PSI Sci
New here? Follow the money and the votes · Not sure of your district? Find your U.S. House member · Find your state legislators

H.R. 4744: Iran Human Rights and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act

Before you vote › Federal bills

H.R. 4744: Iran Human Rights and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act

115th Congress · introduced 2018-01-09 · International Affairs · Latest: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2018-01-09 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: House roll call 161 (2018): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, HR4744 (2018-04-26), Passed. See all
  4. Where it stands now: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Iran Human Rights and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act

Plain summary

Iran Human Rights and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act This bill directs the President to identify and impose sanctions against senior members of the government of Iran and other persons who are responsible for or complicit in committing serious human rights violations, or engaging in censorship, the diversion of goods intended for the people of Iran, or public corruption. The President shall identify and impose U.S. entry and financial sanctions against persons who are responsible for or complicit in the politically-motivated intimidation, detention, or trial of: (1) U.S. citizens or legal permanent resident aliens in Iran; or (2) Iranians, Iranian residents, or persons of Iranian origin outside of Iran. The President shall impose U.S. entry sanctions against specified family members of identified persons. The Department of State shall submit to Congress a strategy to prevent elements of the Iranian regime from engaging in hostage-taking or the prolonged arbitrary detention of U.S. citizens or legal permanent resident aliens. The bill authorizes the consolidation of certain Iran-related reports.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Iran Human Rights and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

No AI explanation yet. It takes up to a minute to write and is then saved for everyone.

Limited to a few requests an hour per person.

The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Arguments against (opponents)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Alternatives

Needs sources: no published alternatives yet (for example a different bill, a law instead of an amendment, or keeping current law). We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10] · 46 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 4744, Iran Human Rights and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act (2018-03-28)

Cosponsors on this site

Pete Sessions (R-TX), Elise M. Stefanik (R-NY), Randy K. Weber, Sr. (R-TX), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Thomas R. Suozzi (D-NY), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Brian J. Mast (R-FL), Richard Hudson (R-NC), Norma J. Torres (D-CA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Tom McClintock (R-CA), David P. Joyce (R-OH), Bradley Scott Schneider (D-IL), Glenn Grothman (R-WI)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10] reported raising $276,976 (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Recorded votes

Words on this page, explained (1)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong115-hr4744 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115