Bill Summary
The "Korean American Divided Families National Registry Act" is a legislative proposal aimed at addressing the issue of Korean American families who were separated from their relatives in North Korea following the Korean War. The bill directs the Secretary of State to create a national registry for these divided families, facilitating future reunions, including both in-person and video meetings.
Key provisions include:
1. **Registry Establishment**: The Secretary of State is tasked with engaging Korean American families who wish to reunite with relatives in North Korea. An internal registry will be created to collect names and relevant information to support these reunions and provide a historical repository of family connections.
2. **Information Disclosure**: The bill allows for sharing collected information under strict privacy guidelines, contingent upon the consent of the individuals involved.
3. **Facilitating U.S.-North Korea Dialogue**: It encourages the Secretary of State to ensure that discussions with North Korea include plans for reunions of divided families and requires consultations with the South Korean government.
4. **Reporting Requirements**: The Secretary of State must annually report on the status of the registry, the number of individuals who have met their family members, the responses from North Korea regarding reunion requests, and any actions by North Korea that hinder family reunifications.
Overall, the Act aims to reunite families separated by geopolitical circumstances while promoting dialogue between the U.S. and North Korea.
Possible Impacts
The "Korean American Divided Families National Registry Act" could affect people in several significant ways. Here are three examples:
1. **Reunification Opportunities**:
The establishment of a national registry would create formal pathways for Korean American families who were separated during the Korean War to reunite with their relatives still residing in North Korea. This could provide emotional relief and closure for many individuals who have long sought to reconnect with lost family members, facilitating in-person and video reunions that could heal decades of separation.
2. **Access to Information**:
The creation of a repository containing information about divided families and their relatives in North Korea could aid individuals in understanding their family histories. For those who may have lost contact or have limited knowledge about their family members, the registry could serve as a valuable resource. It could also help families find information regarding deceased relatives, providing a sense of closure and connection to their ancestry.
3. **Diplomatic Engagement**:
By including provisions for dialogue between the United States and North Korea regarding family reunions, the legislation could promote broader diplomatic discussions. This might foster a more constructive relationship between the two nations, potentially influencing policies that affect not only divided families but also other aspects of U.S.-North Korea relations. Families might feel that their personal stories contribute to a larger narrative of peace and reconciliation, impacting public sentiment and advocacy for human rights issues.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 555 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 51
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 555
To direct the Secretary of State to establish a national registry of
Korean American divided families, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
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,
<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> This Act may be cited as the ``Korean American Divided
Families National Registry Act''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 2. NATIONAL REGISTRY OF KOREAN AMERICAN DIVIDED
FAMILIES.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) establish a national registry of the names and
other relevant information of such Korean American families--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) to facilitate such future reunions;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary of State $1,000,000 to carry out
this section.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 3. ACTIONS TO FACILITATE DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE UNITED
STATES AND NORTH KOREA.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Consultations.--The Secretary of State should consult
with the Government of the Republic of Korea, as appropriate, in
carrying out this section.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Reporting Requirement.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Elements.--The reporting required under
paragraph (1) should include--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) the status of the national registry
established pursuant to section 2(a)(2);</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) the number of individuals included on
the registry who--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) have met their family members
in North Korea during previous reunions;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) have yet to meet their family
members in North Korea during previous
reunions;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) a summary of responses by North Korea
to requests to hold reunions of divided families;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) a description of actions taken by
North Korea that prevent the emigration of family
members of Korean American families.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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.</DELETED>
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