Freeing Americans Detained Abroad Act

Bill: 118-hr-4478
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Cloud, Michael [R-TX-27]
Introduced: 2023-07-06
Policy area: International Affairs
Latest action: action_date: 2023-07-06
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-07-06
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b>Freeing Americans Detained Abroad Act</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">This bill requires the Department of State to dedicate resources to assist U.S. citizens detained or kidnapped overseas. The State Department must</p> <ul> <li>display, on a public website, a list of resources (including legal services offered pro bono or with payment) that U.S. citizens detained or kidnapped overseas may be eligible to receive;</li> <li>train all Foreign Service officers posted overseas on identifying and assisting detained and arbitrarily detained U.S. citizens; and</li> <li>designate at least one Foreign Service officer at each overseas diplomatic or consular post as a hostage affairs officer. </li> </ul>

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4478 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 6, 2023 Mr. Cloud introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs A BILL To facilitate access to existing resources with respect to United States citizens arbitrarily detained or kidnapped overseas, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Freeing Americans Detained Abroad Act . 2. Additional resources with respect to United States citizens detained or kidnapped overseas (a) Availability of existing resources The Secretary of State shall display on a publicly available website of the Department a list of resources for which United States citizens who have been detained or kidnapped overseas may be eligible and may be accessed by friends or family of such citizens. Such resources shall include legal services whether offered pro bono or with any other payment or fee structure. (b) Training required The Secretary of State shall ensure that each Foreign Service officer serving at any diplomatic or consular post overseas is trained, prior to such posting, with respect to cases of detention of United States citzens. Such training shall include each of the following: (1) What detention and arbitrary detention cases are and how to identify cases of United States citizens being arbitrarily detained. (2) How to engage with United States citizens overseas and family members of detained citizens. (3) How to connect United States citizens or their family members with legal assistance resources overseas. (4) How to liaise with the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs office with respect to cases of arbitrary detention or kidnapping. (c) Hostage affairs officers The Secretary of State, or an appropriate designee, shall designate one Foreign Service officer at each overseas diplomatic or consular post as a hostage affairs officer , who shall— (1) serve as a principle liaison between the post and the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs office; (2) coordinate with the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, the Ambassador to the host country, and the Deputy Chief of Mission on efforts to free United States citizens detained or kidnapped in the host country; (3) monitor and track all cases of United States citizens detained or kidnapped in the host country and the efforts to free such citizens; (4) connect family members of individuals arbitrarily detained or kidnapped overseas with the resources described in subsection (a) and other appropriate resources, including resources specific to the host country; (5) coordinate efforts within the post to ensure United States citizens detained overseas are provided with appropriate assistance, including— (A) at least monthly meetings with a member of the United States Embassy; (B) legal assistance; (C) medical assistance; and (D) establishing an trust account through the Office of Overseas Citizens Services; (6) ensure that any incoming or newly designated hostage affairs officer is thoroughly briefed on all ongoing cases of United States citizens detained in the host country and the status of all efforts to free those detained or kidnapped and shall make available all information and materials collected in accordance with paragraph (3) of this subsection; and (7) report to the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs office cases of detention as such cases are identified by hostage affairs officer. (d) Report Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report that includes— (1) a description of the curriculum developed to satisfy the training requirement under subsection (b); (2) the number of consular officers trained in accordance with subsection (b) on overseas detention of United States citizens; (3) the number of diplomatic and consular posts, as of the date of the submission of the report, that have a designated hostage affairs officer in accordance with subsection (c); and (4) the number of cases of arbitrary detention, including those designated as arbitrarily detained or kidnapped, of United States citizens in each country at which the United States maintains a diplomatic or consular post.