,,ii  #aacth ,,congress  #b;d ,session  
,s4 #beji  ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of     
,,the ,,united ,,states  ,june #ai1     
#bjad ,mr4 ,menendez 7for himself1 ,mr4 
,corker1 and ,mr4 ,markey7 introduced   
the following bill2 which was read twice
 and referred to the ,committee on      
,foreign ,relations  ,a ,,bill  ,to     
ensure compliance with the #aihj ,hague 
,convention on the ,civil ,aspects of   
,international ,child ,abduction1 to    
establish procedures for the prompt     
return of children abducted to other    
countries1 and for other purposes4  #a4 
,short title and table of contents  7a7 
,short title  ,this ,act may be cited as
 the ,sean and ,david ,goldman          
,international ,child ,abduction        
,prevention and ,return ,act of #bjad4  
7b7  ,table of contents  ,the table of  
contents for this ,act is as follows3   
,sec4 #a4 ,short title and table of     
contents4 ,sec4 #b4 ,findings2 sense of 
,congress2 purposes4 ,sec4 #c4          
,definitions4 ,,title ,i--,department of

 ,state actions ,sec4 #aja4 ,annual     
report4 ,sec4 #ajb4 ,standards and      
assistance4 ,sec4 #ajc4 ,bilateral      
procedures1 including memoranda of      
understanding4 ,sec4 #ajd4 ,report to   
congressional representatives4 ,,title  
,,ii--,actions by the ,secretary of     
,state ,sec4 #bja4 ,response to         
international child abductions4 ,sec4   
#bjb4 ,actions by the ,secretary of     
,state in response to patterns of       
noncompliance in cases of international 
child abductions4 ,sec4 #bjc4           
,consultations with foreign governments4
 ,sec4 #bjd4 ,waiver by the ,secretary  
of ,state4 ,sec4 #bje4 ,termination of  
actions by the ,secretary of ,state4    
,,title ,,iii--,prevention of           
,international ,child ,abduction ,sec4  
#cja4 ,preventing children from leaving 
the ,united ,states in violation of a   
court order4 ,sec4 #cjb4 ,authorization 
for judicial training on international  
parental child abduction4  #b4          
,findings2 sense of ,congress2 purposes 

7a7  ,findings  ,congress finds the     
following3  7#a7 ,sean ,goldman1 a      
,united ,states citizen and resident of 
,new ,jersey1 was abducted from the     
,united ,states in #bjjd and separated  
from his father1 ,david ,goldman1 who   
spent nearly #f years battling for the  
return of his son from ,brazil before   
,sean was finally returned to ,mr4      
,goldman's custody on ,december #bd1    
#bjji4  7#b7 ,the ,department of        
,state's ,office of ,children's ,issues1
 which serves as the ,central ,authority
 of the ,united ,states for the purposes
 of the #aihj ,hague ,convention on the 
,civil ,aspects of ,international ,child
 ,abduction 7referred to in this ,act as
 the ,hague ,abduction ,convention71 has
 received thousands of requests since   
#bjjg for assistance in the return to   
the ,united ,states of children who have
 been wrongfully abducted by a parent or
 other legal guardian to another        
country4  7#c7 ,for a variety of reasons
 reflecting the significant obstacles to

 the recovery of abducted children1 as  
well as the legal and factual complexity
 involving such cases1 not all cases are
 reported to the ,central ,authority of 
the ,united ,states4  7#d7 ,more than   
#a1jjj outgoing international child     
abductions are reported every year to   
the ,central ,authority of the ,united  
,states1 which depends solely on        
proactive reporting of abduction cases4 
7#e7 ,only about one-half of the        
children abducted from the ,united      
,states to countries with which the     
,united ,states enjoys reciprocal       
obligations under the ,hague ,abduction 
,convention are returned to the ,united 
,states4  7#f7 ,the ,united ,states and 
other ,convention countries have        
expressed their desire1 through the     
,hague ,abduction ,convention1 to       
protect children internationally from   
the harmful effects of their wrongful   
removal or retention and to establish   
procedures to ensure their prompt return
 to the ,state of their habitual        

residence1 as well as to secure         
protection for rights of access44  7#g7 
,compliance by the ,united ,states and  
other ,convention countries depends on  
the actions of their designated central 
authorities1 the performance of their   
judicial systems as reflected in the    
legal process and decisions rendered to 
enforce or effectuate the ,hague        
,abduction ,convention1 and the ability 
and willingness of their law enforcement
 authorities to ensure the swift        
enforcement of orders rendered pursuant 
to the ,hague ,abduction ,convention4   
7#h7 ,according to data from the        
,department of ,state1 approximately #dj
 percent of abduction cases involve     
children taken from the ,united ,states 
to countries with which the ,united     
,states does not have reciprocal        
obligations under the ,hague ,abduction 
,convention or other arrangements       
relating to the resolution of abduction 
cases4  7#i7 ,according to the          
,department of ,state's ,april #bjaj    

,report on ,compliance with the ,hague  
,convention on the ,civil ,aspects of   
,international ,child ,abduction1       
parental child abduction jeopardizes the
 child and has substantial long-term    
consequences for both the child and the 
left-behind parent44  7#aj7 ,few        
left-behind parents have the            
extraordinary financial resources       
necessary--  7,a7 to pursue individual  
civil or criminal remedies in both the  
,united ,states and a foreign country1  
even if such remedies are available2 or 
7,b7 to engage in repeated foreign      
travel to attempt to obtain the return  
of their children through diplomatic or 
other channels4  7#aa7 ,military parents
 often face additional complications in 
resolving abduction cases because of the
 challenges presented by their military 
obligations4  7#ab7 ,in addition to     
using the ,hague ,abduction ,convention 
to achieve the return of abducted       
children1 the ,united ,states has an    
array of ,federal1 ,state1 and local law

 enforcement1 criminal justice1 and     
judicial tools at its disposal to       
prevent international abductions4  7#ac7
 ,federal agencies tasked with          
preventing international abductions have
 indicated that the most effective way  
to stop international child abductions  
is while they are in progress1 rather   
than after the child has been removed to
 a foreign destination4  7#ad7 ,parental
 awareness of abductions in progress1   
rapid response by relevant law          
enforcement1 and effective coordination 
among ,federal1 ,state1 local1 and      
international stakeholders are critical 
in preventing such abductions4  7#ae7 ,a
 more robust application of domestic    
tools1 in cooperation with international
 law enforcement entities and           
appropriate application of the ,hague   
,abduction ,convention could--  7,a7    
discourage some parents from attempting 
abductions2  7,b7 block attempted       
abductions at ports of exit2 and  7,c7  
help achieve the return of more abducted

 children4  7b7  ,sense of ,congress    
,it is the sense of ,congress that the  
,united ,states should set a strong     
example for other ,convention countries 
in the timely location and prompt       
resolution of cases involving children  
abducted abroad and brought to the      
,united ,states4  7c7  ,purposes  ,the  
purposes of this ,act are--  7#a7 to    
protect children whose habitual         
residence is the ,united ,states from   
wrongful abduction2  7#b7 to assist     
left-behind parents in quickly resolving
 cases and maintaining safe and         
predictable contact with their child    
while an abduction case is pending2     
7#c7 to protect the custodial rights of 
parents1 including military parents1 by 
providing the parents1 the judicial     
system1 and law enforcement authorities 
with the information they need to       
prevent unlawful abduction before it    
occurs2  7#d7 to enhance the prompt     
resolution of abduction and access      
cases2  7#e7 to detail an appropriate   

set of actions to be undertaken by the  
,secretary of ,state to address         
persistent problems in the resolution of
 abduction cases2  7#f7 to establish a  
program to prevent wrongful abductions2 
and  7#g7 to increase interagency       
coordination in preventing international
 child abduction by convening a working 
group composed of presidentially        
appointed and ,senate confirmed         
officials from the ,department of       
,state1 the ,department of ,homeland    
,security1 and the ,department of       
,justice4  #c4  ,definitions  ,in this  
,act3  7#a7  ,abducted child  ,the term 
abducted child means a child who is the 
victim of international child abduction4
  7#b7  ,abduction  ,the term abduction 
means the alleged wrongful removal of a 
child from the child's country of       
habitual residence1 or the wrongful     
retention of a child outside such       
country1 in violation of a left-behind  
parent's custodial rights1 including the
 rights of a military parent4  7#c7     

,abduction case  ,the term abduction    
case means a case that--  7,a7 has been 
reported to the ,central ,authority of  
the ,united ,states by a left-behind    
parent for the resolution of an         
abduction2 and  7,b7 meets the criteria 
for an international child abduction    
under the ,hague ,abduction ,convention1
 regardless of whether the country at   
issue is a ,convention country4  7#d7   
,access case  ,the term access case     
means a case involving an application   
filed with the ,central ,authority of   
the ,united ,states by a parent seeking 
rights of access4  7#e7  ,annual report 
,the term ,annual ,report means the     
,annual ,report on ,international ,child
 ,abduction required under section #aja4
  7#f7  ,application  ,the term         
application means--  7,a7 in the case of
 a ,convention country1 the application 
required pursuant to article #h of the  
,hague ,abduction ,convention2  7,b7 in 
the case of a bilateral procedures      
country1 the formal document required1  

pursuant to the provisions of the       
applicable arrangement1 to request the  
return of an abducted child or to       
request rights of access1 as applicable2
 and  7,c7 in the case of a             
non-,convention country1 the formal     
request by the ,central ,authority of   
the ,united ,states to the ,central     
,authority of such country requesting   
the return of an abducted child or for  
rights of contact with an abducted      
child4  7#g7  ,appropriate congressional
 committees  ,the term appropriate      
congressional committees means the      
,committee on ,foreign ,relations of the
 ,senate and the ,committee on ,foreign 
,affairs of the ,house of               
,representatives4  7#h7  ,bilateral     
procedures  ,the term bilateral         
procedures means any procedures         
established by1 or pursuant to1 a       
bilateral arrangement1 including a      
,memorandum of ,understanding between   
the ,united ,states and another country1
 to resolve abduction and access cases1 

including procedures to address interim 
contact matters4  7#i7  ,bilateral      
procedures country  ,the term bilateral 
procedures country means a country with 
which the ,united ,states has entered   
into bilateral procedures1 including    
,memoranda of ,understanding1 with      
respect to child abductions4  7#aj7     
,central authority  ,the term ,central  
,authority means--  7,a7 in the case of 
a ,convention country1 the meaning given
 such term in article #f of the ,hague  
,abduction ,convention2  7,b7 in the    
case of an ,,mou country1 the official  
entity designated by the government of  
the ,,mou country within the applicable 
memorandum of understanding pursuant to 
section #ajc7;b77#a7 to discharge the   
duties imposed on the entity in such    
,,mou2 and  7,c7 in the case of a       
non-,convention country1 the foreign    
ministry or other appropriate authority 
of such country4  7#aa7  ,child  ,the   
term child means an individual who has  
not attained #af years of age4  7#ab7   

,convention country  ,the term          
,convention country means a country for 
which the ,hague ,abduction ,convention 
has entered into force with respect to  
the ,united ,states4  7#ac7  ,hague     
abduction convention  ,the term ,hague  
,abduction ,convention means the        
,convention on the ,civil ,aspects of   
,international ,child ,abduction1 done  
at ,the ,hague ,october #be1 #aihj4     
7#ad7  ,interim contact  ,the term      
interim contact means the ability of a  
left-behind parent to communicate with  
or visit an abducted child during the   
pendency of an abduction case4  7#ae7   
,left-behind parent  ,the term          
left-behind parent means an individual  
who alleges that an abduction has       
occurred that is in breach of rights of 
custody attributed to such individual4  
7#af7  ,non-convention country  ,the    
term non-,convention country means a    
country in which the ,hague ,abduction  
,convention has not entered into force  
with respect to the ,united ,states4    

7#ag7  ,overseas military dependent     
child  ,the term overseas military      
dependent child means a child whose     
habitual residence is the ,united       
,states according to ,united ,states law
 even though the child is residing      
outside the ,united ,states with a      
military parent4  7#ah7  ,overseas      
military parent  ,the term overseas     
military parent means an individual     
who--  7,a7 has custodial rights with   
respect to a child2 and  7,b7 is serving
 outside the ,united ,states as a member
 of the ,united ,states ,armed ,forces4 
7#ai7  ,pattern of noncompliance  7,a7  
,in general  ,the term pattern of       
noncompliance means the persistent      
failure--  7i7 of a ,convention country 
to implement and abide by provisions of 
the ,hague ,abduction ,convention2  7ii7
 of a non-,convention country to abide  
by bilateral procedures that have been  
established between the ,united ,states 
and such country2 or  7iii7 of a        
non-,convention country to work with the

 ,central ,authority of the ,united     
,states to resolve abduction cases4     
7,b7  ,persistent failure  ,persistent  
failure under subparagraph 7,a7 may be  
evidenced in a given country by the     
presence of #a or more of the following 
criteria3  7i7 ,thirty percent or more  
of the total abduction cases in such    
country are unresolved abduction cases4 
7ii7 ,the ,central ,authority regularly 
fails to fulfill its responsibilities   
pursuant to--  7,i7 the ,hague          
,abduction ,convention2 or  7,,ii7 any  
bilateral procedures between the ,united
 ,states and such country4  7iii7 ,the  
judicial or administrative branch1 as   
applicable1 of the national government  
of a ,convention country or a bilateral 
procedures country fails to regularly   
implement and comply with the provisions
 of the ,hague ,abduction ,convention or
 bilateral procedures1 as applicable4   
7iv7 ,law enforcement authorities       
regularly fail to enforce return orders 
or determinations of rights of access   

rendered by the judicial or             
administrative authorities of the       
government of the country in abduction  
cases4  7#bj7  ,rights of access  ,the  
term rights of access means the         
establishment of rights of contact      
between a child and a parent seeking    
access in ,convention countries under   
the laws of the country in which the    
child is located--  7,a7 by operation of
 law2  7,b7 through a judicial or       
administrative determination2 or  7,c7  
through a legally enforceable           
arrangement between the parties4  7#ba7 
,rights of custody  ,the term rights of 
custody means rights of care and custody
 of a child1 including the right to     
determine the place of residence of a   
child1 under the laws of the country in 
which the child is a habitual resident--
  7,a7 attributed to an individual2 and 
7,b7 arising--  7i7 by operation of law2
  7ii7 through a judicial or            
administrative decision2 or  7iii7      
through a legally enforceable           

arrangement between the parties4  7#bb7 
,rights of interim contact  ,the term   
rights of interim contact means the     
rights of contact between a child and a 
left-behind parent1 which has been      
provided as a provisional measure while 
an abduction case is pending1 under the 
laws of the country in which the child  
is located--  7,a7 by operation of law2 
7,b7 through a judicial or              
administrative determination2 or  7,c7  
through a legally enforceable           
arrangement between the parties4  7#bc7 
,unresolved abduction case  7,a7  ,in   
general  ,subject to subparagraph 7,b71 
the term unresolved abduction case means
 an abduction case that remains         
unresolved for a period that exceeds #ab
 months after the date on which the     
completed application for return of the 
child is submitted for determination to 
the judicial or administrative          
authority1 as applicable1 in the country
 in which the child is located4  7,b7   
,resolution of case  ,an abduction case 

shall be considered to be resolved if-- 
7i7 the child is returned to the country
 of habitual residence1 pursuant to the 
,hague ,abduction ,convention or other  
appropriate bilateral procedures1 if    
applicable2  7ii7 the judicial or       
administrative branch1 as applicable1 of
 the government of the country in which 
the child is located has implemented1   
and is complying with1 the provisions of
 the ,hague ,abduction ,convention or   
other bilateral procedures1 as          
applicable2  7iii7 the left-behind      
parent reaches a voluntary arrangement  
with the other parent2  7iv7 the        
left-behind parent submits a written    
withdrawal of the application or the    
request for assistance to the           
,department of ,state2  7v7 the         
left-behind parent cannot be located for
 #a year despite the documented efforts 
of the ,department of ,state to locate  
the parent2 or  7vi7 the child or       
left-behind parent is deceased4  ,i     
,department of ,state actions  #aja4    

,annual report  7a7  ,in general  ,not  
later than ,april #cj of each year1 the 
,secretary of ,state shall submit to the
 appropriate congressional committees an
 ,annual ,report on ,international      
,child ,abduction4  7b7  ,contents      
,each ,annual ,report shall include--   
7#a7 a list of all countries in which   
there were #a or more abduction cases1  
during the preceding calendar year1     
relating to a child whose habitual      
residence is the ,united ,states1       
including a description of whether each 
such country--  7,a7 is a ,convention   
country2  7,b7 is a bilateral procedures
 country2  7,c7 has other procedures for
 resolving such abductions2 or  7,d7    
adheres to no protocols with respect to 
child abduction2  7#b7 for each country 
with respect to which there were #e or  
more pending abduction cases1 during the
 preceding year1 relating to a child    
whose habitual residence is the ,united 
,states--  7,a7 the number of such new  
abduction and access cases reported     

during the preceding year2  7,b7 for    
,convention and bilateral procedures    
countries--  7i7 the number of abduction
 and access cases that the ,central     
,authority of the ,united ,states       
transmitted to the ,central ,authority  
of such country2 and  7ii7 the number of
 abduction and access cases that were   
not submitted by the ,central ,authority
 to the judicial or administrative      
authority1 as applicable1 of such       
country2  7,c7 the reason for the delay 
in submission of each case identified in
 subparagraph 7,b77ii7 by the ,central  
,authority of such country to the       
judicial or administrative authority of 
that country2  7,d7 the number of       
unresolved abduction and access cases1  
and the length of time each case has    
been pending2  7,e7 the number and      
percentage of unresolved abduction cases
 in which law enforcement authorities   
have--  7i7 not located the abducted    
child2  7ii7 failed to undertake serious
 efforts to locate the abducted child2  

and  7iii7 failed to enforce a return   
order rendered by the judicial or       
administrative authorities of such      
country2  7,f7 the total number and the 
percentage of the total number of       
abduction and access cases1             
respectively1 resolved during the       
preceding year2  7,g7 recommendations to
 improve the resolution of abduction and
 access cases2 and  7,h7 the average    
time it takes to locate a child2  7#c7  
the number of abducted children whose   
habitual residence is in the ,united    
,states and who were returned to the    
,united ,states from--  7,a7 ,convention
 countries2  7,b7 bilateral procedures  
countries2  7,c7 countries having other 
procedures for resolving such           
abductions2 or  7,d7 countries adhering 
to no protocols with respect to child   
abduction2  7#d7 a list of ,convention  
countries and bilateral procedures      
countries that have failed to comply    
with any of their obligations under the 
,hague ,abduction ,convention or        

bilateral procedures1 as applicable1    
with respect to the resolution of       
abduction and access cases2  7#e7 a list
 of countries demonstrating a pattern of
 noncompliance and a description of the 
criteria on which the determination of a
 pattern of noncompliance for each      
country is based2  7#f7 information on  
efforts by the ,secretary of ,state to  
encourage non-,convention countries--   
7,a7 to ratify or accede to the ,hague  
,abduction ,convention2  7,b7 to enter  
into or implement other bilateral       
procedures1 including memoranda of      
understanding1 with the ,united ,states2
 and  7,c7 to address pending abduction 
and access cases2  7#g7 the number of   
cases resolved without abducted children
 being returned to the ,united ,states  
from ,convention countries1 bilateral   
procedures countries1 or other          
non-,convention countries2  7#h7 a list 
of countries that became ,convention    
countries with respect to the ,united   
,states during the preceding year2 and  

7#i7 information about efforts to seek  
resolution of abduction cases of        
children whose habitual residence is in 
the ,united ,states and whose abduction 
occurred before the ,hague ,abduction   
,convention entered into force with     
respect to the ,united ,states4  7c7    
,exceptions  ,unless a left-behind      
parent provides written permission to   
the ,central ,authority of the ,united  
,states to include personally           
identifiable information about the      
parent or the child in the ,annual      
,report1 the ,annual ,report may not    
include any personally identifiable     
information about any such parent1      
child1 or party to an abduction or      
access case involving such parent or    
child4  7d7  ,additional sections  ,each
 ,annual ,report shall also include--   
7#a7 information on the number of       
unresolved abduction cases affecting    
military parents2  7#b7 a description of
 the assistance offered to such military
 parents2  7#c7 information on the use  

of airlines in abductions1 voluntary    
airline practices to prevent abductions1
 and recommendations for best airline   
practices to prevent abductions2  7#d7  
information on actions taken by the     
,central ,authority of the ,united      
,states to train domestic judges in the 
application of the ,hague ,abduction    
,convention2 and  7#e7 information on   
actions taken by the ,central ,authority
 of the ,united ,states to train ,united
 ,states ,armed ,forces legal assistance
 personnel1 military chaplains1 and     
military family support center personnel
 about--  7,a7 abductions2  7,b7 the    
risk of loss of contact with children2  
and  7,c7 the legal means available to  
resolve such cases4  7e7  ,repeal of the
 ,hague ,abduction ,convention          
,compliance ,report  ,section #bhjc of  
the ,foreign ,affairs ,reform and       
,restructuring ,act of #aiih 7#db       
,u4,s4,c4 #aafaa7 is repealed4  7f7     
,notification to ,congress on countries 
in noncompliance  7#a7  ,in general     

,the ,secretary of ,state shall include1
 in a separate section of the ,annual   
,report1 the ,secretary's determination1
 pursuant to the provisions under       
section #bjb7;b71 of whether each       
country listed in the report has engaged
 in a pattern of noncompliance in cases 
of child abduction during the preceding 
#ab months4  7#b7  ,contents  ,the      
section described in paragraph 7#a7--   
7,a7 shall identify any action or       
actions described in section #bjb7;d7   
7or commensurate action as provided in  
section #bjb7;e77 that have been taken  
by the ,secretary with respect to each  
country2  7,b7 shall describe the basis 
for the ,secretary's determination of   
the pattern of noncompliance by each    
country2  7,c7 shall indicate whether   
all noneconomic policy options designed 
to resolve the pattern of noncompliance 
have reasonably been exhausted1         
including the consultations required    
under section #bjc4  #ajb4  ,standards  
and assistance  ,the ,secretary of      

,state shall--  7#a7 ensure that ,united
 ,states diplomatic and consular        
missions abroad--  7,a7 maintain a      
consistent reporting standard with      
respect to abduction and access cases2  
7,b7 designate at least #a senior       
official in each such mission1 at the   
discretion of the ,chief of ,mission1 to
 assist left-behind parents from the    
,united ,states who are visiting such   
country or otherwise seeking to resolve 
abduction or access cases2 and  7,c7    
monitor developments in abduction and   
access cases2 and  7#b7 develop and     
implement written strategic plans for   
engagement with any ,convention or      
non-,convention country in which there  
are #e or more cases of international   
child abduction4  #ajc4  ,bilateral     
procedures1 including memoranda of      
understanding  7a7  ,development  7#a7  
,in general  ,not later than #ahj days  
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act1 the ,secretary of ,state shall    
initiate a process to develop and enter 

into appropriate bilateral procedures1  
including memoranda of understanding1 as
 appropriate1 with non-,convention      
countries that are unlikely to become   
,convention countries in the foreseeable
 future1 or with ,convention countries  
that have unresolved abduction cases    
that occurred before the ,hague         
,abduction ,convention entered into     
force with respect to the ,united       
,states or that country4  7#b7          
,prioritization  ,in carrying out       
paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary of ,state
 shall give priority to countries with  
significant abduction cases and related 
issues4  7b7  ,elements  ,the bilateral 
procedures described in subsection 7a7  
shall include provisions requiring--    
7#a7 the identification of--  7,a7 the  
,central ,authority2  7,b7 the judicial 
or administrative authority that will   
promptly adjudicate abduction and access
 cases2  7,c7 the law enforcement       
agencies2 and  7,d7 the implementation  
of procedures to ensure the immediate   

enforcement of an order issued by the   
authority identified pursuant to        
subparagraph 7,b7 to return an abducted 
child to a left-behind parent1 including
 by--  7i7 conducting an investigation  
to ascertain the location of the        
abducted child2  7ii7 providing         
protection to the abducted child after  
such child is located2 and  7iii7       
retrieving the abducted child and making
 the appropriate arrangements for such  
child to be returned to the child's     
country of habitual residence2  7#b7 the
 implementation of a protocol to        
effectuate the return of an abducted    
child identified in an abduction case   
not later than #f weeks after the       
application with respect to the         
abduction case has been submitted to the
 judicial or administrative authority1  
as applicable1 of the country in which  
the abducted child is located2  7#c7 the
 implementation of a protocol for the   
establishment and protection of the     
rights of interim contact during        

pendency of abduction cases2 and  7#d7  
the implementation of a protocol to     
establish periodic visits between a     
,united ,states embassy or consular     
official and an abducted child1 in order
 to allow the official to ascertain the 
child's location and welfare4  #ajd4    
,report to congressional representatives
  7a7  ,notification  ,the ,secretary of
 ,state shall submit written            
notification to the ,member of ,congress
 and ,senators1 or ,resident            
,commissioner or ,delegate1 as          
appropriate1 representing the legal     
residence of a left-behind parent if    
such parent--  7#a7 reports an abduction
 to the ,central ,authority of the      
,united ,states2 and  7#b7 consents to  
such notification4  7b7  ,timing  ,at   
the request of any person who is a      
left-behind parent1 including a         
left-behind parent who previously       
reported an abduction to the ,central   
,authority of the ,united ,states before
 the date of the enactment of this ,act1

 the notification required under        
subsection 7a7 shall be provided as soon
 as is practicable4  ,,ii  ,actions by  
the ,secretary of ,state  #bja4         
,response to international child        
abductions  7a7  ,united ,states policy 
,it is the policy of the ,united        
,states--  7#a7 to promote the best     
interest of children wrongfully abducted
 from the ,united ,states by--  7,a7    
establishing legal rights and procedures
 for their prompt return2 and  7,b7     
ensuring the enforcement of reciprocal  
international obligations under the     
,hague ,abduction ,convention or other  
bilateral procedures1 as applicable2    
7#b7 to promote the timely resolution of
 abduction cases through #a or more of  
the actions described in section #bjb2  
and  7#c7 to ensure appropriate         
coordination within the ,federal        
,government and between ,federal1       
,state1 and local agencies involved in  
abduction prevention1 investigation1 and
 resolution4  7b7  ,actions by the      

,secretary of ,state in response to     
unresolved cases  7#a7  ,determination  
of action by the secretary of state     
,for each abduction or access case      
relating to a child whose habitual      
residence is in the ,united ,states that
 remains pending or is otherwise        
unresolved on the date that is #ab      
months after the date on which the      
,central ,authority of the ,united      
,states submits such case to a foreign  
country1 the ,secretary of ,state shall 
determine whether the government of such
 foreign country has failed to take     
appropriate steps to resolve the case4  
,if the ,secretary of ,state determines 
that such failure occurred1 the         
,secretary should1 as expeditiously as  
practicable--  7,a7 take #a or more of  
the actions described in subsections 7d7
 and 7e7 of section #bjb2 and  7,b7     
direct the ,chief of ,mission in that   
foreign country to directly address the 
resolution of the case with senior      
officials in the foreign government4    

7#b7  ,authority for delay of action by 
the secretary of state  ,the ,secretary 
of ,state may delay any action described
 in paragraph 7#a7 if the ,secretary    
determines that an additional period of 
time1 not to exceed #a year1 will       
substantially assist in resolving the   
case4  7#c7  ,report  ,if the ,secretary
 of ,state delays any action pursuant to
 paragraph 7#b7 or decides not to take  
an action described in subsection 7d7 or
 7e7 of section #bjb after making the   
determination described in paragraph    
7#a71 the ,secretary1 not later than #ae
 days after such delay or decision1     
provide a report to the appropriate     
congressional committees that details   
the reasons for delaying action or not  
taking action1 as appropriate4  7#d7    
,congressional briefings  ,at the       
request of the appropriate congressional
 committees1 the ,secretary of ,state   
shall provide a detailed briefing1      
including a written report1 if          
requested1 on actions taken to resolve a

 case or the cause for delay4  7c7      
,implementation  7#a7  ,in general  ,in 
carrying out subsection 7b71 the        
,secretary of ,state should--  7,a7 take
 #a or more actions that most           
appropriately respond to the nature and 
severity of the governmental failure to 
resolve the unresolved abduction case2  
and  7,b7 seek1 to the fullest extent   
possible--  7i7 to initially respond by 
communicating with the ,central         
,authority of the country2 and  7ii7 if 
clause 7i7 is unsuccessful1 to target   
subsequent actions--  7,i7 as narrowly  
as practicable1 with respect to the     
agencies or instrumentalities of the    
foreign government that are responsible 
for such failures2 and  7,,ii7 in ways  
that respect the separation of powers   
and independence of the judiciary of the
 country1 as applicable4  7#b7          
,guidelines for actions by the secretary
 of state  ,in addition to the          
guidelines under paragraph 7#a71 the    
,secretary of ,state1 in determining    

whether to take #a or more actions under
 paragraphs 7#e7 through 7#g7 of section
 #bjb7;d7 or section #bjb7;e71 shall    
seek to minimize any adverse impact on--
  7,a7 the population of the country    
whose government is targeted by the     
action or actions2  7,b7 the            
humanitarian activities of ,united      
,states and nongovernmental             
organizations in the country2 and  7,c7 
the national security interests of the  
,united ,states4  #bjb4  ,actions by the
 ,secretary of ,state in response to    
patterns of noncompliance in cases of   
international child abductions  7a7     
,response to a pattern of noncompliance 
,it is the policy of the ,united        
,states--  7#a7 to oppose institutional 
or other systemic failures of foreign   
governments to fulfill their obligations
 pursuant to the ,hague ,abduction      
,convention or bilateral procedures1 as 
applicable1 to resolve abduction and    
access cases2  7#b7 to promote          
reciprocity pursuant to1 and in         

compliance with1 the ,hague ,abduction  
,convention or bilateral procedures1 as 
appropriate2 and  7#c7 to directly      
engage with senior foreign government   
officials to most effectively address   
patterns of noncompliance4  7b7         
,determination of countries with        
patterns of noncompliance in cases of   
international child abduction  7#a7     
,annual review  ,not later than ,april  
#cj of each year1 the ,secretary of     
,state shall--  7,a7 review the status  
of abduction and access cases in each   
foreign country in order to determine   
whether the government of such country  
has engaged in a pattern of             
noncompliance during the preceding #ab  
months2 and  7,b7 report such           
determination pursuant to section       
#aja7;f74  7#b7  ,determinations of     
responsible parties  ,the ,secretary of 
,state shall seek to determine the      
agencies or instrumentalities of the    
government of each country determined to
 have engaged in a pattern of           

noncompliance under paragraph 7#a77;,a7 
that are responsible for such pattern of
 noncompliance--  7,a7 to appropriately 
target actions in response to such      
noncompliance2 and  7,b7 to engage with 
senior foreign government officials to  
effectively address such noncompliance4 
7c7  ,actions by the ,secretary of      
,state with respect to a country with a 
pattern of noncompliance  7#a7  ,in     
general  ,not later than #ij days 7or   
#ahj days in case of a delay under      
paragraph 7#b77 after a country is      
determined to have been engaged in a    
pattern of noncompliance under          
subsection 7b77#a77;,a71 the ,secretary 
of ,state shall--  7,a7 take #a or more 
of the actions described in subsection  
7d72  7,b7 direct the ,chief of ,mission
 in that country to directly address the
 systemic problems that led to such     
determination2 and  7,c7 inform senior  
officials in the foreign government of  
the potential repercussions related to  
such designation4  7#b7  ,authority for 

delay of actions by the secretary of    
state  ,the ,secretary shall not be     
required to take action under paragraph 
7#a7 until the expiration of a single1  
additional period of up to #ij days if1 
on or before the date on which the      
,secretary of ,state is required to take
 such action1 the ,secretary determines 
and certifies to the appropriate        
congressional committees that such      
additional period is necessary--  7,a7  
for a continuation of negotiations that 
have been commenced with the government 
of a country described in paragraph 7#a7
 in order to bring about a cessation of 
the pattern of noncompliance by such    
country2  7,b7 for a review of          
corrective action taken by a country    
after the designation of such country as
 being engaged in a pattern of          
noncompliance under subsection          
7b77#a77;,a72 or  7,c7 in anticipation  
that corrective action will be taken by 
such country during such #ij-;day       
period4  7#c7  ,exception for additional

 action by the secretary of state  ,the 
,secretary of ,state shall not be       
required to take additional action under
 paragraph 7#a7 with respect to a       
country determined to have been engaged 
in a persistent pattern of noncompliance
 if the ,secretary--  7,a7 has taken    
action pursuant to paragraph 7#e71 7#f71
 or 7#g7 of subsection 7d7 with respect 
to such country in the preceding year   
and such action continues to be in      
effect2  7,b7 exercises the waiver under
 section #bjd and briefs the appropriate
 congressional committees2 or  7,c7     
submits a report to the appropriate     
congressional committees that--  7i7    
indicates that such country is subject  
to multiple1 broad-based sanctions2 and 
7ii7 describes how such sanctions       
satisfy the requirements under this     
subsection4  7#d7  ,report to congress  
,not later than #ij days after the      
submission of the ,annual ,report1 the  
,secretary shall submit a report to     
,congress on the specific actions taken 

against countries determined to have    
been engaged in a pattern of            
noncompliance under this section4  7d7  
,description of actions by the          
,secretary of ,state in ,hague          
,abduction ,convention countries        
,except as provided in subsection 7f71  
the actions by the ,secretary of ,state 
referred to in this subsection are--    
7#a7 a demarche2  7#b7 an official      
public statement detailing unresolved   
cases2  7#c7 a public condemnation2     
7#d7 a delay or cancellation of #a or   
more bilateral working1 official1 or    
state visits2  7#e7 the withdrawal1     
limitation1 or suspension of ,united    
,states development assistance in       
accordance with section #aaf of the     
,foreign ,assistance ,act of #aifa 7#bb 
,u4,s4,c4 #baean72  7#f7 the withdrawal1
 limitation1 or suspension of ,united   
,states security assistance in          
accordance with section #ejb;,b of the  
,foreign ,assistance ,act of #aifa 7#bb 
,u4,s4,c4 #bcjd72 and  7#g7 the         

withdrawal1 limitation1 or suspension of
 assistance to the central government of
 a country pursuant to chapter #d of    
part ,,ii of the ,foreign ,assistance   
,act of #aifa 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bcdf et   
seq42 relating to the ,economic ,support
 ,fund74  7e7  ,commensurate action     
7#a7  ,in general  ,except as provided  
in subsection 7f71 the ,secretary of    
,state may substitute any other action  
authorized by law for any action        
described in subsection 7d7 if the      
,secretary determines that such action--
  7,a7 is commensurate in effect to the 
action substituted2 and  7,b7 would     
substantially further the purposes of   
this ,act4  7#b7  ,notification  ,if    
commensurate action is taken pursuant to
 this subsection1 the ,secretary shall  
submit a report to the appropriate      
congressional committees that--  7,a7   
describes such action2  7,b7 explains   
the reasons for taking such action2 and 
7,c7 specifically describes the basis   
for the ,secretary's determination under

 paragraph 7#a7 that such action--  7i7 
is commensurate with the action         
substituted2 and  7ii7 substantially    
furthers the purposes of this ,act4  7f7
  ,resolution  ,the ,secretary of ,state
 shall seek to take all appropriate     
actions authorized by law to resolve the
 unresolved case or to obtain the       
cessation of such pattern of            
noncompliance1 as applicable4  7g7      
,humanitarian exception  ,any action    
taken pursuant to subsection 7d7 or 7e7 
may not prohibit or restrict the        
provision of medicine1 medical equipment
 or supplies1 food1 or other life-saving
 humanitarian assistance4  #bjc4        
,consultations with foreign governments 
,as soon as practicable after the       
,secretary of ,state makes a            
determination under section #bja in     
response to a failure to resolve        
unresolved abduction cases or the       
,secretary takes an action under        
subsection 7d7 or 7e7 of section #bjb1  
based on a pattern of noncompliance1 the

 ,secretary shall request consultations 
with the government of such country     
regarding the situation giving rise to  
such determination4  #bjd4  ,waiver by  
the ,secretary of ,state  7a7  ,in      
general  ,subject to subsection 7b71 the
 ,secretary of ,state may waive the     
application of any of the actions       
described in subsections 7d7 and 7e7 of 
section #bjb with respect to a country  
if the ,secretary determines and        
notifies the appropriate congressional  
committees that--  7#a7 the government  
of such country--  7,a7 has             
satisfactorily resolved the abduction   
cases giving rise to the application of 
any of such actions2 or  7,b7 has ended 
such country's pattern of noncompliance2
 or  7#b7 the national security interest
 of the ,united ,states requires the    
exercise of such waiver authority4  7b7 
,congressional notification  ,not later 
than the date on which the ,secretary of
 ,state exercises the waiver authority  
under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary    

shall--  7#a7 notify the appropriate    
congressional committees of such waiver2
 and  7#b7 provide such committees with 
a detailed justification for such       
waiver1 including an explanation of the 
steps the noncompliant government has   
taken--  7,a7 to resolve abductions     
cases2 or  7,b7 to end its pattern of   
noncompliance4  7c7  ,publication in    
,federal ,register  ,subject to         
subsection 7d71 the ,secretary of ,state
 shall ensure that each waiver          
determination under this section--  7#a7
 is published in the ,federal ,register2
 or  7#b7 is posted on the ,department  
of ,state website4  7d7  ,limited       
disclosure of information  ,the         
,secretary of ,state may limit the      
publication of information under        
subsection 7c7 in the same manner and to
 the same extent as the ,president may  
limit the publication of findings and   
determinations described in section     
#fed7;c7 of the ,foreign ,assistance    
,act of #aifa 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bdad7;c771

 if the ,secretary determines that the  
publication of such information would be
 harmful to the national security of the
 ,united ,states and would not further  
the purposes of this ,act4  #bje4       
,termination of actions by the          
,secretary of ,state  ,any specific     
action taken under this ,act or any     
amendment made by this ,act with respect
 to a foreign country shall terminate on
 the date on which the ,secretary of    
,state submits a written certification  
to ,congress that the government of such
 country--  7#a7 has resolved any       
unresolved abduction case that gave rise
 to such specific action2 or  7#b7 has  
taken substantial and verifiable steps  
to correct such country's persistent    
pattern of noncompliance that gave rise 
to such specific action1 as applicable4 
,,iii  ,prevention of ,international    
,child ,abduction  #cja4  ,preventing   
children from leaving the ,united       
,states in violation of a court order   
7a7  ,in general  ,subtitle ,c of title 

,,iv of the ,homeland ,security ,act of 
#bjjb 7#f ,u4,s4,c4 #bca et seq47 is    
amended by adding at the end the        
following3  #dcc4  ,prevention of       
international child abduction  7a7      
,program established  ,the ,secretary1  
through the ,commissioner of ,u4,s4     
,customs and ,border ,protection        
7referred to in this section as ,,cbp71 
in coordination with the ,secretary of  
,state1 the ,attorney ,general1 and the 
,director of the ,federal ,bureau of    
,investigation1 shall establish a       
program that--  7#a7 seeks to prevent a 
child 7as defined in section            
#abjd7;b77#a7 of title #ah1 ,united     
,states ,code7 from departing from the  
territory of the ,united ,states if a   
parent or legal guardian of such child  
presents a court order from a court of  
competent jurisdiction prohibiting the  
removal of such child from the ,united  
,states to a ,,cbp ,officer in          
sufficient time to prevent such         
departure for the duration of such court

 order1 including through the use of    
existing authorities and processes to   
address the wrongful removal2 and  7#b7 
leverages other existing authorities and
 processes to address the wrongful      
removal and return of a child4  7b7     
,interagency coordination  7#a7  ,in    
general  ,the ,secretary of ,state shall
 convene and chair an interagency       
working group to prevent international  
parental child abduction4 ,the group    
shall be composed of presidentially     
appointed1 ,senate confirmed officials  
from--  7,a7 the ,department of ,state2 
7,b7 the ,department of ,homeland       
,security1 including ,u4,s4 ,customs and
 ,border ,protection and ,u4,s4         
,immigration and ,customs ,enforcement2 
and  7,c7 the ,department of ,justice1  
including the ,federal ,bureau of       
,investigation4  7#b7  ,department of   
defense  ,the ,secretary of ,defense    
shall designate an official within the  
,department of ,defense--  7,a7 to      
coordinate with the ,department of      

,state on international child abduction 
issues2 and  7,b7 to oversee activities 
designed to prevent or resolve          
international child abduction cases     
relating to active duty military service
 members4  4  7b7  ,clerical amendment  
,the table of contents of the ,homeland 
,security ,act of #bjjb 7#f ,u4,s4,c4   
#aja note7 is amended by adding after   
the item relating to section #dcb the   
following3  ,sec4 #dcc4 ,prevention of  
international child abduction4  4  #cjb4
  ,authorization for judicial training  
on international parental child         
abduction  7a7  ,in general  ,the       
,secretary of ,state1 subject to the    
availability of appropriations1 shall   
seek to provide training1 directly or   
through another government agency or    
nongovernmental organizations1 on the   
effective handling of parental abduction
 cases to the judicial and              
administrative authorities in           
countries--  7#a7 in which a significant
 number of unresolved abduction cases   

are pending2 or  7#b7 that have been    
designated as having a pattern of       
noncompliance under section #bjb7;b74   
7b7  ,strategy requirement  ,not later  
than #ahj days after the date of the    
enactment of this ,act1 the ,president  
shall submit a strategy to carry out the
 activities described in subsection 7a7 
to--  7#a7 the ,committee on ,foreign   
,relations of the ,senate2  7#b7 the    
,committee on ,foreign ,affairs of the  
,house of ,representatives2  7#c7 the   
,committee on ,appropriations of the    
,senate2 and  7#d7 the ,committee on    
,appropriations of the ,house of        
,representatives4  7c7  ,authorization  
of appropriations  7#a7  ,in general    
,there is authorized to be appropriated 
to the ,secretary of ,state #e1jjj1jjj  
for each of the fiscal years #bjae and  
#bjaf to carry out subsection 7a74  7#b7
  ,use of funds  ,amounts appropriated  
for the activities set forth in         
subsection 7a7 shall be used pursuant to
 the authorization and requirements     

under this section4