No Paydays for Hostage-Takers Act
Sponsored By: Representative Baumgartner, Michael [R-WA-5]
In Committee
Summary
This bill would create ongoing reporting, sanctions checks, and asset and travel controls to deter Iran’s hostage-taking and ransom-style payments. Tracking and blocking Iran-linked funds used to support hostage-taking.
Show full summary
- Families of detained Americans would see a mandated review of U.S. hostage and wrongful detention cases going back 10 years, with the President naming foreign persons responsible and stating whether sanctions will be applied or why they are not.
- U.S. travelers would be affected by a required Secretary of State determination on whether travel to Iran poses imminent danger and whether passports should be invalidated, with a report due within 90 days and yearly updates for 3 years.
- Financial institutions and foreign partners would face detailed transparency and oversight rules, including reporting on roughly $6.0 billion moved from South Korea to Qatar, itemized transaction lists, annual reports on blocked assets over $100,000, and expanded visa-denial authority for Iran-linked UN diplomats.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Six-year reports on $6B Iran funds
The President would have to report within 90 days, then every 180 days for six years. Reports would cover $6 billion moved from restricted Iranian accounts in South Korea to restricted accounts in Qatar on or after August 9, 2023. Each report would certify if funds were used only for humanitarian needs and whether transfers let Iran boost defense, intelligence, or other malign activity. It would also itemize every transaction, show balances at the start and end of the period, and explain the U.S. review process.
Find, freeze, and report Iranian assets
State, Treasury, and Justice would work with other countries to find, freeze, and, where allowed, seize assets tied to Iran’s hostage-taking and other abuses. They would share financial intelligence and help partners build legal tools to take such assets. The President would report to Congress within 180 days and then yearly for three years on actions taken. Separately, the President would list Iranian assets over $100,000 that were blocked or frozen in the prior two years, note any unblocking or transfers, and explain any U.S. waivers or actions.
Plan and sanctions to deter hostage-taking
Within 180 days, the President would send Congress a plan to deter wrongful detention and hostage-taking. The plan would spell out penalties, bar ransom or ransom-like payments, and set coordination with allies. Also starting 180 days after enactment, and then each year for six years, the President would review Iran-related cases from the past 10 years. Reports would name foreign persons tied to those acts and say if sanctions will be used within 30 days, or explain why not.
Possible passport limits for travel to Iran
Within 90 days, and then once a year for three years, the Secretary of State would judge if travel to Iran poses imminent danger. The Secretary would report to Congress and say whether to use existing authority to make U.S. passports invalid for travel to, in, or through Iran. If used, this could restrict U.S. travel to Iran for safety reasons.
Visa denials for sanctioned Iranian UN reps
People sanctioned under Executive Orders 13224 or 13382, and their family members, would be denied U.S. visas to attend U.N. activities. The President would report within 180 days and then yearly for three years on each denial or travel limit under this authority.
Who this bill would cover
The bill would define who and what is covered. It names the House and Senate committees that would get reports. It defines 'foreign person' to include foreign states and uses existing law to define 'United States national.' These definitions would guide how other parts of the bill apply.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Baumgartner, Michael [R-WA-5]
WA • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23]
FL • D
Sponsored 4/3/2025
Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24]
NY • R
Sponsored 4/3/2025
Amodei (NV)
NV • R
Sponsored 4/3/2025
Salazar
FL • R
Sponsored 4/3/2025
LaMalfa
CA • R
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. McCormick, Richard [R-GA-7]
GA • R
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-41]
CA • R
Sponsored 4/9/2025
Bresnahan
PA • R
Sponsored 4/14/2025
Rep. Baird, James R. [R-IN-4]
IN • R
Sponsored 4/24/2025
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
NY • R
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Kean
NJ • R
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Hamadeh, Abraham J. [R-AZ-8]
AZ • R
Sponsored 1/12/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov