ONGOING PROJECT: Int'l Child Abduction Prevention Act of 2009 - H.R.3240

[sue]

Rep Gary Miller (CA)  signed on yesterday.. that makes 46 cosponsors of HR 3240!

He's also a cosponsor of Hres1326 so let's keep working on the cosponsors of HRes 1326 to support HR 3240

Do we have a current list of the co sponsors?

[UD_student]

Do we have a current list of the co sponsors?

From Thomas Register sorted by last name (Chris Smith is the original sponsor, and he is not listed below). As we know, Rep. Massa resigned and I'm guessing although he is still listed, he doesn't 'officially' count.

Rep Blackburn, Marsha [TN-7] - 9/30/2009
Rep Blunt, Roy [MO-7] - 4/21/2010
Rep Burton, Dan [IN-5] - 9/30/2009
Rep Calvert, Ken [CA-44] - 5/20/2010
Rep Cao, Anh "Joseph" [LA-2] - 2/26/2010
Rep Castle, Michael N. [DE] - 5/6/2010
Rep Duncan, John J., Jr. [TN-2] - 9/30/2009
Rep Emerson, Jo Ann [MO-8] - 9/30/2009
Rep Fortenberry, Jeff [NE-1] - 7/16/2009
Rep Franks, Trent [AZ-2] - 9/30/2009
Rep Garrett, Scott [NJ-5] - 3/12/2010
Rep Granger, Kay [TX-12] - 2/26/2010
Rep Gutierrez, Luis V. [IL-4] - 10/13/2009
Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22] - 2/26/2010
Rep Inglis, Bob [SC-4] - 7/16/2009
Rep Johnson, Timothy V. [IL-15] - 3/9/2010
Rep Kosmas, Suzanne M. [FL-24] - 1/13/2010
Rep Lance, Leonard [NJ-7] - 1/13/2010
Rep Latham, Tom [IA-4] - 4/15/2010
Rep LoBiondo, Frank A. [NJ-2] - 3/12/2010
Rep Lungren, Daniel E. [CA-3] - 9/30/2009
Rep Maffei, Daniel B. [NY-25] - 9/30/2009
Rep Massa, Eric J. J. [NY-29] - 10/7/2009
Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G. [MI-11] - 11/19/2009
Rep McMorris Rodgers, Cathy [WA-5] - 9/30/2009
Rep Miller, Gary G. [CA-42] - 7/19/2010
Rep Miller, Jeff [FL-1] - 3/12/2010
Rep Minnick, Walter [ID-1] - 4/29/2010
Rep Mollohan, Alan B. [WV-1] - 7/16/2009
Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8] - 9/30/2009
Rep Norton, Eleanor Holmes [DC] - 4/15/2010
Rep Olson, Pete [TX-22] - 1/13/2010
Rep Poe, Ted [TX-2] - 7/16/2009
Rep Sanchez, Loretta [CA-47] - 7/16/2009
Rep Schock, Aaron [IL-18] - 2/26/2010
Rep Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [WI-5] - 7/16/2009
Rep Shimkus, John [IL-19] - 10/13/2009
Rep Shuster, Bill [PA-9] - 11/6/2009
Rep Souder, Mark E. [IN-3] - 9/30/2009
Rep Thompson, Glenn [PA-5] - 3/9/2010
Rep Tierney, John F. [MA-6] - 11/6/2009
Rep Turner, Michael R. [OH-3] - 2/26/2010
Rep Wamp, Zach [TN-3] - 2/3/2010
Rep Waters, Maxine [CA-35] - 5/6/2010
Rep Wittman, Robert J. [VA-1] - 10/7/2009
Rep Wolf, Frank R. [VA-10] - 7/16/2009

[sue]

Thank you!

[pam.in.ny]

I had contacted Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee's office a couple times and finally got a response. .....at least it was
a response. There's still hope that we can get her to cosponsor H.R. 3240.

Thank you for your recent correspondence in which you express your views about an issue of major importance.

As you know, there are many issues such as the one you raised that are before Congress and deserve our attention.  While every issue is a legislative priority to me, Congress may not be able to pass substantive legislation this year on this issue.  However, I am constantly reviewing the legislative calendar with the goal of identifying issues to make sure they receive the attention they deserve, and will take your views under consideration.

During the 111th Congress, which will end some time later this year, we have been able to address major legislative priorities including, healthcare reform and financial services regulatory reform. Indeed, my concern is that we can always do more on behalf of the American people. As such, I will count on you to continue to inform me of your concerns and interests, particularly as they relate to issues like the one you have brought to my attention.

There are many issues facing the 111th Congress, and I am committed to enacting policies and programs that will benefit the American people.  Please be assured that I will keep your thoughts in mind if and when legislation related to this issue comes before Congress.

Again, thank you for sharing your views with me.  Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future at www.jacksonlee.house.gov with your comments and concerns.

 

[UD_student]

Pam, yes, while it is a generic response, it is something. The only responses I've gotten otherwise from multiple emails and phone calls have been from those reps who decided to co-sponsor and emailed me back to let me know that they had signed on. I'm going to keep calling people on the target list as they are one two committees the bill is in consideration for. I went through the spreadsheet Missy posted a few months back and if I recall correctly, the new co-sponsors are either not on any committee or are on the Financial Services committee and none of the other House committees the bill is in consideration for. I definitely am going to target some more of the co-sponsors from H.Res 1326 as I hope they (especially ones on the target list) would be willing to sign onto HR3240. Those reps are (contact info copied from what pptoland and M.Capestro have posted elsewhere):

Bill   Delahunt     MA   D   Brian   Forni           brian.forni@mail.house.gov                225-3111
Member of the Foreign Affairs & Judiciary Committees
No FB or Twitter from other posts

Brad   Sherman      CA   D   Erin   Prangley     erin.prangley@mail.house.gov   225-5911
Member of the Financial Services, Foreign Affairs & Judiciary Committees
Facebook
Twitter

Keith Ellison [D-MN5]
Member of the Financial Services & Foreign Affairs Committees
P: 202-225-4755
F: 202-225-4886
Online Contact Form
Facebook
Twitter
Ask to speak with Foreign Affairs representative when calling to attempt to be transferred to the actual person who can address a co-sponsorship request, which is not the intern answering the phone.

[JerseyGirl]

We're now at 48 !   One more cosponsor since yesterday, Rep. Steve Cohen, TN-9.

[tweinstein]

How many of the co-sponsors were voted out of office in the recent elections?

[UD_student]

Mike Castle [DE] ran for an open Senate seat and lost in the primary. Unfortunately, he is no longer in the house nor in the Senate to be someone to ask for support from there.

[Jara]

This is a pretty good link for all those who would like to read this Bill, track it or assist your local Congress for support.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-3240

[Trevor Richardson]

Is this resolutuon HR 3240 dead, or is there a chance it will be sent out of committe to the house floor? 

[TomD]

HR3240 is a House Bill, not a resolution. It was introduced by Congressman Chris Smith somewhere around July 2009 and had close to 50 co-sponsors, but never made it out of committee. That was the 111th Congress.  Now that we are in the 112th I no longer see HR3240 listed in THOMAS or OPEN Congress for either congressional session.
Does anyone know if this bill is now dead or what it's official status might be?

[TomD]

Found the following in THOMAS under CRS Summary (which I hope indicates that bill is still alive):
H.R.3240
Latest Title: International Child Abduction Prevention Act of 2009
Sponsor: Rep Smith, Christopher H. [NJ-4] (introduced 7/16/2009)      Cosponsors (48)
Latest Major Action: 9/14/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.SUMMARY AS OF:
7/16/2009--Introduced.

International Child Abduction Prevention Act of 2009 - Establishes within the Department of State an Office on International Child Abductions which shall be headed by the Ambassador at Large for International Child Abductions.

States that Ambassador at Large shall be a principal adviser to the President and the Secretary of State regarding matters of international child abduction and refusals of rights of access. Authorizes the Ambassador at Large to represent the United States in such diplomatic matters and international forums.

States that the primary responsibilities of the Ambassador at Large shall be to: (1) promote measures to prevent the international abduction of children from the United States; (2) advocate on behalf of abducted children whose habitual residence is the United States; (3) assist left-behind parents in the resolution of abduction or refusal of access cases; and (4) advance mechanisms to prevent and resolve cases of international child abduction.

Directs the President to: (1) annually review the status of unresolved cases in each foreign country to determine whether the government has engaged in a pattern of noncooperation, and if so, designate such country as a Country With a Pattern of Noncooperation; (2) notify the appropriate congressional committees of such designation; and (3) take specified presidential or commensurate actions to bring about a cessation of noncooperation.

Sets forth consultation, notification, and reporting requirements for the President and the Secretary.

Prohibits judicial review of any presidential determination or agency action under this Act.

Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the International Financial Institutions Act to require the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the President, respectively, in determining whether a country engages in a pattern of gross human right violations for purposes of assistance considerations, to consider whether such country has engaged in a pattern of noncooperation regarding unresolved cases of international child abduction or denial of rights of access, or has failed to undertake serious efforts to locate children abducted to such country.

Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to consider for tariff preference purposes whether a country has engaged in a pattern of noncooperation regarding unresolved cases of international child abduction or denial of rights of access.

Amends the Admiral James W. Nance and Meg Donovan Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 2000 and 2001 to require, for issuance of a passport for a child under 14 years old living outside the United States, that the person executing the passport application provides documentary evidence that such person is a U.S. citizen, has joint custody over the child, and is executing such application outside the United States.

[pam.in.ny]

I've been wondering about H.R. 3240 as well. If anyone has any contact information for someone at Rep. Smith's office, I would be more than happy to contact them if you want to send me the info via an email of PM.  With Congressman Smith being in Japan and David's book coming out, this may be a good chance getting H.R. 3240 moving again, if indeed, it is still alive.

[lovellboys]

I've been wondering about H.R. 3240 as well. If anyone has any contact information for someone at Rep. Smith's office, I would be more than happy to contact them if you want to send me the info via an email of PM.  With Congressman Smith being in Japan and David's book coming out, this may be a good chance getting H.R. 3240 moving again, if indeed, it is still alive.

I believe it needs to be reintroduced if it does not get passed in the session it originated.  Since it never made it out of committee, it never made it to the floor.    Sad, but I guess they were too busy 

[LukieD]

I believe it needs to be reintroduced if it does not get passed in the session it originated.  Since it never made it out of committee, it never made it to the floor.    Sad, but I guess they were too busy 

That's exactly right, lovellboys. The bill will have to be re-introduced in the new Congress and fortunately, that is exactly what Congressman Smith is planning to do. The co-sponsors will have to sign on again but there is no reason that those still in Congress who co-sponsored it last time won't co-sponsor it again. While some co-sponsors lost their elections, new members will be encouraged to sign on also to replace them. And regardless of your politics, a Republican-controlled House of Representatives will give us a much better chance of seeing this bill passed in the House, which is encouraging.