S 555

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IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

February 12, 2025

Mr. Kaine (for himself, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Coons, Mr. Kelly, and Mr. Ricketts) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

April 28, 2025

Reported by Mr. Risch, with an amendment [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]

A BILL

To direct the Secretary of State to establish a national registry of Korean American divided families, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “Korean American Divided Families National Registry Act”.

SEC. 2. NATIONAL REGISTRY OF KOREAN AMERICAN DIVIDED FAMILIES.

(a) In General.—The Secretary of State, acting through the Special Envoy on North Korean Human Rights Issues, the Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, or such other individual as the Secretary may designate, shall— (1) identify Korean American families who wish to be reunited with family members residing in North Korea from which such Korean American families were divided after the signing of the Agreement Concerning a Military Armistice in Korea, signed at Panmunjom July 27, 1953 (commonly referred to as the “Korean War Armistice Agreement”), in anticipation of future reunions for such families and family members, including in-person and video reunions; and (2) establish a national registry of the names and other relevant information of such Korean American families— (A) to facilitate such future reunions; and (B) to provide for a repository of information about such Korean American families and family members in North Korea, including information about individuals who may be deceased. (b) Authorization of Appropriations.—There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State $1,000,000 to carry out this section.

SEC. 3. ACTIONS TO FACILITATE DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND NORTH KOREA.

(a) In General.—The Secretary of State should take such actions as may be necessary to ensure that any direct dialogue between the United States and North Korea includes progress towards holding future reunions for Korean American families and their family members in North Korea. (b) Consultations.—The Secretary of State should consult with the Government of the Republic of Korea, as appropriate, in carrying out this section. (c) Reporting Requirement.— (1) In general.—The Secretary of State, acting through the Special Envoy on North Korean Human Rights Issues, shall include in each report required under section 107(d) of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 (22 U.S.C. 7817(d)) a description of the consultations described in subsection (b) conducted during the year preceding the submission of the report. (2) Elements.—The reporting required under paragraph (1) should include— (A) the status of the national registry established pursuant to section 2(a)(2); (B) the number of individuals included on the registry who— (i) have met their family members in North Korea during previous reunions; and (ii) have yet to meet their family members in North Korea during previous reunions; (C) a summary of responses by North Korea to requests to hold reunions of divided families; and (D) a description of actions taken by North Korea that prevent the emigration of family members of Korean American families. (d) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.—In this Act, the term “appropriate congressional committees” means the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “Korean American Divided Families National Registry Act”.

SEC. 2. NATIONAL REGISTRY OF KOREAN AMERICAN DIVIDED FAMILIES.

(a) In General.—The Secretary of State, acting through the Special Envoy on North Korean Human Rights Issues, the Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, or such other individual as the Secretary may designate, shall—

(1) engage, to the extent practicable, Korean American families who wish to be reunited with family members residing in North Korea from which such Korean American families were divided after the signing of the Agreement Concerning a Military Armistice in Korea, signed at Panmunjom July 27, 1953 (commonly referred to as the “Korean War Armistice Agreement” ), in anticipation of future reunions for such families and family members, including in-person and video reunions; and

(2) establish a private, internal national registry of the names and other relevant information of such Korean American families—

(A) to facilitate such future reunions; and

(B) to provide for a repository of information about such Korean American families and family members in North Korea, including information about individuals who may be deceased.

(b) Disclosure of Information.—The Secretary of State may enter into agreements with Korean individuals and families, academic institutions, or other members of the public, as appropriate, to share, in whole or in part, information collected and housed in the database if—

(1) the United States person whose personally identifiable information would be disclosed as a result of an agreement has provided consent to such disclosure; and

(2) the agreement outlines reasonable steps and commitments to ensure that any information disclosed as a result of such agreement is—

(A) kept private and confidential; and

(B) will not be disclosed improperly to other parties outside the agreement.

SEC. 3. ACTIONS TO FACILITATE DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND NORTH KOREA.

(a) In General.—The Secretary of State should take steps to ensure that any direct dialogue between the United States and North Korea includes progress towards holding future reunions for Korean American families and their family members in North Korea.

(b) Consultations.—The Secretary of State shall consult with the Government of the Republic of Korea, as appropriate, in carrying out this section.

(c) Reporting Requirement.—

(1) In general.—The Secretary of State, acting through the Special Envoy on North Korean Human Rights Issues, shall include in each report required under section 107(d) of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 (22 U.S.C. 7817(d)) a description of the consultations described in subsection (b) conducted during the year preceding the submission of the report.

(2) Elements.—The reporting required under paragraph (1) should include—

(A) the status of the national registry established pursuant to section 2(a)(2);

(B) the number of individuals included on the registry who—

(i) have met their family members in North Korea during previous reunions; and

(ii) have yet to meet their family members in North Korea;

(C) a summary of responses by North Korea to requests by the United States Government to hold reunions of divided families; and

(D) a description of actions taken by North Korea that prevent the emigration of family members of Korean American families.

(d) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.—In this Act, the term “appropriate congressional committees” means the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives. Calendar No. 51

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 555

A BILL

To direct the Secretary of State to establish a national registry of Korean American divided families, and for other purposes.

April 28, 2025

Reported with an amendment