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Iran Human Rights and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act

Introduced: May 15, 2020 Introduced by: McCaul, Michael T. Republican · Texas See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) 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
Jan 31, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
Jan 3, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
Jan 3, 2019
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Jan 3, 2019
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Iran Human Rights and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act

This bill directs the President to impose sanctions on those responsible for human rights violations related to Iran's government.

The President shall impose sanctions on Iranian persons responsible for or complicit in politically-motivated harassment, abuse, extortion, or extended detention or trial of (1) U.S. citizens and permanent residents, (2) Iranian citizens and residents, or (3) persons of Iranian origin. The sanctions shall include denial and revocation of visas, blocking of property, and restrictions on financial transactions.

The immediate family members of such sanctioned individuals shall be ineligible for admission into the United States, and current visas of such family members shall be revoked.

The bill also directs the Department of State to report on a strategy to prevent the Iranian government from taking hostage of or arbitrarily detaining U.S. citizens.

What's happening now January 31, 2019

Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 6
 Cosponsors 5
All 5 Republican 3
McHenry, Patrick
· May 15, 2020
Brooks, Susan
· Jul 24, 2019
 R
Aderholt, Robert B.
Alabama · Mar 25, 2019
 R
Reschenthaler, Guy
Pennsylvania · Mar 11, 2019
 R
Wilson, Joe
South Carolina · Mar 6, 2019
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 194: Iran Human Rights and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-194/
MLA
"H.R. 194: Iran Human Rights and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-194/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 194, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-194/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 194: Iran Human Rights and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-194/)
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