Skip to main content
HR 51 106th Congress House Crime and Law Enforcement Arrest Assault Capital punishment Extortion Families Federal law enforcement officers Fugitives from justice Government Operations and Politics Hostages Kidnapping Law Life imprisonment Mandatory sentences Murder Obstruction of justice Sentences (Criminal procedure) Warrants (Law)

To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit taking a child hostage in order to evade arrest.

Introduced: January 6, 1999 See on congress.gov
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 106th Congress ended
It never became law before the 106th Congress (1999–2000) 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 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 25, 1999
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime.
Jan 7, 1999
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E44)
Jan 6, 1999
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jan 6, 1999
Introduced in House
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Amends the Federal criminal code to set penalties to be imposed against anyone who uses force or threatens to use force against any Federal officer or agency and who seizes or detains a child in order to: (1) evade arrest or obstruct justice; or (2) compel any Federal agency to take or abstain from any act.

What's happening now February 25, 1999

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Republican 1
R
Calvert, Ken
California · Feb 9, 1999
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 51: To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit taking a child hostage in order to evade arrest.. 106th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-51/
MLA
"H.R. 51: To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit taking a child hostage in order to evade arrest.." 106th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-51/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 51, 106th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-51/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 51: To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit taking a child hostage in order to evade arrest.](https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-51/)
Report a problem