U.S. Rep. French Hill (R-AR) on Friday celebrated President Joe Biden recently signing his bipartisan, bicameral Countering Wrongful Detention Act into law as part of the fiscal year 2025 national defense appropriations bill.
“We must deter the strong target that is on the backs of blue passport holders,” Rep. Hill said on Jan. 3. “As co-chair of the Hostage Task Force in the House, I will not stop fighting for all American hostages and wrongful detainees and am pleased that this bill is now law.”
The Countering Wrongful Detention Act of 2024, H.R. 10255, which Rep. Hill cosponsored on Nov. 22, 2024 alongside bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI), provides the U.S. government with additional tools to deter state and non-state actors from wrongfully detaining United States nationals for political leverage, according to the bill’s text.
The bill became law as part of the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025, H.R. 5009, which President Biden signed into law on Dec. 23, 2024. U.S. Sens. Jim Risch (R-ID) and Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced the same-named S. 5340 in their chamber.
“I am proud that the Countering Wrongful Detention Act was signed into law as a part of this year’s NDAA,” added Rep. Hill. “This legislation is much needed as it provides the State Department with critical resources to counter this despicable practice of taking and holding an American against their will.”
Among numerous other provisions, Rep. Hill’s bill requires an administration strategy on how to deter and counter wrongful detention; authorizes increased funding to the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Treasury to carry out sanctions related to wrongful detention; and enhances public awareness of travel advisories for high-risk countries, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmaker.
The bill also includes the Privacy Act Waiver form in the U.S. passport application process so that Americans traveling internationally can proactively decide to permit the U.S. government to advocate on their behalf should they be detained by a foreign government, the summary says.
The measure previously received support from New America’s Future Security, the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation, Bring Our Families Home Campaign, and Hostage US.