Stop COVID Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3592
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
Introduced: 2020-05-04
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Chemical and biological weapons

Civil actions and liability

Conflicts and wars

Government liability

Infectious and parasitic diseases

International law and treaties

Marine and inland water transportation

Navigation, waterways, harbors

Violent crime
Latest action: action_date: 2020-05-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-05-04
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Stop China-Originated Viral Infectious Diseases Act of 2020 or the Stop COVID Act of 2020</b></p> <p>This bill limits the immunity of foreign states from suit in the United States.</p> <p>Specifically, it bars immunity for a foreign state in cases where the foreign state allegedly, whether intentionally or unintentionally, discharges a biological agent that results in the bodily injury, death, or damage to property of a U.S. national.</p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3592 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 4, 2020 Mrs. Blackburn (for herself, Ms. McSally , and Mr. Daines ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To amend the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act to establish an exception to jurisdictional immunity for a foreign state that discharges a biological weapon, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Stop China-Originated Viral Infectious Diseases Act of 2020 or the Stop COVID Act of 2020 . 2. Exception to jurisdictional immunity of a foreign state (a) In general Section 1605 of title 28, United States Code, is amended— (1) by redesignating subsections (g) and (h) as subsections (h) and (i), respectively; and (2) by inserting after subsection (f) the following: (g) (1) A foreign state shall not be immune from the jurisdiction of the courts of the United States in any case where such foreign state is alleged, whether intentionally or unintentionally, to have discharged a biological agent, as defined in section 178 of title 18, and such discharge results in the bodily injury, death, or damage to property of a national of the United States. (2) Notwithstanding section 2337(2) of title 18, a national of the United States may bring a claim for money damages against a foreign state in accordance with section 2333 of title 18 if the foreign state would not be immune under this subsection. . (b) Applicability The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to the discharge of a biological agent that occurred before, on, or after the date of enactment of this Act.