Paul Whelan Hostage Compensation and Reintegration Act

The Paul Whelan Hostage Compensation and Reintegration Act requires the Secretary of State to provide a one-time financial payment to U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents who have been unlawfully detained abroad, as well as to the next of kin if the detainee has died. The compensation amount is calculated by multiplying the average daily wage index by the number of days the individual was wrongfully held. Eligibility is generally restricted for those who entered countries with the highest level of travel advisories, though exceptions exist for official government travel, journalists, or cases involving compelling humanitarian circumstances. The bill also caps attorney fees at 5 percent of the award, exempts the payment from taxes and means-tested benefit calculations, and authorizes funding from the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund to support the program.