[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 171 (Monday, December 31, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2017]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 DEPARTMENT OF STATE REWARDS PROGRAM UPDATE AND TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS 
                              ACT OF 2012

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Sunday, December 30, 2012

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise as a cosponsor of the State 
Department Rewards Program Update Act to thank my House colleagues 
Representatives Berman and Ros-Lehtinen for their collaboration on the 
bill and also to thank Senator Kerry for introducing and managing the 
Senate companion.
  This measure expands on the authority of the State Department to 
issue rewards for information that leads to the arrest and conviction 
of people accused of the commission of armed terrorist attacks, drug 
trafficking, cybercrimes, animal poaching and transnational organized 
crimes. I added my name as a cosponsor to the bill because I hoped it 
would contribute to existing international efforts to capture Joseph 
Kony, the guerrilla leader of the Lord's Resistance Army who has 
abducted, tortured, abused and forced thousands of children into a life 
of brutal violence and sexual slavery. Though one of Kony's top 
lieutenants has been captured, Kony remains on the run.
  With the passage of this measure, more resources will be made 
available to help bring him to justice. I encourage my colleagues to 
join me in support of the bill.

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