# 119-s-555: Korean American Divided Families National Registry Act

119-s-555, Korean American Divided Families National Registry Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA] (D-VA); status in_committee (as of 2025-12-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-555
- As of: 2025-12-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-555
- Congress: 119
- Title: Korean American Divided Families National Registry Act
- Status: in_committee
- Introduced: 2025-02-12
- Sponsor: Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA] (D-VA)
- Cosponsors: 5
- Policy area: International Affairs
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-12-21

## 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. - 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.

## Cosponsors (5)

- Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX] (R-TX), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE] (D-DE), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ] (D-AZ), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE] (R-NE), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA] (D-GA), 2025-09-04T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Diplomacy and reporting on reunions: benefit, low. 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 relati…
- State registry for divided families: benefit, low. 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 rel…

## Related bills

- 119-s-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
- 119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025
- 119-s-1032: Major Richard Star Act
- 119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former United States Senator for the State of Kansas.
- 119-sres-897: A resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of the Honorable Jon Llewellyn Kyl, former Senator for the State of Arizona.
- 119-sres-801: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the Honorable Lindsey Olin Graham, a Senator from the State of South Carolina.

## Sources
- [119-s-555 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/555)

## Related
- [119-s-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1071)
- [119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1241)
- [119-s-1032: Major Richard Star Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1032)
- [119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former Uni…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-913)
- [119-sres-897: A resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of the Honorable Jon Llewel…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-897)
- [119-sres-801: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the Honorable Lindsey Olin Graham,…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-801)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-555 (as of 2025-12-21).