Korean American Divided Families National Registry Act

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Bill ID: 119/s/555
Last Updated: September 5, 2025

Sponsored by

Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]

ID: K000384

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 51.

April 28, 2025

Introduced

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill will be reviewed by relevant committees who will debate, amend, and vote on it.

🏛️

Committee Review

🗳️

Floor Action

Passed Senate

🏛️

House Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another exercise in legislative theater, courtesy of our esteemed Congress. Let's dissect this farce, shall we?

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The Korean American Divided Families National Registry Act (S 555) claims to establish a national registry for Korean American families divided by the Korean War Armistice Agreement. The bill's sponsors, including Senators Kaine and Cruz, want us to believe that this registry will facilitate future reunions between these families and their loved ones in North Korea.

**Diagnosis:** This is a classic case of "Feel-Good Legislation Syndrome" (FGLS). Symptoms include: vague objectives, lack of concrete actions, and an overemphasis on emotional appeal. The real purpose of this bill? To make politicians look compassionate while doing nothing meaningful to address the actual issues.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill creates a national registry for Korean American families, which will be maintained by the Secretary of State. It also authorizes $1 million in appropriations for this endeavor. Oh, and there's some vague language about facilitating dialogue between the US and North Korea. Because, you know, that's worked so well in the past.

**Changes to existing law:** None significant. This bill is more of a symbolic gesture than an actual attempt to address the complex issues surrounding Korean American divided families.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** Korean American families, of course, are the supposed beneficiaries of this bill. However, given the lack of concrete actions and resources, it's unlikely they'll see any real benefits. The true stakeholders? Politicians looking for a photo op and lobbyists seeking to curry favor with Korean American interest groups.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill will have zero meaningful impact on the lives of Korean American families or US-North Korea relations. It might, however, provide some fleeting PR benefits for its sponsors. In the grand tradition of FGLS, this legislation will likely be used as a talking point during election cycles, only to be forgotten once the cameras stop rolling.

**Prognosis:** This bill is DOA (Dead on Arrival). Even if it passes, it won't address the underlying issues driving family divisions or improve US-North Korea relations. It's just another example of Congress's addiction to symbolic legislation and its inability to tackle real problems.

Now, let's get back to our regularly scheduled programming: watching politicians pretend to care about actual issues while doing nothing meaningful to address them.

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💰 Campaign Finance Network

Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$138,300
19 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$9,800
Committees
$0
Individuals
$128,500

No PAC contributions found

1
THE CHICKASAW NATION
3 transactions
$4,300
2
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
3 transactions
$2,000
3
SAN MANUEL BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
1 transaction
$1,000
4
CHOCTAW NATION OF OKLAHOMA
1 transaction
$1,000
5
CHEROKEE NATION
1 transaction
$1,000
6
STONEHALL FARM
1 transaction
$500

No committee contributions found

1
BROWN, MARY K.
2 transactions
$15,100
2
THOMAS, TORI WINKLER
2 transactions
$13,200
3
BERG, MILDRED
2 transactions
$13,200
4
MILLER, CAROLE
2 transactions
$13,200
5
LAUDER, LEONARD A.
2 transactions
$12,000
6
MARQUEZ, DARIO O. JR
2 transactions
$11,600
7
SEMANS, TRUMAN T.
2 transactions
$10,000
8
BROWN, SCOTT S.
1 transaction
$9,200
9
SHUMADINE, CONRAD
1 transaction
$6,700
10
COLLEY, MARK D.
1 transaction
$6,600
11
CRAIG, FRANCES B.
1 transaction
$6,200
12
CHAI, CHUCKRA
1 transaction
$6,200
13
SCRIPPS, WENDY
1 transaction
$5,300

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 5 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]

ID: C001098

Top Contributors

10

1
WINRED
PAC ARLINGTON, VA
$1,167,293
Nov 1, 2024
2
WINRED
PAC ARLINGTON, VA
$330,599
Nov 5, 2024
3
CHOCTAW NATION OF OKLAHOMA
Organization DURANT, OK
$3,300
Aug 29, 2024
4
THE CHICKASAW NATION
Organization ADA, OK
$3,300
Aug 29, 2024
5
ALABAMA- COUSHATTA TRIBE
Organization LIVINGSTON, TX
$1,000
Oct 16, 2024
6
KONEHU LEGACY, LLC
Organization TAMUNING, GU
$100
Oct 3, 2024
7
PACIFIC LIFESTYLE IMPORTS, LLC
Organization YIGO, GU
$100
Oct 11, 2024
8
FASKEN MANAGEMENT
Organization MIDLAND, TX
$10,000
May 24, 2023
9
REPUBLICAN PARTY OF HARRISON COUNTY
Organization MARSHALL, TX
$4,000
Oct 16, 2024
10
FOLAD ENTERPRISES LLC
Organization PINELLAS PARK, FL
$2,000
May 20, 2024

Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]

ID: C001088

Top Contributors

10

1
CHEROKEE NATION
Organization TAHLEQUAH, OK
$3,300
Dec 27, 2023
2
CHEROKEE NATION
Organization TAHLEQUAH, OK
$1,700
Dec 27, 2023
3
CHEN, YU
NOT EMPLOYED NOT EMPLOYED
Individual MIAMI, FL
$3,300
Dec 17, 2024
4
MIRZAIE, REZA
RUSS AUGUST & KABAT LLP ATTORNEY
Individual PACIFIC PALISADES, CA
$3,300
Oct 7, 2024
5
CHEN, YU
NOT EMPLOYED NOT EMPLOYED
Individual MIAMI, FL
$3,300
Dec 17, 2024
6
WASSERMAN, CASEY
WASSERMAN CEO
Individual LOS ANGELES, CA
$3,300
Nov 5, 2024
7
ZHAO, PENG
CITADEL SECURITIES CEO
Individual MIAMI, FL
$3,300
Dec 17, 2024
8
WASSERMAN, CASEY
WASSERMAN CEO
Individual LOS ANGELES, CA
$3,300
Nov 5, 2024
9
ZHAO, PENG
CITADEL SECURITIES CEO
Individual MIAMI, FL
$3,300
Dec 17, 2024
10
MIRZAIE, REZA
RUSS AUGUST & KABAT LLP ATTORNEY
Individual PACIFIC PALISADES, CA
$3,300
Oct 7, 2024

Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ]

ID: K000377

Top Contributors

10

1
REPUBLICAN MAINSTREET PARTNERSHIP PAC
PAC WASHINGTON, DC
$1,000
Nov 30, 2023
2
PASCUA YAQUI TRIBE
Organization TUCSON, AZ
$3,300
Oct 23, 2023
3
THE CHICKASAW NATION
Organization ADA, OK
$2,500
May 23, 2024
4
GILA RIVER INDIAN COMMUNITY
Organization SACATON, AZ
$1,000
Jun 15, 2023
5
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
Organization PRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,000
Aug 12, 2024
6
SYCUAN BAND OF THE KUMEYAAY NATION
Organization EL CAJON, CA
$3,300
Dec 31, 2024
7
MASHANTUCKET PEQUOT TRIBE
Organization LEDYARD, CT
$3,300
Oct 23, 2023
8
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
Organization BANNING, CA
$3,300
Mar 24, 2023
9
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
Organization BANNING, CA
$3,300
Sep 30, 2024
10
SANTA YNEZ BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
Organization SANTA YNEZ, CA
$3,000
Sep 30, 2024

Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]

ID: R000618

Top Contributors

10

1
SPIKE OCOTILLO LLC
Organization CHANDLER, AZ
$2,500
Mar 4, 2024
2
HUNTON ANDREWS KURTH LLP
Organization RICHMOND, VA
$1,000
Mar 28, 2024
3
KING & SPALDING LLP
Organization ATLANTA, GA
$1,000
Mar 29, 2024
4
GREENBERG TRAURIG
Organization ALBANY, NY
$1,000
Apr 23, 2024
5
H.A. TRUE, III
Organization CASPER, WY
$1,000
Aug 22, 2024
6
DELTA AIRLINES
Organization ATLANTA, GA
$234
Apr 17, 2023
7
VANDERSLOOT, BELINDA
SELF HOMEMAKER
Individual IDAHO FALLS, ID
$6,600
Mar 4, 2024
8
VANDERSLOOT, FRANK
MELALEUCA OWNER
Individual IDAHO FALLS, ID
$6,600
Mar 4, 2024
9
MANDELBLATT, DANIELLE
RETIRED
Individual ASPEN, CO
$6,600
Jun 7, 2024
10
MANDELBLATT, ERIC
SOROBAN CAPITAL PARTNERS LP MANAGING PARTNER
Individual ASPEN, CO
$6,600
Jun 7, 2024

Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA]

ID: O000174

Top Contributors

10

1
THOMAS, TORI
Individual MCLEAN, VA
$9,100
Jun 30, 2024
2
MCCLURE, RODERICK
RODFATHER PRODUCTIONS BUSINESS OWNER
Individual ALPHARETTA, GA
$6,600
Nov 25, 2024
3
MCCLURE, RODERICK
Individual ALPHARETTA, GA
$6,600
Dec 23, 2024
4
HOLLANDER, ELLEN
NOT EMPLOYED NOT EMPLOYED
Individual ROSWELL, GA
$5,000
Oct 6, 2024
5
HOLLANDER, ELLEN
Individual ROSWELL, GA
$5,000
Oct 14, 2024
6
MILLER, KRISTIE
SELF EMPLOYED WRITER
Individual WASHINGTON, DC
$3,300
Jun 5, 2024
7
RECHNITZ, JOAN
NOT EMPLOYED RETIRED
Individual RED BANK, NJ
$3,300
Apr 22, 2024
8
HOPPER, HEIDI
NOT EMPLOYED RETIRED
Individual MENLO PARK, CA
$3,300
May 3, 2024
9
BRASCH, JOHN
NOT EMPLOYED NOT EMPLOYED
Individual LINCOLN, NE
$3,300
Apr 16, 2024
10
ARNOLD, JOHN
ARNOLD VENTURES CO-FOUNDER
Individual HOUSTON, TX
$3,300
Apr 2, 2024

Donor Network - Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 34 nodes and 45 connections

Total contributions: $1,681,392

Top Donors - Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]

Showing top 19 donors by contribution amount

6 Orgs13 Individuals