[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 6, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H1395-H1398]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR COMBATING THE FINANCING OF TRANSNATIONAL CRIMINAL
ORGANIZATIONS ACT
Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 4768) to require the President to develop a national strategy to
combat the financial networks of transnational organized criminals, and
for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 4768
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``National Strategy for
Combating the Financing of Transnational Criminal
Organizations Act''.
SEC. 2. NATIONAL STRATEGY.
(a) In General.--The President, acting through the
Secretary of the Treasury, shall, in consultation with the
Attorney General, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of
Homeland Security, the Director of National Intelligence, the
Secretary of Defense, the Director of the Financial Crimes
Enforcement Network, the Director of the United States Secret
Service, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation,
the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the
Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, the Director
of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, and the
Federal functional regulators, develop a national strategy to
combat the financial networks of transnational organized
criminals.
(b) Transmittal to Congress.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the
enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the
appropriate Congressional committees and make available to
the relevant government agencies as defined in subsection
(a), a comprehensive national strategy in accordance with
subsection (a).
(2) Updates.--After the initial submission of the national
strategy under paragraph (1), the President shall, not less
often than every 2 years, update the national strategy and
submit the updated strategy to the appropriate Congressional
committees.
(c) Separate Presentation of Classified Material.--Any part
of the national strategy that involves information that is
properly classified under criteria established by the
President shall be submitted to Congress separately in a
classified annex and, if requested by the chairman or ranking
member of one of the appropriate Congressional committees, as
a briefing at an appropriate level of security.
SEC. 3. CONTENTS OF NATIONAL STRATEGY.
The national strategy described in section 2 shall contain
the following:
(1) Threats.--An identification and assessment of the most
significant current transnational organized crime threats
posed to the national security of the United States or to the
U.S. and international financial system, including drug and
human trafficking organizations, cyber criminals,
kleptocrats, and other relevant state and non-state entities,
including those threats identified in the President's
``Strategy to Combat Transnational Organized Crime''
(published July 2011).
(2) Illicit finance.--(A) An identification of individuals,
entities, and networks (including terrorist organizations, if
any) that provide financial support or financial facilitation
to transnational organized crime groups, and an assessment of
the scope and role of those providing financial support to
transnational organized crime groups.
(B) An assessment of methods by which transnational
organized crime groups launder illicit proceeds, including
money laundering using real estate and other tangible goods
such as art and antiquities, trade-based money laundering,
bulk cash smuggling, exploitation of shell companies, and
misuse of digital currencies and other cyber technologies, as
well as an assessment of the risk to the financial system of
the United States of such methods.
(3) Goals, objectives, priorities, and actions.--(A) A
comprehensive, research-based, discussion of short-term and
long-term goals, objectives, priorities, and actions, listed
for each department and agency described under section 2(a),
for combating the financing of transnational organized crime
groups and their facilitators.
(B) A description of how the strategy is integrated into,
and supports, the national security strategy, drug control
strategy, and counterterrorism strategy of the United States.
(4) Reviews and proposed changes.--A review of current
efforts to combat the financing or financial facilitation of
transnational organized crime, including efforts to detect,
deter, disrupt, and prosecute transnational organized crime
groups and their supporters, and, if appropriate, proposed
changes to any law or regulation determined to be appropriate
to ensure that the United States pursues coordinated and
effective efforts within the jurisdiction of the United
States, including efforts or actions that are being taken or
can be taken by financial institutions, efforts in
cooperation with international partners of the United States,
and efforts that build partnerships and global capacity to
combat transnational organized crime.
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Financial Services, the Committee on
Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Armed Services, the
Committee on the Judiciary, the Committee on Homeland
Security, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
of the House of Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs,
the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Armed
Services, the Committee on the Judiciary, the Committee on
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and the Select
Committee on Intelligence of the Senate.
(2) Federal functional regulator.--The term ``Federal
functional regulator'' has the meaning given that term in
section 509 of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (15 U.S.C. 6809).
(3) Transnational organized crime.--The term
``transnational organized crime'' refers to those self-
perpetuating associations of individuals who operate
transnationally for the purpose of obtaining power,
influence, monetary or commercial gains, wholly or in part by
illegal means, while--
(A) protecting their activities through a pattern of
corruption or violence; or
(B) while protecting their illegal activities through a
transnational organizational structure and the exploitation
of transnational commerce or communication mechanisms.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Kentucky (Mr. Barr) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky.
General Leave
Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on this bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Kentucky?
There was no objection.
Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4768, the National
Strategy for Combating the Financing of Transnational Criminal
Organizations Act.
I want to, at the outset, applaud and thank my colleague Mr. Kustoff
from Tennessee for his leadership on this important legislation and for
bringing this solution to the Congress and this solution to the
American people.
As Members of Congress, our number one responsibility is the national
security and the well-being of the American people. Unfortunately,
transnational criminal organizations threaten the safety of Americans,
and we must do
[[Page H1396]]
everything in our power to stop them. Transnational criminal
organizations, or TCOs as they are called for short, are engaged in
illegal business ventures around the world such as money laundering,
cybercrime, and the trafficking of drugs, weapons, endangered species,
and even human beings.
While TCOs may not be motivated by a particular radical, political,
or religions ideology, they are motivated by money, and they will stop
at nothing to get it. According to a 2011 report published by the Obama
administration, entitled, ``Strategy to Combat Transnational Organized
Crime,'' TCOs have dramatically ramped up their size, scope, and
influence, and are even teaming up with terrorist organizations and
corrupt foreign officials to expand their networks and conceal their
illicit financial assets.
These TCOs cost the Western Hemisphere about 3.5 percent of gross
domestic product annually, and they generate for themselves around $870
billion, which is roughly the value of the world's largest company,
Apple.
President Trump, on February 9, 2017, issued Executive Order 13773 on
``Enforcing Federal Law with Respect to Transnational Criminal
Organizations and Preventing International Trafficking.''
{time} 1415
It states that TCOs in the form of transnational drug cartels have a
stronghold in America and threaten the safety of the American people.
From former President Obama to current President Trump, TCOs are
recognized as a major risk to national security. That is why I am very
pleased to see that my good friend from Tennessee, Congressman David
Kustoff, has introduced H.R. 4768, the National Strategy for Combating
the Financing of Transnational Criminal Organizations Act.
This legislation requires the President, the Treasury Secretary,
financial regulators, and other appropriate officials to create a
national strategy to combat TCOs and their illicit use of financial
networks. Specifically, the legislation requires them to identify and
assess the largest TCO threats to the United States. It also mandates
that the strategy include the identification of the people or groups
that facilitate access to financial networks for the TCOs through
laundering assets, such as, real estate, art and antiquities, smuggling
bulk cash, exploitation of shell companies, and the use of covert
cryptocurrencies and other cyber technologies.
The legislation also requires the strategy to include long-term and
short-term goals, an explanation of how goals will be integrated into
existing national security apparatuses, and, if needed, suggest
legislative and regulatory changes to better fight against TCOs.
This legislation passed the House Committee on Financial Services
with unanimous support in January, and it is my hope that it passes
with unanimous support today on the House floor.
Mr. Speaker, in addition to Congressman Kustoff, I thank Chairman
Hensarling and Ranking Member Waters for their hard work on this issue.
Together we can, in a bipartisan way, empower our government to better
fight transnational criminal organizations, making the American people
safer and our economy stronger.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote for H.R. 4768, the National
Strategy for Combating the Financing of Transnational Criminal
Organizations Act.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, if ever there is a time for Democrats and Republicans to
come together in a bipartisan fashion, it would be around this issue,
around an issue to combat the financing of transnational criminal
organizations. That is what H.R. 4768 would do. Specifically, it would
require the Secretary of the Treasury to lead the effort, in
consultation with other key agencies and departments, and update the
strategy to fight these organizations at least every 2 years.
Additionally, the legislation requires the administration to assess
the key threats, financial support networks, and methods used by
criminal groups to launder the proceeds of illicit activities. In
passing this legislation, we will not only build upon but also cement
the importance of the interagency approach taken by the prior
administration in combating the impact of global criminal enterprises.
Indeed, in 2010, the Obama administration conducted a comprehensive
assessment of organized crime, the first such review that had taken
place since the mid-1990s. The assessment came to the alarming
conclusion that the threat of global criminal networks had become more
complex, volatile, and destabilizing and that such groups were
proliferating, striking new and powerful alliances, and engaging in a
growing range of illicit activities such as we have never seen before.
To combat this growing threat and lessen its impact both domestically
and on our foreign partners, the Obama administration, in 2011, issued
a comprehensive interagency strategy that identified 56 priority
actions across five strategic objectives. One of these key objectives
included breaking the economic power of transnational criminal networks
and protecting strategic markets and the U.S. financial system from
penetration and abuse by transnational organized crime. This strategic
objective, in particular, resonates with me, as I have always believed
strongly that following the money and using our economic leverage is
the best way to counter illicit activity. This is especially true in
countering transnational criminal organizations, whose primary
objective is economic gain.
In a number of ways, this legislation before us will ensure that the
Treasury, as well as the intelligence and broader U.S. national
security apparatus, remains focused on some of the emerging threats
posed by transnational organized crime groups; including, kleptocrats,
human traffickers, drug traffickers, and cybercriminals.
Additionally, the legislation explicitly requires the administration
to examine how such groups exploit the use of shell companies, misuse
digital currencies and other cyber technologies.
I am also pleased that, with the concurrence of the chairman and the
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Kustoff), the committee agreed to adopt
an amendment offered by Ranking Member Waters that sharpens the bill's
focus on the methods by which transnational organized crime groups
launder illicit funds using real estate and other tangible goods, such
as art and antiquities. These significant vulnerabilities have been
identified as major threats to our national security and the integrity
of our financial system by a broad range of bipartisan experts,
including the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and the Financial
Action Task Force.
For example, just last year, FinCEN noted in a public advisory that:
``Real estate transactions and the real estate market have certain
characteristics that make them vulnerable to abuse by illicit actors. .
. . For these reasons and others, drug traffickers, corrupt officials,
and other criminals can and have used real estate to conceal the
existence and origins of their illicit funds.''
The entities and individuals that have sought to exploit real estate
to conceal illicit funds includes Iranian banks subject to U.S.
sanctions, Russian oligarchs and Russian-organized crime rings, as well
as Venezuelan officials found to be engaged in narcotics trafficking.
The fact that these vulnerabilities are not merely theoretical and
have been used by a wide range of criminal groups should disturb all of
us. We also know that money laundering through the global art and
antiquities market is another key method for washing illicit funds, and
that is undoubtedly being exploited by well-organized transnational
criminal groups. Indeed, we know that the looting and trafficking in
cultural heritage is a source of revenue that has funded ISIS' heinous
activities, and we know that the opaque characteristics of the high-end
art market and its lack of basic anti-money-laundering requirements
make it a target for illicit funds.
So I am pleased that the members of this committee were able to agree
that real estate and art market vulnerabilities should be given due
consideration when it comes to transnational organized crime. Again,
this is one of those
[[Page H1397]]
subjects around which bipartisanship should be assumed.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join in this bipartisan effort and
to support this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from
Tennessee (Mr. Kustoff), a member of the House Financial Services
Committee and a former United States Attorney from the Western District
of Tennessee, who has brought considerable prosecutorial experience in
drafting and authoring this legislation.
Mr. KUSTOFF of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for
yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, the National
Strategy for Combating the Financing of Transnational Criminal
Organizations Act.
On February 9 of 2017, last year, President Trump issued an executive
order directing the Federal Government to combat international drug
trafficking. Now, before I go any further, I want to take note that
this executive order was issued in the third week of the Trump
administration. This early action gives us an idea of how seriously we
must take this issue. The executive order recognizes that illegal drugs
are pouring into our country and they are threatening American safety,
primarily at the hands of cartels and other transnational criminal
organizations.
These criminal organizations are responsible, in large part, for the
rising opioid epidemic sweeping across our Nation. Take my district of
west Tennessee, where we continue to see a rise in the deaths caused by
opioid overdoses. From heroin to fentanyl, and the more potent
synthetic opioid known as carfentanil, we must continue to use every
available resource to prevent the further destruction of our
communities. We have got to say enough is enough.
The important legislation that we are discussing today will create a
plan to track illicit money channels and cut them off at the source.
Specifically, it directs the United States Treasury Department to
develop a national strategy aimed at disrupting these financial crimes.
The Treasury Department will work hand in hand with the Department of
Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of
Justice, the State Department, and the Office of the Director of
National Intelligence to produce a yearly report outlining a strategy
and detailing ways that the United States Government can continue to
prevent these financial crimes.
For far too long, these criminal organizations have used illicit
business ventures to further finance their activities, which range from
money laundering and cybercrime to the trafficking of drugs, human
trafficking, weapons trafficking, and trafficking in endangered
species.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimates that these
cartel and transnational criminal organizations generate nearly $870
billion a year. This money is used to directly threaten the security
and the prosperity of the United States of America and other countries
in the Western Hemisphere. Our legislation is a critical step in
disrupting this illicit finance and putting an end to the needless
crimes committed by cartels.
As we have seen, these organizations have evolved in a continued
effort to evade law enforcement. Therefore, in an effort to stay one
step ahead of these bad actors, we have also got to evolve. These
transnational organizations have developed interstate networks to and
from the border in which drugs come up from Central America and the
cash returns back to the country of origin. We simply cannot stand idly
by as these activities continue. We must keep money out of the hands of
those who intend to cause harm to our Nation.
I think this legislation does exactly that. I greatly appreciate the
hard work done by my colleagues from the Financial Services Committee
on this very important legislation. I urge all my colleagues to support
its passage.
Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Arizona (Ms. Sinema), a cosponsor of this legislation and a
distinguished member of the Financial Services Committee.
Ms. SINEMA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4768, the National
Strategy for Combating the Financing of Transnational Criminal
Organizations Act.
Mr. Speaker, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration's
Phoenix division, the Sinaloa cartel is the biggest, most violent, and
nastiest organization threatening Arizonans, even bigger than MS-13. It
is a dangerous and highly sophisticated organization. Sinaloa smuggles
heroin and methamphetamine across the border into Arizona and, with it,
a pattern of crime, intimidation, and addiction that rips at the very
fabric of our communities.
Arizonans know we need to be tough, smart, and aggressive to confront
Sinaloa and other cartels. Our bill cracks down on the drug cartels and
other international crime syndicates that threaten Arizona families and
our quality of life by hitting them where it hurts: their bank
accounts.
Drug cartels like Sinaloa obtain wealth and power through money
laundering; cybercrime; and human, drugs, and weapons smuggling. To
stop the drug cartels and protect Arizona families, we need a
comprehensive approach to cut off the money that fuels their
operations.
{time} 1430
That is why Congressman Kustoff from Tennessee and I introduced H.R.
4768. This bill requires the administration to develop and execute a
strategy that cuts off funding and other resources for transnational
criminal organizations and to routinely report to Congress and the
American people on the strategy's progress.
Our bill is a commonsense solution that protects Arizona families,
communities, and businesses from the threats of transnational organized
crime.
By focusing on the money, we take a meaningful step in combating
cybercrime, money laundering, drug trafficking, and human trafficking,
as well as other issues that transnational criminals bring to our
communities.
I thank Chairman Hensarling and Ranking Member Waters for supporting
this important legislation, and I will continue working with my
colleagues across the aisle to keep Arizona families safe.
Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Rothfus), the vice chairman of the Financial Services
Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit.
Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Barr for yielding me time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for the National
Strategy for Combating the Financing of Transnational Criminal
Organizations Act. I want to thank my colleague Representative Kustoff
for his work on this important issue.
The Subcommittee on Terrorism and Illicit Finance has been examining
global criminal organizations and the threat they pose to the United
States financial system.
These sophisticated and dangerous organizations, like drug cartels,
increasingly pose a direct threat to the safety and security of all
Americans. They have fueled the opioid crisis that continues to kill
tens of thousands of Americans each year, including the spread of human
trafficking, among a host of other illicit activities.
I want to remind my colleagues that entire communities are still
plagued by this crisis, including hard-hit communities in western
Pennsylvania.
Beyond the opioid crisis, though, I want to highlight an
exceptionally dangerous situation in which the United States finds
itself.
Some of the cartels are now working directly with organizations like
Hezbollah, a terrorist organization, as reflected in a recent Politico
article. Fortunately, the new administration is taking a tougher stance
now with the announcement of a newly created Hezbollah Financing and
Narcoterrorism Team.
Mr. Speaker, it is about time America fought back against this
growing international threat, and this bill will help ensure the
government has a strategy to stay in this fight. Lives depend on it.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from North
[[Page H1398]]
Carolina (Mr. Budd), a member of the Financial Services Committee.
Mr. BUDD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of Mr.
Kustoff's bill, the National Strategy for Combating the Financing of
Transnational Criminal Organizations Act.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my friend for his leadership on this
important issue, even if it does have a really, really long name.
I have seen firsthand how these transnational drug cartels can
disrupt civil society. In my own district, the opioid epidemic has
destroyed innocent people's lives, including kids, while transnational
criminal organizations, or TCOs, profit on people's misery and their
death.
TCOs have brought heroin to our streets and, along with it, increased
crime, placing additional burdens on law enforcement in local
communities.
We are in crisis mode, and targeted steps need to be taken to address
this epidemic at all phases. We have to crack down on the pusher on the
street. We have to crack down on the drug cartels. We have to crack
down on the drug companies that have made a profit from
overprescription and filling suspect orders.
Most of all, we have to crack down on the intricate faceless and
unbelievably complex international criminal organizations that allow
the profits from these activities into our economy.
We must eradicate the international illicit financing networks that
are the linchpin of any criminal organization's operations. But we
don't have a unified national plan.
Luckily, this committee has an opportunity to make a difference by
coming up with a national strategy and plan to attack transnational
criminal organizations' finances.
Mr. Kustoff's bill would direct the Secretary of the Treasury to
provide that plan, a vital first step towards addressing the threat
posed by the growing sophistication of illicit financing networks.
Passing this bill is a significant step toward an effective,
sustained national strategy to attack the funding that makes these TCOs
possible.
Therefore, it is critical that we continue to maximize cooperation
among Federal departments to keep our policies ahead of these
transnational criminals.
Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of Mr. Kustoff's timely and important
piece of legislation.
Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Gaetz).
Mr. GAETZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. I
also thank the gentleman from Tennessee for introducing this
responsible legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I look forward to circumstances where this
administration will have additional tools to deal with transnational
criminal organizations, and I hope that we will use those tools to
counter the threat posed by Hezbollah.
Hezbollah is not a political party. It is not a quaint reflection of
history. It is a web of terrorists and criminals, and that web extends
here to our hemisphere.
In fact, in 2009, there was an arrest made in Philadelphia, where
Hezbollah operatives were looking to move 1,200 machine guns into
Syria.
More recent arrests have been made in Latin America, where countries
like Argentina, Peru, and Paraguay are dealing with an enhanced
Hezbollah presence.
This important legislation will help us build a plan to leverage our
allies, to leverage the Organization of American States and other
assets so that we recognize the threat that Hezbollah and other
terrorist organizations pose and so that we meet that threat head-on.
Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, obviously, as I said, we need a national
strategy to combat the financing of transnational criminal
organizations.
This legislation requires that such a strategy be put together. It is
an issue that crosses virtually every partisan or ideological line. It
is an example of legislation that we all can embrace and should
support.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to do so, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
I, once again, thank my colleagues for supporting this legislation.
In particular, I thank the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Kustoff) for
his leadership on this issue.
I would note, also, in addition to all of the many sound and
persuasive arguments that have been offered for why we need this
legislation, this National Strategy for Combating the Financing of
Transnational Criminal Organizations Act, the National Fraternal Order
of Police has endorsed this legislation, and I include in the Record
their letter.
National Fraternal
Order of Police,
Washington, DC, February 15, 2018.
Hon. Paul D. Ryan,
Speaker of the House, House of Representatives, Washington,
DC.
Hon. Kevin O. McCarthy,
Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Hon. Nancy P. Pelosi,
Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Hon. Steny H. Hoyer,
Minority Whip, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Speaker and Representatives McCarthy, Pelosi, and
Hoyer: I am writing on behalf of the members of the Fraternal
Order of Police to advise you of our support for H.R. 4768,
the ``National Strategy for Combatting the Financing of
Transnational Criminal Organizations Act.''
The Office of National Drug Control Policy was established
to set out our strategy in combatting our nation's drug
problem. Similarly, the Office of Community Oriented Policing
Services has served as the cornerstone for our nation's
crime-fighting efforts for more than two decades. With the
growing threat posed by transnational criminal organizations,
it is important that we adopt a comprehensive national
approach.
President Donald J. Trump took the first step by issuing
Executive Order #13773, the Enforcing Federal Law with
Respect to Transnational Criminal Organizations and
Preventing International Trafficking a year ago. The Threat
Mitigation Working Group was set up to bring Federal agencies
together a common goal of investigating, prosecuting and
dismantling transnational gangs.
This bill would codify part of this Executive Order by
developing a national strategy for combatting transnational
criminal organizations. We need to attack their ability to
profit from unlawful activity-whether it is money laundering,
bulk cash smuggling, shell companies or digital currencies.
Simply put, until we can stop the flow of criminal profits to
these organized, unlawful enterprises, they will continue to
survive no matter how many individuals we arrest and
prosecute.
On behalf of the more than 335,000 members of the Fraternal
Order of Police, we believe this bill will make our country
safe from these transnational criminal organizations. If I
can provide any additional information, please do not
hesitate to contact me or my Senior Advisor, Jim Pasco, in my
Washington office.
Sincerely,
Chuck Canterbury,
National President.
Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, as a Member of Congress representing a State
that has been ravaged by heroin and opioid addiction, I can't think of
a more important thing for this Congress to do than to develop a
national strategy for combating these transnational gangs that are
preying on our communities.
Once again, I commend Mr. Kustoff for his leadership in this area and
in this effort and in this fight. I applaud my colleagues for
supporting the legislation on both sides of the aisle.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Palmer). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Barr) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4768, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________