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Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act

USA116th CongressS-712| Senate 
| Updated: 6/18/2020
Robert Menendez

Robert Menendez

Democratic Senator

New Jersey

Cosponsors (4)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Patrick J. Leahy (Democratic)Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)Marco Rubio (Republican)

Foreign Relations Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act This bill establishes various entities and procedures to address the wrongful detainment of U.S. nationals abroad. The President shall appoint a Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs. The envoy's duties shall include leading diplomatic engagement on U.S. hostage policy and coordinating diplomatic engagements in support of hostage recovery efforts. The President shall establish an interagency Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell, which shall assess and track all hostage cases of U.S. nationals and coordinate agency efforts to safely recover hostages. The President shall also establish the Hostage Recovery Group, which shall make recommendations regarding hostage recovery options and coordinate the development and implementation of U.S. hostage recovery policies. The President is authorized to impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions against any foreign person responsible for or complicit in the unlawful or wrongful detention of a U.S. national abroad. The Department of State shall review cases where U.S. nationals are detained abroad and refer instances of wrongful or unlawful detainment to the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
3 versions available

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Timeline
Mar 7, 2019
Introduced in Senate
Mar 7, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Mar 4, 2020

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 116-1611
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
May 21, 2020
Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Jun 3, 2020
Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. Without written report.
Jun 3, 2020
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 462.
Jun 15, 2020
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S2977-2979; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S2977-2979)
Jun 15, 2020
Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2977-2979; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S2977-2979)
Jun 18, 2020
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Jun 18, 2020
Received in the House.
Jun 18, 2020
Held at the desk.
  • March 7, 2019
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 7, 2019
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.


  • March 4, 2020

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 116-1611
    Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.


  • May 21, 2020
    Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • June 3, 2020
    Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. Without written report.


  • June 3, 2020
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 462.


  • June 15, 2020
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S2977-2979; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S2977-2979)


  • June 15, 2020
    Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2977-2979; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S2977-2979)


  • June 18, 2020
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • June 18, 2020
    Received in the House.


  • June 18, 2020
    Held at the desk.

International Affairs

Related Bills

  • S 116-4049: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021
  • S 116-5074: Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act
  • HR 116-1611: Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act
Congressional oversightCorrectional facilities and imprisonmentCriminal procedure and sentencingDepartment of StateDetention of personsDiplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroadDue process and equal protectionExecutive agency funding and structureForeign propertyGovernment information and archivesHuman rightsIntergovernmental relationsSanctionsVisas and passports

Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act

USA116th CongressS-712| Senate 
| Updated: 6/18/2020
Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act This bill establishes various entities and procedures to address the wrongful detainment of U.S. nationals abroad. The President shall appoint a Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs. The envoy's duties shall include leading diplomatic engagement on U.S. hostage policy and coordinating diplomatic engagements in support of hostage recovery efforts. The President shall establish an interagency Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell, which shall assess and track all hostage cases of U.S. nationals and coordinate agency efforts to safely recover hostages. The President shall also establish the Hostage Recovery Group, which shall make recommendations regarding hostage recovery options and coordinate the development and implementation of U.S. hostage recovery policies. The President is authorized to impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions against any foreign person responsible for or complicit in the unlawful or wrongful detention of a U.S. national abroad. The Department of State shall review cases where U.S. nationals are detained abroad and refer instances of wrongful or unlawful detainment to the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
3 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Mar 7, 2019
Introduced in Senate
Mar 7, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Mar 4, 2020

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 116-1611
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
May 21, 2020
Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Jun 3, 2020
Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. Without written report.
Jun 3, 2020
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 462.
Jun 15, 2020
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S2977-2979; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S2977-2979)
Jun 15, 2020
Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2977-2979; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S2977-2979)
Jun 18, 2020
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Jun 18, 2020
Received in the House.
Jun 18, 2020
Held at the desk.
  • March 7, 2019
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 7, 2019
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.


  • March 4, 2020

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 116-1611
    Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.


  • May 21, 2020
    Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • June 3, 2020
    Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. Without written report.


  • June 3, 2020
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 462.


  • June 15, 2020
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S2977-2979; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S2977-2979)


  • June 15, 2020
    Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2977-2979; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S2977-2979)


  • June 18, 2020
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • June 18, 2020
    Received in the House.


  • June 18, 2020
    Held at the desk.
Robert Menendez

Robert Menendez

Democratic Senator

New Jersey

Cosponsors (4)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Patrick J. Leahy (Democratic)Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)Marco Rubio (Republican)

Foreign Relations Committee

International Affairs

Related Bills

  • S 116-4049: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021
  • S 116-5074: Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act
  • HR 116-1611: Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Congressional oversightCorrectional facilities and imprisonmentCriminal procedure and sentencingDepartment of StateDetention of personsDiplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroadDue process and equal protectionExecutive agency funding and structureForeign propertyGovernment information and archivesHuman rightsIntergovernmental relationsSanctionsVisas and passports