§1733 Interagency Hostage Recovery Coordinator

Summary

The President must pick an existing federal official no later than 60 days after November 25, 2015 and give that person the title "Interagency Hostage Recovery Coordinator" to lead efforts to free U.S. citizens held hostage abroad. The Coordinator must organize and direct government actions for each hostage case, lead a team of the right federal staff, make sure all relevant agencies have a voice and set rules for decisions and appeals, and create ways to keep families updated on status without revealing information that would harm U.S. national security. The Coordinator must also work with the federal family engagement coordinator or another senior official on family contact. Every quarter the Coordinator must send Congress a report that summarizes each hostage case; the report may be classified or unclassified. Every quarter the Coordinator must also brief the U.S. Senators from the hostage’s State and the Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner of the House for the hostage’s district. The term "appropriate congressional committees" means these House committees: the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on the Judiciary, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs; and these Senate committees: the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on the Judiciary, the Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Committee on Foreign Relations.