treason and Passport Revocation Act of 2015 . 2. Treason Section 2381 of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking Whoever and inserting the following: (a) Whoever ; and (2) by inserting at the end the following: (b) For purposes of this section, an organization that the Secretary of State has designated as a foreign terrorist organization under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1189 ) shall be considered an enemy of the United States. . 3. Revocation or denial of passports and passport cards to individuals affiliated with foreign terrorist organizations The Act entitled An Act to regulate the issue and validity of passports, and for other purposes , approved July 3, 1926 ( 22 U.S.C. 211a et seq. ), commonly known as the Passport Act of 1926 , is amended by adding at the end the following: 4. Authority to deny or revoke passport and passport card (a) Ineligibility (1) Issuance Except as provided under subsection (b), the Secretary of State may not issue a passport or passport card to any individual whom the Secretary has determined is a member of or is otherwise affiliated with an organization the Secretary has designated as a foreign terrorist organization pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1189 ). (2) Revocation The Secretary of State shall revoke a passport or passport card previously issued to any individual described in paragraph (1). (b) Exceptions (1) Emergency and humanitarian situations Notwithstanding subsection (a), the Secretary of State may issue a passport or passport card, in emergency circumstances or for humanitarian reasons, to an individual described in paragraph (1) of such subsection. (2) Limitation for return to united states Notwithstanding subsection (a)(2), the Secretary of State, before revocation, may— (A) limit a previously issued passport or passport card only for return travel to the United States; or (B) issue a limited passport or passport card that only permits return travel to the United States. (c) Report If the Secretary of State issues or limits a passport or passport card under subsection (b), the Secretary shall, not later than 30 days after such issuance or limitation, submit to Congress a report on such issuance or limitation, as the case may be. .