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S 1429 99th Congress Senate Crime and Law Enforcement Americans in foreign countries Crime prevention International Affairs Terrorism

Terrorist Prosecution Act of 1985

Introduced: July 11, 1985 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 16 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 25, 1986
Senate incorporated this measure (as passed the Senate) in H.R. 4151 as an amendment.
Feb 25, 1986
Referred to Subcommittee on Crime.
Feb 24, 1986
Referred to House Committee on The Judiciary.
Feb 19, 1986
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
Feb 19, 1986
Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 92-0. Record Vote No: 17.
Feb 19, 1986
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 92-0. Record Vote No: 17.
Feb 5, 1986
Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Thurmond with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Feb 5, 1986
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 507.
Dec 12, 1985
Committee on Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Nov 19, 1985
Subcommittee on Security and Terrorism. Approved for full committee consideration with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Jul 30, 1985
Subcommittee on Security and Terrorism. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 99-430.
Jul 30, 1985
Committee on Judiciary requested executive comment from State Department.
Jul 19, 1985
Committee on Judiciary requested executive comment from Justice Department.
Jul 19, 1985
Referred to Subcommittee on Security and Terrorism.
Jul 11, 1985
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Jul 11, 1985
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
(Reported to Senate from the Committee on the Judiciary with amendment (without written report))

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 June 25, 1986

Senate incorporated this measure (as passed the Senate) in H.R. 4151 as an amendment.

 Related & companion bills 2
 Committees of jurisdiction 4
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1429: Terrorist Prosecution Act of 1985. 99th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/99-S-1429/
MLA
"S. 1429: Terrorist Prosecution Act of 1985." 99th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/99-S-1429/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1429, 99th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/99-S-1429/.
Markdown link
[S. 1429: Terrorist Prosecution Act of 1985](https://openamerica.io/bill/99-S-1429/)
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