Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Stop the Iranian Hostage Business Act”.
Stop the Iranian Hostage Business Act
A BILL
To invalidate the use of United States passports to travel to Iran, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Invalidation of passports for travel to Iran
In general— The Secretary of State shall take such steps as may be necessary, pursuant to the authority provided by section 1 of the Act entitled “An Act to regulate the issue and validity of passports, and for other purposes”, approved July 3, 1926 (22 U.S.C. 211a; commonly referred to as the “Passport Act”), to declare United States passports invalid for travel to, in, or through Iran.
Exceptions for certain travel— The restriction under subsection (a) may be waived with respect to an individual’s passport if the Secretary of State determines that such individual is traveling to Iran in the national interest due to the fact that—
the applicant is a professional reporter or journalist, the purpose of whose trip is to obtain, and make available to the public, information about Iran;
the applicant is a representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross or the American Red Cross traveling pursuant to an officially-sponsored Red Cross mission;
the applicant's travel is justified by compelling humanitarian considerations including—
visiting a family member who is particularly vulnerable because of age, disability, or living circumstances;
caring for a seriously or terminally ill relative;
attending a funeral; or
receiving medical treatment; or
the applicant's travel is otherwise in the national interest.
Termination— The restriction under subsection (a) shall terminate on the date that is 8 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.