S.Amdt. 3617

The proposed amendment, titled the Countering Wrongful Detention Act of 2025, aims to add a new subtitle to the bill to address the unlawful or wrongful detention of United States nationals.

The amendment seeks to add the following:

• State Sponsor Designations: It allows the Secretary of State to designate foreign countries as State Sponsors of Unlawful or Wrongful Detention. This is based on criteria such as the country engaging in or supporting wrongful detentions or failing to release a U.S. national within 30 days of notification. The Secretary can terminate this designation if the country releases the nationals, changes policies, or provides assurances.

• Government Accountability and Reporting: The Secretary of State must notify Congress before making a designation and provide briefings on specific countries (such as China, Russia, and Iran). Upon designation, the government must review available responses, including sanctions, visa restrictions, and travel restrictions.

• Travel Alerts: It requires air carriers and ticket agents to have passengers certify they have reviewed the Department of State travel advisories and understand the risks when traveling to areas with "D" indicators (risk of wrongful detention) or "K" indicators (threats by criminal or terrorist groups to seize or injure individuals).

• Advisory Council: It establishes an Advisory Council on Hostage Taking and Unlawful or Wrongful Detention. This council, consisting of former detainees, family members, and experts, will advise the government on federal policies.

• Presidential Reporting: The President must submit a report to Congress regarding the structure and efficiency of the Hostage Response Group, the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell, and the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs.