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International Child Abduction Remedies Act

Public Law 100-300 · H.R. 3971 · 100th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Apr 29, 1988 · Families

Sponsor: Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA-11)

Cosponsors (2): Rep. Richard Durbin,

Passage votes

  • HouseVoice vote
  • SenateVoice vote
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

International Child Abduction Remedies Act - Grants State courts and U.S. district courts concurrent original jurisdiction with regard to actions arising under the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. Retains Federal court jurisdiction in cases arising under the Convention where such jurisdiction would otherwise exist under Federal law (Federal question, diversity of citizenship, etc.). Sets forth requirements with regard to notice and burden of proof for such actions.

Allows any court exercising jurisdiction over a petition filed pursuant to the Convention or this Act to take provisional measures under Federal or State law to protect the well-being of the child or prevent the child's removal or concealment. Prohibits any court from ordering the provisional removal of a child from the person having physical control unless the applicable requirements of State law are satisfied.

States that any application submitted to the U.S. Central Authority or petition seeking judicial remedies in accordance with the terms of the Convention shall be admissible in court without regard to the need for authentication.

Directs the President to designate a Federal agency to serve as the Central Authority for the United States for the purposes of: (1) issuing regulations to implement the Convention and this Act; (2) obtaining information from the Parent Locator Service; and (3) collecting, maintaining, and disseminating information for purposes relating to the Convention and this Act. Places certain limitations on the dissemination of Government information to the Central Authority.

Directs the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Attorney General to designate Federal employees and private citizens to serve as an interagency coordinating group to monitor the operation of the Convention and provide advice on its implementation.

Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to enter into an agreement with the Central Authority which would make the services of the Parent Locator Service available to the Central Authority.

Authorizes appropriations to carry out the purposes of the Convention and this Act.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

  • Judiciary Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Administrative Law and Governmental Relations Subcommittee
Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 12 actions.

  1. Apr 29, 1988Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 100-300.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Apr 27, 1988PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Apr 25, 1988Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Agreed to Senate Amendments by Voice Vote.
  5. Apr 12, 1988FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
  6. FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
  7. Mar 28, 1988FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
  8. Mar 23, 1988CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Judiciary Committee
  9. Mar 15, 1988CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Judiciary Committee
  10. Feb 19, 1988CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Administrative Law and Governmental Relations Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
  11. Feb 18, 1988CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Judiciary Committee
  12. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.