Lawmaker wants to punish foreign countries over detaining Americans

(The Center Square) — A New York Republican congressman has filed a bill that seeks to punish foreign governments that take Americans hostage or wrongly detain them.

The proposal filed by Rep. Mike Lawyer, R-N.Y., would create a new designation of “state sponsor of wrongful or unlawful detention” that would authorize the State Department to recommend sanctions against the offending country and potentially block foreign aid and other monetary assistance.