Bill Explanation
Bill Explanation
Bill Information:
Bill Name: No Paydays for Hostage-Takers Act
Bill Number: H.R. 5826
Summary:
This bill requires the President of the United States to submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees on sanctions related to the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act. The bill also establishes policies and penalties to deter and prevent the wrongful detention and hostage-taking of United States nationals by hostile governments and non-state actors. It further requires the President to develop a strategy to deter hostage-taking and coordinate with allies and partners in implementing this strategy.
Key Provisions:
- Requires the President to report on the transfer of funds from restricted Iranian accounts in South Korea to restricted accounts in Qatar.
- Requires the President to review cases of hostage-taking and wrongful detention of U.S. nationals by Iran and make determinations on the responsibility of foreign persons involved in such activities.
- Requires the President to impose sanctions and report on foreign persons responsible for or supporting hostage-taking or unlawful detention of U.S. nationals.
- Calls for restrictions on travel of Iranian diplomats at the United Nations due to concerns about Iran's actions against U.S. citizens.
- Requires the President to report on blocked Iranian assets and international efforts to freeze and seize such assets.
- Urges the Secretary of State to declare United States passports invalid for travel to Iran due to the potential danger to U.S. travelers.
- Requires the President to develop and submit a strategy to deter and prevent wrongful detention and hostage-taking.
Definitions:
- Appropriate Congressional Committees: Refers to the relevant committees in the House of Representatives and the Senate, specifically the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- Foreign Person: An individual, entity, or foreign state that is not a United States person.
- United States National: A person who is considered a national of the United States under the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act.