Legis Daily

No Paydays for Hostage-Takers Act

USA119th CongressHR-2619| House 
| Updated: 4/9/2025
Michael Baumgartner

Michael Baumgartner

Republican Representative

Washington

Cosponsors (12)
Doug LaMalfa (Republican)Richard McCormick (Republican)Claudia Tenney (Republican)Ken Calvert (Republican)Maria Elvira Salazar (Republican)Thomas H. Kean (Republican)James R. Baird (Republican)Mark E. Amodei (Republican)Abraham J. Hamadeh (Republican)Jared Moskowitz (Democratic)Michael Lawler (Republican)Robert P. Bresnahan (Republican)

Foreign Affairs Committee, Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This legislation, titled the "No Paydays for Hostage-Takers Act," establishes a United States policy to undertake additional actions and impose strict penalties to deter hostile governments and non-state actors, especially the Government of Iran, from hostage-taking or wrongfully detaining United States nationals. The bill requires the President to submit a report every 180 days for six years on the $6 billion in restricted Iranian funds transferred to Qatar. This report must include an itemized list of all transactions, the quantity of funds remaining, and a thorough description of the United States Government's process for verifying that transactions were humanitarian in nature. It also mandates certifications on whether credible evidence exists that these funds have been used for non-humanitarian purposes or have enabled Iran to increase spending on defense, intelligence, or malign foreign activities. Furthermore, the Act directs the President to conduct annual reviews for six years of all cases of hostage-taking or wrongful detention of United States nationals in Iran over the preceding decade. Based on these reviews, the President must determine if any foreign person is responsible or complicit and report to Congress whether sanctions under the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act have been imposed or waived, providing justification for any waivers. The legislation also addresses the travel of Iranian diplomats to the United Nations, stating that Iran's history of hostage-taking and malign activities should be a primary consideration in limiting their admission. It amends existing law to deny visas to individuals sanctioned for terrorism or weapons proliferation. An annual report for three years is required on actions taken to restrict such travel and identify instances of visa denials. Additional provisions include annual reports for three years on blocked Iranian assets globally, detailing any changes in their status and U.S. government involvement, including any waivers of sanctions. Congress expresses a sense that the U.S. should lead coordinated international efforts to find, freeze, and seize assets of individuals and entities sanctioned in connection with Iran's malign activities. Finally, the bill directs the Secretary of State to determine and report annually for three years whether travel to Iran presents an imminent danger to United States travelers and if authority is being exercised to declare United States passports invalid for such travel. It also requires the President to develop and submit a comprehensive strategy to deter and prevent wrongful detention and hostage-taking by adversaries, outlining penalties, policies against ransom payments, and plans for coordination with allies.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-5826
No Paydays for Hostage-Takers Act
Apr 3, 2025
Introduced in House
Apr 3, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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.
Apr 9, 2025
Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 45 - 6.
Apr 9, 2025
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-5826
    No Paydays for Hostage-Takers Act


  • April 3, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • April 3, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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.


  • April 9, 2025
    Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 45 - 6.


  • April 9, 2025
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

International Affairs

Arms control and nonproliferationAsiaBank accounts, deposits, capitalCongressional oversightDetention of personsDiplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroadForeign and international bankingHuman rightsIranMiddle EastPresidents and presidential powers, Vice PresidentsQatarSanctionsSouth KoreaTerrorismTravel and tourismUnited NationsVisas and passports

No Paydays for Hostage-Takers Act

USA119th CongressHR-2619| House 
| Updated: 4/9/2025
This legislation, titled the "No Paydays for Hostage-Takers Act," establishes a United States policy to undertake additional actions and impose strict penalties to deter hostile governments and non-state actors, especially the Government of Iran, from hostage-taking or wrongfully detaining United States nationals. The bill requires the President to submit a report every 180 days for six years on the $6 billion in restricted Iranian funds transferred to Qatar. This report must include an itemized list of all transactions, the quantity of funds remaining, and a thorough description of the United States Government's process for verifying that transactions were humanitarian in nature. It also mandates certifications on whether credible evidence exists that these funds have been used for non-humanitarian purposes or have enabled Iran to increase spending on defense, intelligence, or malign foreign activities. Furthermore, the Act directs the President to conduct annual reviews for six years of all cases of hostage-taking or wrongful detention of United States nationals in Iran over the preceding decade. Based on these reviews, the President must determine if any foreign person is responsible or complicit and report to Congress whether sanctions under the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act have been imposed or waived, providing justification for any waivers. The legislation also addresses the travel of Iranian diplomats to the United Nations, stating that Iran's history of hostage-taking and malign activities should be a primary consideration in limiting their admission. It amends existing law to deny visas to individuals sanctioned for terrorism or weapons proliferation. An annual report for three years is required on actions taken to restrict such travel and identify instances of visa denials. Additional provisions include annual reports for three years on blocked Iranian assets globally, detailing any changes in their status and U.S. government involvement, including any waivers of sanctions. Congress expresses a sense that the U.S. should lead coordinated international efforts to find, freeze, and seize assets of individuals and entities sanctioned in connection with Iran's malign activities. Finally, the bill directs the Secretary of State to determine and report annually for three years whether travel to Iran presents an imminent danger to United States travelers and if authority is being exercised to declare United States passports invalid for such travel. It also requires the President to develop and submit a comprehensive strategy to deter and prevent wrongful detention and hostage-taking by adversaries, outlining penalties, policies against ransom payments, and plans for coordination with allies.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-5826
No Paydays for Hostage-Takers Act
Apr 3, 2025
Introduced in House
Apr 3, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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.
Apr 9, 2025
Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 45 - 6.
Apr 9, 2025
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-5826
    No Paydays for Hostage-Takers Act


  • April 3, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • April 3, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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.


  • April 9, 2025
    Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 45 - 6.


  • April 9, 2025
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Michael Baumgartner

Michael Baumgartner

Republican Representative

Washington

Cosponsors (12)
Doug LaMalfa (Republican)Richard McCormick (Republican)Claudia Tenney (Republican)Ken Calvert (Republican)Maria Elvira Salazar (Republican)Thomas H. Kean (Republican)James R. Baird (Republican)Mark E. Amodei (Republican)Abraham J. Hamadeh (Republican)Jared Moskowitz (Democratic)Michael Lawler (Republican)Robert P. Bresnahan (Republican)

Foreign Affairs Committee, Judiciary Committee

International Affairs

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Arms control and nonproliferationAsiaBank accounts, deposits, capitalCongressional oversightDetention of personsDiplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroadForeign and international bankingHuman rightsIranMiddle EastPresidents and presidential powers, Vice PresidentsQatarSanctionsSouth KoreaTerrorismTravel and tourismUnited NationsVisas and passports