WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today published an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal calling on Congress to pass legislation to reduce the financial burdens confronted by American hostages, wrongful detainees, and their families.

Senator Coons recently met with Vladimir Kara-Murza, Evan Gershkovich, and Paul Whelan, who were among the 24 detainees released as part of the August prisoner swap with Russia. They told Senator Coons that upon returning home, some of their financial obligations had turned into significant burdens, including tax penalties, lowered credit scores, and decreased Social Security benefits.

Senator Coons has introduced his bipartisan Stop Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act with Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), which would stop the IRS from charging fines and late fees to hostages and wrongful detainees for failing to pay their federal taxes while being held unjustly abroad. The IRS has made clear that even though it is aware that these Americans are held hostage or wrongfully detained, legislation is required in order to change this practice. Senator Coons’ bill has cleared the Senate but faces an uncertain path forward in the House of Representatives.

Senator Coons has also introduced the Fair Credit for American Hostages Act with Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), which would empower former hostages and detainees to restore credit scores that may have been negatively impacted during their detention. His Retirement Security for American Hostages Act with Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.) would ensure that hostages and wrongful detainees aren’t penalized in the calculation of their Social Security benefits. He is also working on legislation to deter the practice of hostage diplomacy.

WSJ: Welcome Home, Hostages, and Pay Up

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I’ve met with Mr. Kara-Murza, as well as Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan, two of the more than 70 unjustly held Americans whom the Biden administration has brought home. They told me about the surprises waiting for them on their release: tax penalties, lowered credit scores and decreased Social Security benefits. That’s why I’m taking bipartisan action to ensure that wrongfully detained Americans are better supported when they return home.

Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian was held by Iran for 544 days in 2014-16. When he was freed, the Internal Revenue Service expected him to pay back taxes with interest and levied late penalties totaling thousands of dollars, despite knowing he was unjustly detained overseas. IRS agents said they didn’t have the legal authority to remove the charges.

Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained shouldn’t be treated like tax cheats. That’s why in March I introduced the Stop Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act with Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota. The bill would prevent the IRS from imposing late penalties on former hostages and wrongful detainees.