[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 165 (Monday, December 19, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2615]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TERRORIST REWARDS ENHANCEMENT ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Sunday, December 18, 2005

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of Mr. 
Kirk's ``Terrorist Rewards Enhancement Act of 2005,'' H.R. 2329, which 
would permit those eligible in certain circumstances such as an officer 
or employee of a foreign government to receive a cash reward under the 
Department of State Rewards program. The value of this rewards program 
in dealing with terrorists is beyond dispute.
  I have introduced a bill that would use a virtually identical rewards 
program for dealing with commercial alien smuggling operations, the 
``Commercial Alien Smuggling Elimination Act of 2005,'' the CASE Act, 
H.R. 255. It would provide for cash rewards to facilitate the 
investigation and prosecution, or disruption, of reckless commercial 
alien smuggling operations.
  This is not a controversial idea. The Rewards for Justice Program 
that was established by the 1984 Act to Combat International Terrorism, 
Public Law 98-533, has been very successful. The Rewards for Justice 
Program is administered by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of 
Diplomatic Security. It authorizes the Secretary of State to offer 
rewards for information that prevents or favorably resolves acts of 
international terrorism against U.S. persons or property worldwide. 
Rewards also may be paid for information leading to the arrest or 
conviction of terrorists attempting, committing, conspiring to commit, 
or aiding and abetting in the commission of such acts. The USA PATRIOT 
Act of 2001 authorizes the Secretary to offer or pay rewards of greater 
than $5 million if he determines that a greater amount is necessary to 
combat terrorism or to defend the United States against terrorist acts.
  A well known success of this program occurred a few years ago when a 
$30 million reward was given for critical information that led to the 
location of Uday and Qusay Hussein. Rewards under the CASE Act, 
however, would be limited to $100,000, except as personally authorized 
by the Secretary of the Homeland Security Department.
  I urge you to expand the use of this effective tool to include cash 
rewards to facilitate the investigation and prosecution, or disruption, 
of reckless commercial alien smuggling operations.




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