[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 61 (Wednesday, April 6, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2036-S2037]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO KAY GUINANE

 Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I rise as chairman of the Banking, 
Housing and Urban Affairs Committee to honor and recognize the 
contributions of Kay Guinane upon her retirement from the Charity and 
Security Network.
  In 2009, Ms. Guinane founded the Charity and Security Network--C and 
SN--a resource and advocacy center for nonprofit organizations to 
promote and protect their ability to carry out effective programs that 
support peace and human rights, aid civilians in areas of disaster and 
armed conflict, and build democratic governance.
  Kay formed C and SN after observing significant obstacles in 
achieving critical humanitarian, peacebuilding and human rights 
programs. She recognized laws that restricted interactions with and 
financial support for designated groups and individuals were also 
severely limiting the critical work of civil society programs that 
provided assistance to the most vulnerable populations around the 
world. C and SN blazed a trail in being one of the first nonprofit 
organizations to address these issues.
  Early on, in concert with colleagues around the world who had 
experienced similar impediments, Kay began engaging with elected 
officials and administration policymakers, seeking solutions, including 
the committees in Congress responsible for illicit finance and 
sanctions policy. Kay and her organization were a critical resource for 
the Senate Banking Committee for years as we addressed important policy 
issues, and unintended consequences of certain policies around illicit 
financing, bank de-risking, the conveyance of remittances overseas from 
families in the US--including large communities of Somalis, Ethiopians, 
and people from across Latin America--and other issues.
  In May 2010, Kay testified in the first congressional oversight 
hearing since September 11, 2001, to look at the impact of anti-
terrorist financing enforcement policies on the U.S. charitable sector. 
The hearing entitled, ``Anti-Money Laundering: Blocking Terrorist 
Financing and Its Impact on Lawful Charities,'' was held by the House 
Financial Services subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. During 
the hearing, a Treasury official acknowledged that the laws aimed at 
stopping terrorist financing could have the unintended consequence of 
harming the effectiveness of certain charitable programs. Kay outlined 
specific problems faced by the U.S. nonprofit sector, including the 
issue of banks freezing accounts indefinitely, and noted the negative 
impact of U.S. Treasury enforcement actions on legitimate charitable 
organizations operating solely to assist vulnerable populations.
  Over the next decade, Kay and the work of C and SN were a driving 
force in efforts to address challenges civil society groups had in 
implementing their essential lifesaving, peacebuilding and human rights 
work. Kay's vision and efforts built an impressive network of nearly 
200 organizations internationally with a shared goal of assisting the 
most vulnerable and protecting fundamental civil liberties. These 
organizations addressed issues surrounding civil societal concerns and 
financial access restrictions for nonprofits to combating obstacles in 
reaching general populations due to specific sanctioned entities.
  By drawing on legal expertise, firsthand experiences of those working 
with these limitations, and policy analysis, the work of C and SN has 
helped raise awareness of and craft solutions for civil society and 
human rights concerns around the world. It has also resulted in 
tangible improvements in regulations, international guidelines, and 
policies. One notable and tangible

[[Page S2037]]

legislative victory was in key provisions of the Anti-Money Laundering 
Act of 2020, which assisted to improve financial access for charities.
  While her steadfast work will be missed, Kay's legacy at C and SN and 
its network of affiliates will have an impact on global civil liberties 
and human rights issues going forward. I offer her my heartfelt 
congratulations to her on her retirement, and wish her--and C and SN, 
which she leaves in good hands--all the best going forward.

                          ____________________