[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 152 (Wednesday, September 12, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H8155-H8157]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RESCUING ANIMALS WITH REWARDS ACT OF 2018
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 6197) to amend the State Department Basic
Authorities Act of 1956 to authorize rewards for thwarting wildlife
trafficking linked to transnational organized crime, and for other
purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 6197
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 ``Rescuing Animals With
Rewards Act of 2018'' or the ``RAWR Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) Wildlife trafficking is a major transnational crime
that is estimated to generate over $10 billion a year in
illegal profits and which is increasingly perpetrated by
organized, sophisticated criminal enterprises, including
known terrorist organizations.
(2) Wildlife trafficking not only threatens endangered
species worldwide, but also jeopardizes local security,
spreads disease, undermines rule of law, fuels corruption,
and damages economic development.
(3) Combating wildlife trafficking requires a coordinated
and sustained approach at the global, regional, national, and
local levels.
(4) Congress stated in the Eliminate, Neutralize, and
Disrupt Wildlife Trafficking Act of 2016 that it is the
policy of the United States to take immediate actions to stop
the illegal global trade in wildlife and wildlife products
and associated transnational organized crime.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the Department of State's rewards program is a powerful tool
in combating sophisticated international crime and that the
Department of State and Federal law enforcement should work
in concert to offer rewards that target wildlife traffickers.
SEC. 3. REWARDS FOR JUSTICE.
Subparagraph (B) of section 36(k)(5) of the State
Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C.
2708(k)(5)) is amended by inserting ``wildlife trafficking
(as defined by section 2(12) of the Eliminate, Neutralize,
and Disrupt Wildlife Trafficking Act of 2016 (16 U.S.C.
7601(12); Public Law 114-231)) and'' after ``includes''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Royce) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
General Leave
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their
remarks and to include any extraneous materials in the Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this measure, which targets
transnational wildlife traffickers through the State Department's
existing global rewards program. These rewards will serve as a powerful
tool to capture and to convict--to convict--wanted transnational
criminals and terrorists who profit from the illegal wildlife trade.
Last week as we opened the papers, there were 87 elephant carcasses
discovered in Botswana's Okavango Delta. These animals were shot by
poachers. They were brutally stripped of their tusks. They were left to
die.
This is a very real and urgent issue. Wildlife trafficking is
generating over $10 billion a year in illegal profits for increasingly
sophisticated criminal syndicates, and it is also generating profits
for terrorists who are involved in this kind of slaughter. The illegal
ivory trade is especially lucrative.
Mr. Speaker, for years now, I have been engaged in this effort to
save some of the most endangered species. During a recent trip to
Tanzania, my colleagues and I met with the law enforcement and park
rangers on the front lines. They told us how they were outmanned. They
are outgunned. They are up against sophisticated criminal networks that
use helicopters, that use night vision goggles.
We have met with local communities impacted by these crimes, who
explain how wildlife trafficking jeopardizes local security, spreads
disease, of course undermines the rule of law. It fuels corruption. It
damages economic development.
Wildlife trafficking is a serious national security threat, and
combating it requires a global approach to identifying and apprehending
the world's worst offenders. And time is not on our side. Each day of
inaction means more animals poached, more cash for criminal syndicates
and terrorists.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the bill's author, Representative Donovan, as
well as cosponsors Castro and Ranking Member Eliot Engel for their work
on this important measure. I urge my colleagues to join me in support
of this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6197, the Rescuing Animals
With Rewards Act of 2018.
I would like to begin by thanking Mr. Donovan and Mr. Castro for
introducing this important legislation, and I would also like to thank
Chairman Royce for his incredible efforts over many, many years to
promote the conservation of wildlife and wild places.
In recent years, Congress has taken a number of important steps to
combat wildlife trafficking, but the situation remains dire. Over the
last 10 years, one-third of African elephants have been slaughtered for
their tusks.
Let me say that again. Over the last 10 years, one-third of African
elephants have been slaughtered for their tusks. That is a shocking
statistic.
Rhino populations have also been decimated, and many other species
are at risk.
Protecting wildlife is the right thing to do. I know the Wildlife
Conservation Society does a really good job. My good friend John
Calvelli is leading the charge there, and so I am very aware of what we
need to do to protect our wildlife.
But not only is it the right thing to do, it also serves American
national security interests. Wildlife trafficking feeds corruption,
undermines the rule of law, threatens economic prosperity, and drives
instability, and it is carried out by many of the same international
criminal syndicates engaged in the trafficking of drugs, weapons, and
people.
This bipartisan, commonsense legislation before us today provides our
government with a tool it can use to tackle the illegal trade in
wildlife. Specifically, it authorizes rewards under the State
Department's Rewards for Justice program for information leading to the
arrest or conviction of those engaged in wildlife trafficking. This can
provide a powerful financial incentive for people to turn in those
responsible for this appalling activity.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of our colleagues to support this bipartisan
legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Donovan), a member of the Committee on
Foreign Affairs, a former prosecutor. He is the author of this bill.
Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to sponsor the RAWR Act, Rescuing Animals
With Rewards, H.R. 6197.
The RAWR Act will help ensure that taking down terrorists and
transnational criminal organizations engaged in wildlife trafficking
and poaching will be a top Rewards priority.
Combating terrorism is of the utmost importance, not just to my
constituents, not just to New Yorkers, but to the entire Nation. It is
an issue that transcends party lines.
Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter of support from the
Wildlife Conservation Society and a letter of
[[Page H8156]]
support and endorsement from the Humane Society of the United States,
the Humane Society Legislative Fund, and Humane Society International.
Wildlife Conservation Society,
Bronx, NY, September 12, 2018.
Hon. Daniel M. Donovan, Jr.,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Congressman Donovan: The Wildlife Conservation Society
writes to express our support for H.R. 6197, the RAWR Act, as
a way to help crack down on the destabilizing criminal
trafficking that threatens both wildlife and U.S. economic
and security interests.
The RAWR Act would allow the U.S. Department of State to
add wildlife trafficking, as defined by the END Wildlife
Trafficking Act, to the list of transnational criminal
activities for which it may provide monetary rewards to
informants and tipsters. As the founders of the 96 Elephants
campaign, dedicated to stopping the killing, trafficking and
demand for illegal wildlife, we would applaud this change.
Wildlife trafficking is a serious national security issue.
The transnational organized criminal groups that profit from
illegal wildlife products are the same ones trafficking in
weapons, narcotics and people. This activity destabilizes
regions important for U.S. economic interests and undermines
the good governance and the rule of law.
Targeting wildlife trafficking is essential if we want
future generations to live in a world that is still home to
our most iconic animals. The demand for ivory, rhino horn,
tiger skins, and other products is causing those endangered
species and many others to rapidly diminish.
WCS works globally to disrupt wildlife trafficking networks
and the criminals that run them, creating and sharing
intelligence products with government enforcement agencies,
and improving communications at the national and
international scale to implement proactive enforcement
activities. The passage of the RAWR Act would add an
effective new tactic to the efforts to stop wildlife
trafficking.
We appreciate all your work on international conservation
issues, from taking part in last year's ivory crush in New
York's Central Park to leading on the push for U.S.
government investments in global anti-trafficking programs,
which has been of invaluable assistance in securing the
world's endangered wildlife.
____
September 11, 2018.
Hon. Dan Donovan,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Representative Donovan: We are pleased to offer the
support and endorsement of The Humane Society of the United
States, Humane Society Legislative Fund, and Humane Society
International for the Rescuing Animals With Rewards (RAWR)
Act of 2018, H.R. 6197.
Wildlife trafficking is one of the biggest global threats
to wild animals and one of the most lucrative illicit trades
in the world, generating more than $10 billion a year. It is
a main culprit in the declines of countless species, from
elephants and tigers to pangolins. The underground revenues
of the trade also threaten the rule of law by fueling
international organized crime and terrorism.
The RAWR Act takes a positive step against wildlife
trafficking by building on the success of the Eliminate,
Neutralize, and Disrupt Wildlife Trafficking Act of 2016
(P.L. 114-231), authorizing the U.S. Department of State to
use its successful rewards program to target wildlife
traffickers globally and to combat international crime
networks, including known terrorist organizations.
We commend you and Representative Castro for introducing
this bill, and we urge all Members of the U.S. House of
Representatives to support it.
Sincerely,
Kitty Block,
Acting President & CEO, The Humane Society of the United
States.
Sara Amundson,
President, Humane Society Legislative Fund.
Teresa M. Telecky, Ph.D.,
Vice President, Wildlife Humane Society International.
Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, yesterday was the 17th anniversary of
September 11. It was a stark reminder of the danger terrorism poses to
the Nation every single day.
The district I represent, Staten Island and South Brooklyn, which is
home to many of New York's bravest and finest, suffered hundreds of
casualties on September 11. Since then, New York remains the world's
number one target for terrorism.
As a nation, we have become a more resilient and determined nation to
mitigate threats against us; but as we have choked off other resources
of money, terrorists have increasingly turned to wildlife trafficking
as a way to fund their heinous endeavors. Any step that we can take
that will lead to the capture and conviction of anyone engaged in
wildlife trafficking, especially terrorists, is a step in the right
direction.
Reports indicate that crimes related to illegal wildlife trafficking
generate billions of dollars a year. These illicit funds turn into
terrorist financing, fuel instability, and help arm groups in Africa.
The prices that wildlife traffickers can fetch for hunting and
ruthlessly killing animals are staggering. Conservation groups estimate
that a kilogram of raw ivory can be worth as much as $2,100, while a
kilogram of rhino horn can be worth $65,000.
I am confident that the Foreign Affairs Committee and the House of
Representatives will continue to fight against this problem.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my chairman, Chairman Royce, for his
support on this bill and the ranking member and my colleague from New
York, Eliot Engel. I thank my friend, Congressman Castro, for co-
leading with me, and I thank the House leadership for bringing this
bill to the floor.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank the staff of the Foreign
Affairs Committee, especially Meg Gallagher and Sean O'Neill, who put
much work into this act.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Nevada (Ms. Titus), a cosponsor of this bill and, as I said before, a
very valued House Foreign Affairs Committee member.
Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and I
thank Ranking Member Engel for his leadership in this.
I, too, rise in support of H.R. 6197. It is a bill that will combat
the illegal wildlife trade by authorizing rewards for information on
wildlife traffickers through the State Department's Rewards for Justice
program.
First, I want to thank the cosponsors, Representatives Donovan and
Castro, for their work on this bipartisan legislation, along with
Chairman Royce, who has dedicated his career to helping animals in
faraway places.
Wildlife trafficking generates over $10 billion, annually, for
transnational criminal networks. As such, it not only decimates
endangered wildlife species, but it also threatens security and fuels
corruption.
H.R. 6197 gives the State Department another tool to go after
wildlife traffickers, and it positively complements the END Wildlife
Trafficking Act, which recognizes wildlife trafficking as a serious
crime.
Together, these two efforts will fuel a multipronged, coordinated
approach to combating the illegal wildlife trade and will help to bring
the perpetrators to justice.
As an advocate for wildlife protections, I am proud to cosponsor this
legislation, and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of it today and
end this wildlife trafficking practice.
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, let me say in closing, I want to again thank Mr. Donovan
and Mr. Castro for authoring this bill and Chairman Royce for his
extraordinary leadership in efforts to combat wildlife trafficking.
It is shocking to me that in the year 2018 people still want to kill
majestic animals like elephants and rhinos for their body parts. It is
just disgusting.
We need to continue our support of a multipronged effort to address
the poaching crisis, going after the international criminal networks
that drive this illicit trade, working with other governments to
establish and enforce tough laws against wildlife trafficking,
partnering with local communities in the countries where animals live
to make sure they have a stake in protecting wildlife, and educating
consumers about the consequences of their decisions to purchase illegal
wildlife products, because we really need to hit them in their
pocketbooks. If people are purchasing these things, the illicit
trafficking is going to continue.
{time} 1830
The bipartisan legislation before us today will provide one
additional tool in the fight against wildlife trafficking, and I urge
my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to join me in supporting it.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
[[Page H8157]]
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, a former district attorney like Dan Donovan can tell
you, if you are trying to get the attention of a thug, there is nothing
like a reward on your head to create real fear for that terrorist or
that criminal.
We want wildlife traffickers to know the fear of being hunted. It is
time we send the message to wildlife traffickers around the world that
the United States will use every tool at our disposal to stop them and
to take them down.
Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of the bill, and I yield back the balance
of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 6197.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________