US travelers would get more warnings about countries that wrongfully detain Americans; families of detainees would advise the government.
This bill would create a new way for the U.S. government to label countries that wrongfully hold Americans. It would also require travelers to confirm they've seen warnings before flying to high-risk places. A new council, including former detainees and their families, would advise the government on these issues.
Today: The U.S. government uses the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act to address hostage-taking and wrongful detention. However, there is no specific "State Sponsor of Unlawful or Wrongful Detention" designation, and airlines are not required to get passenger confirmation about travel advisories. After this bill: The Secretary of State would be able to officially name foreign countries as "State Sponsors of Unlawful or Wrongful Detention." Airlines and ticket agents would need to get passengers to confirm they have reviewed and understand travel advisories for countries with high risks of wrongful detention or hostage-taking. A new Advisory Council, including former detainees and their families, would be created to advise on federal policies. The President would also send reports to Congress about existing federal groups that handle hostage affairs.
S 1478 · 119th Congress · April 10, 2025 · AI Summary by gemini-2.5-flash · 8/10
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4 filings mentioned this bill
Amounts reflect total quarterly lobbying spend reported to the Senate, not bill-specific spending. Source: Senate LDA filings.