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HR 4388 99th Congress House Crime and Law Enforcement Americans in foreign countries Crime prevention International Affairs Terrorism

Terrorist Prosecution Act of 1985

Introduced: March 12, 1986 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 99th Congress ended
It never became law before the 99th Congress (1985–1986) 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 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 14, 1986
Referred to Subcommittee on Crime.
Mar 12, 1986
Referred to House Committee on The Judiciary.
Mar 12, 1986
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Terrorist Prosecution Act of 1985 - Amends the Federal criminal code to make it an offense to commit or attempt to commit murder or manslaughter against any U.S. national abroad, or conspire to do so. (Murder is punishable by capital punishment, a life sentence, or for any term of years and voluntary manslaughter is punishable by imprisonment up to ten years and involuntary manslaughter by imprisonment up to three years and/or a fine up to $1,000.)

Makes it an offense to (or to attempt to) assault, wound, strike, imprison, endanger, or make any other violent attack upon the person or liberty of any U.S. national in any foreign country (or make violent attack on his or her business premises, private accommodation or means of transport). Provides for a fine of not more than $5,000 and/or imprisonment for not more than three years. Increases the fine to $10,000 and/or imprisonment to ten years if a deadly or dangerous weapon is used.

Makes it an offense to conspire, outside the United States, to murder any U.S. national within the United States.

Prohibits an indictment under this Act without the written approval of the Attorney General or his designee.

What's happening now March 14, 1986

Referred to Subcommittee on Crime.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4388: Terrorist Prosecution Act of 1985. 99th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-4388/
MLA
"H.R. 4388: Terrorist Prosecution Act of 1985." 99th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-4388/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4388, 99th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-4388/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4388: Terrorist Prosecution Act of 1985](https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-4388/)
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