ESCAPE of Saudi Nationals Act

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jan 25, 2019

Examining Saudi Consular Activities Promoting Extraction Act or the ESCAPE of Saudi Nationals Act

This bill directs the Department of State to report to Congress on instances where Saudi Arabian diplomats or affiliated individuals may have helped Saudi nationals leave the United States to escape criminal prosecution.

The bill also prohibits a foreign country's diplomatic mission from owning real property in the United States if the State Department determines that such mission helped one of its nationals leave the United States to evade prosecution for a crime.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] · D–OR

Committees

Foreign Relations Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Jan 25, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Jan 25, 2019
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Jan 25, 2019 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Jan 14, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.231 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.231, 116th Congress: ESCAPE of Saudi Nationals Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/231

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2019-01-25.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s231/BILLS-116s231is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-14T19:00:46Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.231 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.231 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss S.231, 116th Congress: ESCAPE of Saudi Nationals Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/231

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2019-01-25.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s231/BILLS-116s231is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-14T19:00:46Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.231 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.231 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.231, 116th Congress: ESCAPE of Saudi Nationals Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/231

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2019-01-25.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s231/BILLS-116s231is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-14T19:00:46Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.231 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.231 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.231, 116th Congress: ESCAPE of Saudi Nationals Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/231

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2019-01-25.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s231/BILLS-116s231is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-14T19:00:46Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.231 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.