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S 185 101th Congress Senate Crime and Law Enforcement Civil actions and liability Custody of children Family violence Parental kidnapping Treaties

A bill to amend title 18 of the United States Code to punish as a Federal criminal offense the crimes of international parental child abduction.

Introduced: January 25, 1989 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 101st Congress ended
It never became law before the 101st Congress (1989–1990) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 10 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 28, 1990
Referred to the House Committee on Judiciary.
Oct 28, 1990
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Oct 27, 1990
Passed Senate with amendments by Voice Vote.
Oct 27, 1990
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Voice Vote.
Oct 27, 1990
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
Mar 27, 1990
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 492.
Mar 27, 1990
Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Biden with amendments. Without written report.
Mar 22, 1990
Committee on Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
Jan 25, 1989
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Jan 25, 1989
Introduced in Senate
 Amendments to this bill 1

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

1 agreed to

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
SAMDT 3,210 — To make certain technical and conforming amendments. Agreed to Oct 27, 1990
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Amends the Federal criminal code to establish the offense of international parental child abduction. Lists certain affirmative defenses to such offense, which include: (1) acting within the provisions of a valid court order granting the defendant legal custody or visitation rights; and (2) fleeing an incidence or pattern of domestic violence.

Bars any prosecution under this Act against an individual for the removal of a child to a country which is a party to, and is implementing, the Convention on Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction of October 25, 1980.

What's happening now October 28, 1990

Referred to the House Committee on Judiciary.

 Bill text 4 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Republican 1
R
McConnell, Mitch
Kentucky · Feb 22, 1989
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 185: A bill to amend title 18 of the United States Code to punish as a Federal criminal offense the crimes of international parental child abduction.. 101st Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/101-S-185/
MLA
"S. 185: A bill to amend title 18 of the United States Code to punish as a Federal criminal offense the crimes of international parental child abduction.." 101st Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/101-S-185/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 185, 101st Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/101-S-185/.
Markdown link
[S. 185: A bill to amend title 18 of the United States Code to punish as a Federal criminal offense the crimes of international parental child abduction.](https://openamerica.io/bill/101-S-185/)
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