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119-s-555119th Congress

Korean American Divided Families National Registry Act

Sponsored By: Senator Kaine, Tim [D-VA]

In Committee

Summary

Creates a national registry to help Korean American families reunite with relatives in North Korea. The Department of State will hold a private, internal list of Korean American families divided since the 1953 armistice and keep names and other relevant details to support future in-person and video reunions and to document relatives who may be deceased.

Show full summary
  • Families: The registry collects identifying information to support future in-person and video reunions and to keep a record when relatives are believed to be deceased.
  • Researchers and the public: The law allows sharing registry information only under agreements. Personally identifiable information is shared only with consent and agreements must include steps to protect privacy and prevent improper disclosure.
  • Diplomacy and Congress: The Secretary of State must pursue U.S.-North Korea dialogue that includes progress on reunions, consult the Republic of Korea as appropriate, and report to Congress on the registry status, counts of people who have or have not met relatives, North Korea's responses, and actions affecting emigration.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Diplomacy and reporting on reunions

If enacted, the bill would direct the Secretary of State to consult with the Republic of Korea and to try to include progress on family reunions in any U.S.–North Korea talks. The Secretary should take steps to advance future in-person or video reunions for Korean American families and their relatives in North Korea. The bill would also require the Secretary to include registry updates in the annual North Korean human rights report, with the registry status; counts of people who have or have not met relatives in past reunions; a summary of North Korea's responses to U.S. reunion requests; and a description of North Korean actions that prevent emigration. The bill defines "appropriate congressional committees" as the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

State registry for divided families

If enacted, the bill would create a private State Department registry for Korean American families split from relatives in North Korea after the July 27, 1953 armistice. The registry would store names and other relevant information to help arrange future in-person and video reunions and to note relatives who may be deceased. The Secretary of State would operate the registry through the Special Envoy on North Korean Human Rights Issues, the Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs, or a designated official. The State Department could share a U.S. person's registry information only if that person consents and the sharing agreement promises steps to keep the data private and to prevent improper further disclosure.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Kaine, Tim [D-VA]

VA • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]

    DE • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]

    NE • R

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 9/4/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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