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H.R. 194: Iran Human Rights and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act

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H.R. 194: Iran Human Rights and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act

116th Congress · introduced 2019-01-03 · International Affairs · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2019-01-03 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade. 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 impose sanctions on those responsible for human rights violations related to Iran's government. The President shall impose sanctions on Iranian persons responsible for or complicit in politically-motivated harassment, abuse, extortion, or extended detention or trial of (1) U.S. citizens and permanent residents, (2) Iranian citizens and residents, or (3) persons of Iranian origin. The sanctions shall include denial and revocation of visas, blocking of property, and restrictions on financial transactions. The immediate family members of such sanctioned individuals shall be ineligible for admission into the United States, and current visas of such family members shall be revoked. The bill also directs the Department of State to report on a strategy to prevent the Iranian government from taking hostage of or arbitrarily detaining U.S. citizens.

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)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Alternatives

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10] · 5 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Joe Wilson (R-SC), Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), Robert B. Aderholt (R-AL)

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.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

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-cong116-hr194 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116