§1741a Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs

Summary

Creates a Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs. The President picks the Envoy with Senate approval. The Envoy reports to the Secretary of State and has the rank of ambassador. The Envoy leads U.S. diplomatic work on hostage matters, coordinates strategy and recovery efforts with the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell, and follows guidance from the Hostage Response Group. The Envoy also handles cases where a foreign government is holding a U.S. national that the United States regards as wrongfully held, represents the office to those groups, and must keep families informed about case developments and policy. The Envoy’s office must include a Family Engagement Coordinator. That person must make sure government contact with families is organized, accurate, and consistent, must work with the Family Engagement Coordinator in the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell, and must avoid duplicating that coordinator’s efforts for hostage cases.