II
Calendar No. 27
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 509
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 16, 2023
Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Risch, Mrs. Shaheen, and Mr. Hagerty) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
March 9, 2023
Reported by Mr. Menendez, without amendment
A BILL
To provide resources for United States nationals unlawfully or wrongfully detained abroad, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Supporting Americans Wrongfully or Unlawfully Detained Abroad Act of 2023
.
Resources for United States nationals unlawfully or wrongfully detained abroad
Section 302(d) of the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act (22 U.S.C. 1741(d)) is amended—
in the subsection heading, by striking Resource guidance
and inserting Resources for United States nationals unlawfully or wrongfully detained abroad
;
in paragraph (1), by striking the paragraph heading and all that follows through Not later than
and inserting the following:
Resource guidance
In general
Not later than
;
in paragraph (2), by redesignating subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), (D), and (E) and clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), and (v), respectively, and moving such clauses (as so redesignated) 2 ems to the right;
by redesignating paragraph (2) as subparagraph (B) and moving such subparagraph (as so redesignated) 2 ems to the right;
in subparagraph (B), as redesignated by paragraph (4), by striking paragraph (1)
and inserting subparagraph (A)
; and
by adding at the end the following:
Travel assistance
Family advocacy
For the purpose of facilitating meetings between the United States Government and the family members of United States nationals unlawfully or wrongfully detained abroad, the Secretary shall provide financial assistance to cover the costs of travel to Washington, D.C., including travel by air, train, bus, or other transit as appropriate, to any individual who—
is—
a family member of a United States national unlawfully or wrongfully detained abroad as determined by the Secretary under subsection (a); or
an appropriate individual who—
is approved by the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs; and
does not represent in any legal capacity a United States national unlawfully or wrongfully detained abroad or the family of such United States national;
has a permanent address that is more than 50 miles from Washington, D.C.; and
requests such assistance.
Travel and lodging
In general
For each such United States national unlawfully or wrongfully detained abroad, the financial assistance described in subparagraph (A) shall be provided for not more than 2 trips per fiscal year, unless the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs determines that a third trip is warranted.
Limitations
Any trip described in clause (i) shall—
consist of not more than 2 family members or other individuals approved in accordance with subparagraph (A)(i)(II), unless the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs determines that circumstances warrant an additional family member or other individual approved in accordance with subparagraph (A)(i)(II) and approves assistance to such third family member or other individual; and
not exceed more than 2 nights lodging, which shall not exceed the applicable government rate.
Return travel
If other United States Government assistance is unavailable, the Secretary may provide to a United States national unlawfully or wrongfully detained abroad as determined by the Secretary under subsection (a), compensation and assistance, as necessary, for return travel to the United States upon release of such United States national.
Support
The Secretary shall seek to make available operational psychologists and clinical social workers, to support the mental health and well-being of—
any United States national unlawfully or wrongfully detained abroad; and
any family member of such United States national, with regard to the psychological, social, and mental health effects of such unlawful or wrongful detention.
Notification requirement
The Secretary shall notify the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, and the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives of any amount spent above $250,000 for any fiscal year to carry out paragraphs (2) and (3).
Report
Not later than 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Foreign Relations and Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report that includes—
a detailed description of expenditures made pursuant to paragraphs (2) and (3);
a detailed description of support provided pursuant to paragraph (3) and the individuals providing such support; and
the number and location of visits outside of Washington, D.C., during the prior fiscal year made by the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs to family members of each United States national unlawfully or wrongfully detained abroad.
Sunset
The authority and requirements under paragraphs (2), (3), (4), and (5) shall terminate on December 31, 2027.
Family member defined
In this subsection, the term family member means a spouse, father, mother, child, brother, sister, grandparent, grandchild, aunt, uncle, nephew, niece, cousin, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother, or half sister.
.
March 9, 2023
Reported without amendment