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S. 2509 113th Congress Senate

Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 2014

Official title: A bill to ensure compliance with the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, to establish procedures for the prompt return… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: A bill to ensure compliance with the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, to establish procedures for the prompt return of children abducted to other countries, and for other purposes.

Introduced: June 19, 2014 See on congress.gov
International Affairs Child safety and welfareCongressional oversightCrimes against childrenCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
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Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroadFamily relationshipsForeign aid and international reliefInternational law and treatiesMilitary assistance, sales, and agreementsSeparation, divorce, custody, support
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This bill died when the 113th Congress ended
It never became law before the 113th Congress (2013–2014) 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 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 19, 2014
Introduced in Senate
Jun 19, 2014
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
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 Latest action June 19, 2014

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 2014 - Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States should set a strong example for other Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (Convention) countries in the resolution of cases involving children abducted abroad and brought to the United States.

Directs the Secretary of State to submit to Congress an Annual Report on International Child Abduction.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) ensure that U.S. diplomatic and consular missions maintain a consistent reporting standard for abduction or access cases, designate at least one official in each mission to assist visiting U.S. parents resolve such cases, and monitor abduction cases; and (2) implement strategic plans for engagement with any Convention or non-Convention country in which there are five or more cases of international child abduction.

Directs the Secretary to enter into bilateral procedures, including memoranda of understanding, with non-Convention countries that are unlikely to become Convention countries in the foreseeable future, or with Convention countries that have unresolved abduction cases that occurred before the Convention entered into force with respect to the United States or that country.

Directs the Secretary to notify the Member of Congress and Senators representing the legal residence of a left-behind parent when that parent reports an abduction to the Central Authority of the United States unless the left-behind parent does not consent to such notification.

Directs the President, upon a determination that the government of a foreign country has failed to resolve an abduction or access case or has engaged in a pattern of noncooperation, to take one or more specified actions to promote resolution or cooperation.

Amends the the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS), through U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), to establish a program that: (1) prevents a child from leaving U.S. territory if the child's parent or legal guardian presents a court order to a CBP officer in time to prevent such departure, and (2) leverages other existing authorities to address the wrongful removal and return of a child.

Directs the Secretary to:

  • convene and chair an interagency working group to prevent international parental child abduction, and
  • provide training on the handling of parental abduction cases to the judicial and administrative authorities in countries that have a significant number of unresolved abduction cases or that have been designated as having a pattern of noncompliance.
 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 2509: Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 2014. 113th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-2509/
MLA
"S. 2509: Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 2014." 113th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-2509/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 2509, 113th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-2509/.
Markdown link
[S. 2509: Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 2014](https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-2509/)
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