Bill Sponsor
Senate Bill 712
116th Congress(2019-2020)
Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act
Active
Active
Passed Senate on Jun 15, 2020
Overview
Text
Introduced
Mar 7, 2019
Latest Action
Jun 18, 2020
Origin Chamber
Senate
Type
Bill
Bill
The primary form of legislative measure used to propose law. Depending on the chamber of origin, bills begin with a designation of either H.R. or S. Joint resolution is another form of legislative measure used to propose law.
Bill Number
712
Congress
116
Policy Area
International Affairs
International Affairs
Primary focus of measure is matters affecting foreign aid, human rights, international law and organizations; national governance; arms control; diplomacy and foreign officials; alliances and collective security. Measures concerning trade agreements, tariffs, foreign investments, and foreign loans may fall under Foreign Trade and International Finance policy area.
Sponsorship by Party
Democrat
New Jersey
Democrat
Delaware
Democrat
New Hampshire
Senate Votes (1)
House Votes (0)
checkPassed on June 15, 2020
Status
Passed
Type
Unanimous Consent
Unanimous Consent
A senator may request unanimous consent on the floor to set aside a specified rule of procedure so as to expedite proceedings. If no Senator objects, the Senate permits the action, but if any one senator objects, the request is rejected. Unanimous consent requests with only immediate effects are routinely granted, but ones affecting the floor schedule, the conditions of considering a bill or other business, or the rights of other senators, are normally not offered, or a floor leader will object to it, until all senators concerned have had an opportunity to inform the leaders that they find it acceptable.
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)
Summary

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.

Text (3)
June 15, 2020
June 3, 2020
Actions (10)
06/18/2020
Held at the desk.
06/18/2020
Received in the House.
06/18/2020
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
06/15/2020
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)
06/15/2020
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)
06/03/2020
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 462.
06/03/2020
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.
05/21/2020
Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
03/07/2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
03/07/2019
Introduced in Senate
Public Record
Record Updated
Jan 11, 2023 1:46:06 PM