[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 204 (Thursday, December 3, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H6082-H6083]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    WAR CRIMES REWARDS EXPANSION ACT

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 1819) to amend the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 
to provide for rewards for the arrest or conviction of certain foreign 
nationals who have committed genocide or war crimes, and for other 
purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1819

       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 ``War Crimes Rewards Expansion 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF STATE REWARDS PROGRAM.

       Paragraph (10) of section 36(b) of the State Department 
     Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2708(b)) is amended 
     by striking ``defined under the statute of such tribunal;'' 
     and inserting the following: ``defined under--
       ``(A) the statute of such country or tribunal, as the case 
     may be; or
       ``(B) United States law;''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Engel) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 
5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on H.R. 1819, the War Crimes Rewards 
Expansion Act.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support the War Crimes Rewards Expansion 
Act, and I thank Congresswoman Foxx for her hard work on this bill.
  This bipartisan measure enhances the War Crimes Rewards Program, 
which enables the United States to pay rewards to individuals who 
provide information that leads to the arrest or conviction of foreign 
nationals who commit war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide.
  This initiative has led to the capture of fugitives who committed 
atrocities in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia. This War Crimes Rewards 
Expansion Act will strengthen this rewards program and ensure that it 
can be used to bring perpetrators to justice, whether it is in domestic 
courts or international tribunals.
  Mr. Speaker, American foreign policy should reflect our values, 
including the promotion of human rights, and we must do everything 
possible to bring justice to victims of atrocities and hold 
perpetrators accountable. This legislation is an important step in that 
direction, and I am pleased to support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, sadly, we live in a world where crimes against humanity 
still occur. We have seen two declared genocides in just the last 20 
years--in Darfur in 2004, and by ISIS in 2016.

[[Page H6083]]

  We have seen the horrific ethnic cleanings against the Rohingya in 
Burma. We have seen the atrocities committed by Assad against his own 
people in Syria. But bringing the criminals behind these massacres to 
justice can be difficult. That is why 35 years ago, we enacted the 
State Department's Rewards program. It authorizes the Secretary of 
State to offer rewards for the arrest or conviction of some of the most 
dangerous people in the world.
  Originally written to be used against international terrorists, the 
successful program has since been expanded to include drug traffickers, 
war criminals, and perpetrators of genocide. As the world changes and 
as the international criminals evolve, we need to make sure this 
important program evolves with them. And that is why I urge my 
colleagues to join us in supporting the War Crimes Rewards Expansion 
Act.
  Mr. Speaker, the bill makes clear that these rewards are not just 
meant to support international tribunals. They can also be used to 
bring these dangerous criminals to justice here in the United States, 
under United States law.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the author of this bill, the gentlewoman from 
North Carolina (Ms. Foxx), and my good friend, Chairman Engel, for 
considering this bill today, which deserves our support.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I echo the words of Mr. McCaul. I am pleased to support 
this legislation, and I urge all Members to do the same.
  Mr. Speaker, 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. Engel) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1819.
  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.

                          ____________________