1984 Act to Combat International Terrorism
Public Law 98-533 · H.R. 6311 · 98th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Oct 19, 1984 · International Affairs
Sponsor: Rep. Dante Fascell (D-FL-19)
Cosponsors (40): Rep. Lee Hamilton, Rep. Stephen Solarz,
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.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
1984 Act to Combat International Terrorism - Title I- Rewards for Information on International Terrorism - Amends the Federal criminal code to provide a reward not to exceed $500,000 to any individual who furnishes information regarding an act of terrorism directed against a U.S. person or U.S. property.
Authorizes the Attorney General or the Secretary of State to determine whether an individual is entitled to a reward and the amount to be paid. States that a reward of $100,000 or more may not be made without the approval of the President.
Allows for the protection of the identity of a reward recipient if it is determined that such measures are necessary.
Authorizes appropriations.
Makes Federal, State and local officers and employees ineligible for such payments.
Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to authorize the Secretary of State to pay such a reward.
Title II - International Cooperation - Urges the President to seek more effective international cooperation in combatting international terrorism, including: (1) severe punishment for acts of terrorism; and (2) extradition of all terrorists to the country where the terrorist incident occurred or whose citizens were victims of the incident.
Declares that priority should be given to negotiations to establish a permanent international working group for combatting terrorism.
Title III - Security of United States Missions Abroad - Requires the Secretary of State to report to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives no later than February 1, 1985, on the findings and recommendations of the Advisory Panel on Security of United States Missions Abroad.
Authorizes additional appropriations for secuirty enhancement at United States missions abroad. Requires the Secretary of State and the Director of the United States Information Agency to report to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives on how their agencies have allocated funds.
Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 with regard to hiring additional individuals for services abroad.
Allows for additional procurement for overseas security requirements.
Authorizes the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State to use government-owned vehicles for security purposes.
Expresses the sense of the Congress that due to the current epidemic of worldwide terrorist activity, U.S. missions abroad should utilize danger pay allowance more extensively.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
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.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 8 actions.
- Oct 19, 1984Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 98-533.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Oct 11, 1984PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Oct 5, 1984FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
- Oct 1, 1984FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
- Sep 26, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Foreign Affairs Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Foreign Affairs Committee
- 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.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.