[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.

                          ____________________