[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 194 (Thursday, November 4, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1199]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       DOD JOINT TASK FORCES TO SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

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                          HON. JOHN GARAMENDI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 4, 2021

  Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, today I introduce legislation to make 
permanent and expand the U.S. Department of Defense's authority to use 
funds from the counterterrorism and drug interdiction budgetary account 
for federal interagency Joint Task Forces.
  These DOD Joint Task Forces coordinate the military and federal 
agencies on counternarcotics, counterterrorism, or counter-
transnational organized crime activities. United States Africa Command 
(AFRICOM) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service use this Joint Task 
Forces funding authority to conduct anti-trafficking and poaching 
activities in Sub-Saharan Africa. As the former Deputy Secretary of the 
Interior during the Clinton Administration, I strongly support USFWS's 
International Affairs Program and wildlife conservation work globally, 
particularly by that agency's law enforcement officers.
  Since first authorized by the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Law 108-136), Congress has renewed the 
authority for these Joint Task Forces several times on a temporary 
basis. Without Congressional action in the NOAA, this authority will 
sunset at the end of fiscal year 2022. As chairman of the House Armed 
Services Subcommittee on Readiness, I plan to make permanently 
reauthorizing this critical authority a priority during the FY2022 NOAA 
conference negotiations.
  In the House-passed FY2020 NOAA (Public Law 116-92), I secured 
directive report language on the military's support for combating 
illicit trafficking, including wildlife and wildlife products. Making 
the authority for these Joint Task Forces permanent builds upon that 
work.
  Madam Speaker, I look forward to continue working with my colleagues 
on the House Armed Services Committee to support AFRICOM's efforts with 
other federal agencies to combat wildlife trafficking and poaching.

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