[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 35 (Thursday, March 18, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E408]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       COUNTER-TERRORIST AND NARCO-TERRORIST REWARDS PROGRAM ACT

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                               speech of

                          HON. MARK E. SOUDER

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 17, 2004

  Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, the Counter-Terrorist and Narco-Terrorist 
Rewards Program Act, H.R. 3782 seeks to expand the reward tools needed 
to encourage informants with data to come forward and help prevent or 
resolve acts of international terrorism against U.S. citizens and 
property throughout the world. Rewards also can be paid for information 
leading to the arrest or conviction of terrorists who attempt, commit, 
conspire, or aid and abet terrorist acts. Informants with the knowledge 
of a location or the identification of terrorist leaders can also be 
rewarded.
  Secretary of State Powell has authorized a reward of up to $25 
million for information leading to the capture of bin Laden and other 
key al Qaeda leaders, under the provisions of the USA Patriot Act of 
2001. That act specifically authorizes the Secretary of State to offer 
and pay rewards of greater than $5 million if it is determined that a 
greater amount is necessary to combat terrorism or to defend the United 
States against terrorist acts. As we approach the fourth anniversary of 
the terrorist attacks on the United States, it is clear that a greater 
amount is necessary to entice informants and that the reward program 
must be publicized widely.
  An especially important component of the bill would publicize the 
existence of the rewards program. The measure would provide additional 
authority to buy radio, television and newspaper advertisements to 
publicize the rewards program. It also would change the name of the 
program from the Rewards for Justice Program to the Terrorism and 
Narco-Terrorism Rewards Program.
  The rewards incentives work. Twenty-nine people whom provided 
credible information that put terrorists behind bars or prevented acts 
of international terrorism worldwide have been rewarded with a total of 
more than $49 million over the last seven years by the United States. 
Reward incentives played a significant role in the arrest and 
conviction of terrorist Ramzi Yousef, for the 1993 World Trade Center 
bombing.
  This bill would also empower the Secretary of State to make rewards 
in any combination of money and non-monetary instruments, including 
automobiles. This provision is important because people who have 
specific knowledge about perpetrators or their acts of terrorism may 
more highly value material objects, like a new tractor for their farm. 
The bill would also expand the eligibility criteria of informants 
seeking to receive a reward.
  The bill would increase the maximum amount that can be paid by the 
Department of State for information and assistance. The maximum amount 
of a reward increases from $5 million to a maximum of $25 million and 
the Secretary of State may further authorize a reward of up to $50 
million for the capture of or information leading to the capture of 
Usama bin Laden.

  The bill clarifies that any information that disrupts terrorist 
financing networks, including information related to illicit narcotics 
production or international trafficking, is eligible for reward. The 
money laundering information does not need to be tied to a specific act 
of terrorism. This is particularly important, because we face threats 
in our own hemisphere from narco-terrorists. The common denominator for 
each of the many threats, however, is their funding stream. Being able 
to seize terrorist money has an immediate impact on their ability to 
conduct their horrific operations. Compensating an informant for 
financial information is just as vital as learning of the whereabouts 
of a particular actor.
  The provisions in this bill dramatically improve the power of the 
tools available to the Department of State and law enforcement agencies 
to attract and compensate knowledgeable informants. We can't hope to 
place undercover operatives into the places where terrorist and narco-
terrorist leaders plan their deeds. The advanced warning of an attack 
and the corresponding pre-event interdiction is priceless. Therefore, a 
reward is easily justified.

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