[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 196 (Wednesday, November 18, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H5921-H5922]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1545
             AMENDING DEPARTMENT OF STATE'S REWARDS PROGRAM

  Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4802) to amend the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 
1956 to authorize rewards under the Department of State's rewards 
program relating to information regarding individuals or entities 
engaged in activities in contravention of United States or United 
Nations sanctions, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4802

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. AMENDMENT TO DEPARTMENT OF STATE REWARDS PROGRAM.

       Subsection (b) of section 36 of the State Department Basic 
     Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2708) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (11), by striking ``or'' after the 
     semicolon at the end;
       (2) in paragraph (12), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting ``; or''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(13) the identification or location of an individual or 
     entity that--
       ``(A) knowingly, directly or indirectly, imports, exports, 
     or reexports to, into, or from any country any goods, 
     services, or technology controlled for export by the United

[[Page H5922]]

     States because of the use of such goods, services, or 
     technology in contravention of a United States or United 
     Nations sanction; or
       ``(B) knowingly, directly or indirectly, provides training, 
     advice, or other services or assistance, or engages in 
     significant financial transactions, relating to any such 
     goods, services, or technology in contravention of such 
     sanction.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Espaillat) and the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
to include any extraneous material on H.R. 4802.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this measure and want to thank the 
authors, Mr. Wilson and Mr. Deutch, for their hard work and leadership.
  Since its establishment in 1984, the State Department's Rewards for 
Justice Program has awarded more than $150 million to those who help 
the United States Government bring terrorists and criminals to justice.
  Over the years, we have expanded the scope of this effort, offering 
rewards related to a wider range of crimes and ensnaring more people 
who mean Americans harm. This legislation would add more and more tools 
to the toolbox.
  This bill was inspired by a former Syrian diplomat and defector named 
Bassam Barabandi. As an employee of the Syrian Embassy here in 
Washington, D.C., he worked with antiregime activists to provide 
passports to critics of Bashar al-Assad, and for years after his 
defection, Barabandi supplied the United States Government with 
information on Syrian oligarchs close to the Assad regime. This 
includes information on Samer Foz, who was ultimately the target of 
American sanctions.
  We want to incentivize more people like Mr. Barabandi to come forward 
with information that will ultimately enhance compliance with the U.S. 
and international sanctions, increase confidence in the rule of law, 
and bring to justice criminals and rogue regimes seeking to circumvent 
U.S. law.
  This bill expands the Rewards for Justice Program by authorizing 
rewards for individuals who provide information on those who evade the 
United States' and the United Nations' sanctions.
  This is a smart bill that builds on a successful program. I am 
pleased to support it, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of another bill I introduced 
with my friend and subcommittee colleague Chairman Ted Deutch from 
Florida, H.R. 4802.
  This bill will expand the Rewards for Justice Program at the State 
Department to authorize rewards for individuals coming forward with 
information on sanctions evasion practices.
  The bill was inspired by Bassam Barabandi, a courageous Syrian 
patriot and former diplomat at the Syrian Embassy here in Washington 
who worked with the antiregime activists to provide passports to 
critics of the criminal Assad regime, promoting the best interests of 
the people of Syria.
  For years after his defection, Barabandi lobbied the U.S. Government 
and provided detailed information on Syrian oligarchs close to Assad 
and their sanctions evasion practices, including information on Samer 
Foz, who was ultimately sanctioned by the Treasury last year. He has 
courageously authored ``The Blacklist,'' which fully documents those 
who repress the talented people of Syria.
  Barabandi's case highlighted the need to create a clearer mechanism 
to incentivize individuals to come forward with this kind of vital 
information. H.R. 4802 will do just that. It will ultimately enhance 
compliance with U.S. and international sanctions, increase confidence 
in the rule of law, and bring criminals and rogue regimes seeking to 
circumvent U.S. law to justice.
  For sanctions to be successful, we must have the best information on 
their ability to hit their intended targets. We must pass many 
sanctions bills in this body, but it is far easier to pass a sanctions 
bill than it is to enforce it.
  Expanding the Rewards for Justice Program will allow us to acquire 
information on illegal activity that supports the regimes of Iran, 
North Korea, and other rogue states from the grassroots. Better 
information equals better enforcement on behalf of the persecuted 
persons of those countries. Better enforcement equals better results.
  We should pass this bill and help make sure that the sanctions 
policies are as effective as possible.
  Mr. Speaker, there being no further speakers, again, I thank Bassam 
Barabandi for his courage as a patriot for the people of Syria in the 
face of the evil Assad regime. He is currently awaiting a decision from 
USCIS regarding his request for asylum in the United States, and I hope 
and pray that the Department of Homeland Security rewards this hero of 
democracy for the people of Syria for his bravery.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, let me again thank Mr. Wilson and Mr. 
Deutch for bringing this bill forward. I urge a ``yes'' vote, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Espaillat) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4802.
  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.

                          ____________________