H.R. 5826: No Paydays for Hostage-Takers Act

No Paydays for Hostage-Takers Act

This bill allows the President to deny a representative of the United Nations diplomatic entry to the United States if the individual is sanctioned under specified Executive Orders related to terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Currently, the President may deny entry to a United Nations representative if the individual is found to be engaged in specified espionage or terrorist activities directed against the United States or its allies and may pose a threat to security.

The bill also requires the President to report to Congress on certain matters regarding Iran. The President must report on 

• the $6 billion transferred from restricted Iranian accounts in South Korea to restricted accounts in Qatar on August 9, 2023; 
• all cases of hostage taking of a U.S. national in Iran or at the direction of Iran during the last 10 years and whether specified sanctions apply; 
• blocked Iranian assets; 
• international efforts to find, freeze, and forfeit assets of those connected to Iran's hostage-taking, wrongful detention, and human rights violations; 
• whether the travel of U.S. persons to Iran presents an imminent danger to travelers; and 
• a strategy to deter hostage-taking by U.S adversaries.