I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5955 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES October 13, 2023 Mr. Espaillat (for himself, Ms. Velázquez , Ms. Jackson Lee , Ms. Escobar , Mr. Bowman , Ms. McCollum , and Mr. Thanedar ) introduced the following bill October 25, 2023 Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs A BILL To amend the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to establish a repatriation grant program.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Safe Return Act . 2. Repatriation grant program (a) In general Section 4 of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 ( 22 U.S.C. 2671 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (b)(2)— (A) in subparagraph (A), by amending clause (ii) to read as follows: (ii) private United States citizens, lawful permanent residents of the United States, or third-country nationals, on a grant basis, to the maximum extent practicable; ; (B) in subparagraph (B)— (i) by striking loans and inserting grants ; (ii) by inserting and destitute lawful permanent residents of the United States after destitute citizens of the United States ; and (iii) by adding at the end before the semicolon the following: and lawful permanent residents ; (2) in subsection (d)— (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking loan and inserting grant ; (B) in paragraph (1)— (i) by striking borrower and inserting grantee ; and (ii) by adding and at the end; (C) in paragraph (2), by striking a written loan agreement and all that follows and inserting a written grant agreement. ; and (D) by striking paragraphs (3) through (11). (b) Update to Foreign Affairs Manual The Secretary of State shall update the Repatriation Loans section of the Foreign Affairs Manual to reflect the amendments made by subsection (a).