United States 119th Congress Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 4 D · 2 R cosponsors

S 555 — Korean American Divided Families National Registry Act

Last action — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 51.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced February 12, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 42% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 6 sponsors

    1 primary, 5 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (4 D · 2 R) — cross-party backing.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

108 added · 22 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amended version of the bill removes the authorization for appropriations to carry out the establishment of a national registry for Korean American families divided from relatives in North Korea. It also changes the language from requiring specific actions by the Secretary of State regarding direct dialogue and consultations focused on future reunions to a more general phrasing about taking necessary actions. This matters because it shifts the focus of the bill away from funding and explicit directives toward broader responsibilities of the Secretary of State regarding family reunion initiatives.

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555 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S.
555 Reported in Senate (RS)] <DOC> Calendar No.
51 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S.
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To direct the Secretary of State to establish a national registry of Korean American divided families, and for other purposes.
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations April 28, 2025 Reported by Mr.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1.
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.
(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;
(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 national registry of the names and other relevant information of such Korean American families-- (A) to facilitate such future 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;
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State $1,000,000 to carry out this section.
(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.
(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.
(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 should consult with the Government of the Republic of Korea, as appropriate, in carrying out this section.
(b) Consultations.--The Secretary of State shall consult with the Government of the Republic of Korea, as appropriate, in carrying out this section.
and (ii) have yet to meet 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 to hold reunions of divided families;
(C) a summary of responses by North Korea to requests by the United States Government to hold reunions of divided families;
<all>
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
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Action History

  1. Introduced in Senate

  2. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

  3. Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

  4. Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

  5. Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

  6. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 51.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 5 co-sponsors · 541 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (5)

Not signed on (541)

541 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

civil-rights
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors S 555?
S 555 is sponsored by Kaine, Tim (Democratic), Cruz, Ted (Republican), Coons, Christopher A. (Democratic), Kelly, Mark (Democratic), Ricketts, Pete (Republican), and Ossoff, Jon (Democratic).
What is the current status of S 555?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced February 12, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track S 555?
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