[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 16937-16943]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        GLOBAL ANTI-POACHING ACT

  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 2494) to support global anti-poaching efforts, strengthen the 
capacity of partner countries to counter wildlife trafficking, 
designate major wildlife trafficking countries, and for other purposes, 
as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2494

       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 ``Global Anti-Poaching Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) Poaching and the illicit trade in endangered and 
     threatened wildlife are among the most lucrative criminal 
     activities worldwide, worth an estimated $7 to $10 billion 
     annually.
       (2) Poaching and wildlife trafficking have escalated in 
     scale, sophistication and violence, risking the potential 
     extinction of some of the world's most iconic species.
       (3) Wildlife poaching and trafficking threaten elephants, 
     rhinoceros, and tigers greatly, but also have devastating 
     impact on a number of other species, including sharks, great 
     apes, and turtles.
       (4) The high demand for rare wildlife products has driven 
     prices to historically high levels.
       (5) Much of the demand for wildlife products comes from 
     Asia and is fueled by the perceived medicinal value and 
     social status associated with these products.
       (6) Reporting indicates that a number of rebel groups and 
     terrorist organizations, including Sudan's Janjaweed militia, 
     the Lord's Resistance Army, the Seleka rebel movement in the 
     Central African Republic, and Somalia's al-Shabaab, either 
     participate in or draw funding from illicit wildlife 
     trafficking networks.
       (7) Analyses suggest the high demand for illegal wildlife 
     products, combined with weak law enforcement and security 
     measures and corruption and governance failures, has led to 
     the increased involvement of transnational organized crime in 
     wildlife trafficking.
       (8) The United Nations Security Council has authorized 
     multilateral sanctions against individuals and entities 
     supporting armed groups through the illicit trade in 
     wildlife, in addition to other natural resources, in the 
     Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African 
     Republic.
       (9) A National Intelligence Council analysis of wildlife 
     poaching threats found that certain African government 
     officials facilitated the movement of wildlife products, and 
     that these governments' ability to reduce poaching and 
     trafficking was hindered by corruption and weak rule of law.
       (10) On November 13, 2013, the Secretary of State announced 
     the first reward under the Transnational Organized Crime 
     Rewards Program for information leading to the dismantling of 
     the Xaysavang Network, a large wildlife trafficking syndicate 
     that is based in Laos and spans Africa and Asia.

     SEC. 3. EXPANSION OF WILDLIFE ENFORCEMENT NETWORKS.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) Wildlife enforcement networks are government-led, 
     regionally-focused mechanisms that increase capacity and 
     coordination efforts between law enforcement, environmental 
     agencies, and other entities focused on countering wildlife 
     trafficking of member countries.
       (2) Currently there are active wildlife enforcement 
     networks in Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Central America. 
     The more mature wildlife enforcement networks, such as the 
     Southeast Asia wildlife enforcement

[[Page 16938]]

     network, have proven effective in dismantling transnational 
     wildlife trafficking networks and bringing to justice those 
     individuals involved in the illegal trade of endangered and 
     threatened species.
       (3) Efforts are underway to establish additional wildlife 
     enforcement networks in Central Africa, the Horn of Africa, 
     South America, and Central and West Asia, among other 
     regions.
       (b) Statement of Policy.--The Secretary of State, the 
     Administrator of the United States Agency for International 
     Development, the Director of the United States Fish and 
     Wildlife Service, and heads of other appropriate agencies 
     should, in an effort to address regional threats to 
     biodiversity and conservation, support strengthening existing 
     wildlife enforcement networks and the establishment of new 
     networks in other appropriate regions.
       (c) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that in 
     the process of strengthening and expanding wildlife 
     enforcement networks, the appropriate agencies should--
       (1) assess the existing capacity of wildlife enforcement 
     network member countries to gather baseline data that may be 
     used for developing program activities for the wildlife 
     enforcement network;
       (2) establish a central secretariat within each wildlife 
     enforcement network that will coordinate the operational 
     mechanisms of each such network;
       (3) establish a focal mechanism in each member country of a 
     wildlife enforcement network, that includes representatives 
     from environmental and wildlife protection agencies, law 
     enforcement agencies, financial intelligence units, customs 
     and border protection agencies, and the judiciary system, 
     that will serve as a conduit to the larger wildlife 
     enforcement network and the central secretariat;
       (4) strengthen cooperation and the capacity of law 
     enforcement agencies of the wildlife enforcement network;
       (5) facilitate the sharing of intelligence and relevant 
     case information within the agencies of a wildlife 
     enforcement network;
       (6) support the cooperation and coordination between 
     different regional wildlife enforcement networks;
       (7) incorporate and utilize expertise from international 
     bodies and civil society organizations that have appropriate 
     subject matter expertise;
       (8) eventually create an institutionalized, sustainable, 
     and self-sufficient platform; and
       (9) recognize that lawful, well regulated hunting can 
     contribute to sustainability and economic development, and 
     that enforcement policies should not discourage or impede 
     this activity.

     SEC. 4. SUPPORTING THE PROFESSIONALIZATION OF THE WILDLIFE 
                   LAW ENFORCEMENT SECTOR.

       The Secretary of State, the Administrator of the United 
     States Agency for International Development, the Director of 
     the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and heads of 
     other appropriate agencies, including the National Park 
     Service and the United States Forest Service, should, in an 
     effort to address local and regional threats to biodiversity 
     and conservation and support the rule of law and good 
     governance, promote the professionalization of the wildlife 
     law enforcement sector and professional ranger training in 
     partner countries through support and technical assistance 
     for the following:
       (1) The creation and adoption of standards for professional 
     ranger training and qualifications, including in relevant 
     international fora and multilateral agreements.
       (2) Training and accreditation systems based on the 
     standards described in paragraph (1) that produce 
     professionally trained and qualified rangers and promote the 
     overall professionalization of ranger forces, whether through 
     existing United States institutions, such as International 
     Law Enforcement Academies, or through partnerships with 
     national or regional training institutions.
       (3) Legal reforms, where necessary, to provide rangers with 
     authority to detain and arrest suspects, process crime 
     scenes, present evidence in court, and defend themselves in 
     life threatening situations.
       (4) The development and institutionalization of reward and 
     promotion systems for rangers based on performance and set 
     competencies.
       (5) The development and institutionalization of national 
     systems to provide insurance to rangers and their families 
     and compensation for those rangers killed in the line of 
     duty.
       (6) Cooperation and coordination between local law 
     enforcement tasked with wildlife or park protection and local 
     defense forces, where appropriate, including training 
     opportunities, logistical support, or provision of equipment.

     SEC. 5. DESIGNATION OF MAJOR WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING COUNTRIES 
                   AND AUTHORITY TO WITHHOLD CERTAIN ASSISTANCE.

       (a) Report.--Not later than September 15 of each year, the 
     Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the 
     Interior and the Secretary of Commerce, shall submit to 
     Congress a report that lists each foreign country determined 
     to be a major source of wildlife trafficking products or 
     their derivatives, a major transit point of wildlife 
     trafficking products or their derivatives, or a major 
     consumer of wildlife trafficking products or their 
     derivatives.
       (b) Special Designation.--In each report required under 
     subsection (a), the Secretary of State, in consultation with 
     the Secretary of Interior and the Secretary of Commerce, 
     shall--
       (1) designate each country listed in the report that has 
     failed demonstrably, during the previous 12-month period, to 
     make substantial efforts to adhere to its obligations under 
     international agreements relating to endangered or threatened 
     species; and
       (2) include a short justification for each determination 
     made under paragraph (1).
       (c) Withholding of Assistance.--The Secretary of State may 
     withhold assistance described in subsection (d) with respect 
     to each foreign country that is specially designated under 
     subsection (b).
       (d) Assistance Described.--The assistance described in this 
     subsection are sections 516, 524, and 541 of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2321j, 2344, or 2347), 
     chapter 6 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 
     (22 U.S.C. 2348 et seq.), and section 23 of the Arms Export 
     Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2763).
       (e) Notification.--The Secretary of State shall notify--
       (1) the government of each foreign country that is listed 
     in the report required under subsection (a) that the country 
     has been so listed; and
       (2) the government of each foreign country that is 
     specially designated under subsection (b) and is subject to 
     the withholding of assistance described in subsection (c).
       (f) Reporting Cost Offset.--Section 8 of Public Law 107-245 
     (50 U.S.C. 1701 note) is repealed.
       (g) Sunset.--This section shall terminate on the date that 
     is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 6. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING SECURITY ASSISTANCE TO 
                   COUNTER WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING AND POACHING IN 
                   AFRICA.

       It is the sense of Congress that the United States should 
     continue to provide defense articles (not including 
     significant military equipment), defense services, and 
     related training to appropriate security forces of countries 
     of Africa for the purposes of countering wildlife trafficking 
     and poaching.

     SEC. 7. UPDATES TO THE FISHERMEN'S PROTECTIVE ACT OF 1967.

       Section 8 of the Fishermen's Protective Act of 1967 (22 
     U.S.C. 1978) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``, in consultation with 
     the Secretary of State,'' after ``Secretary of Commerce'';
       (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``, in consultation with 
     the Secretary of State,'' before ``finds'';
       (C) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``in consultation with 
     the Secretary of State,'' after ``, as appropriate,'';
       (D) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5), and by 
     inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
       ``(4) The Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the 
     Interior shall each report to the Congress each certification 
     to the President made by such Secretary under this 
     subsection, within 15 days after making such 
     certification.''; and
       (2) in subsection (d), by inserting ``in consultation with 
     the Secretary of State,'' after ``as the case may be,''.

     SEC. 8. WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING VIOLATIONS AS PREDICATE OFFENSES 
                   UNDER RACKETEERING AND MONEY LAUNDERING 
                   STATUTES.

       (a) Travel Act.--Section 1952 of title 18, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (b)--
       (A) by striking ``or (3)'' and inserting ``(3)''; and
       (B) by striking ``of this title and (ii)'' and inserting 
     the following: ``of this title, or (4) any act that is a 
     criminal violation of section 9(a)(1) of the Endangered 
     Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1538(a)(1)), section 2203 of 
     the African Elephant Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 4223), or 
     section 7(a) of the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 
     1994 (16 U.S.C. 5305a(a)), if the endangered or threatened 
     species, products, items, or substances involved in the 
     violation and relevant conduct, as applicable, have a total 
     value of more than $10,000 and (ii)''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(f) Use of Amounts From Fines, Forfeitures, and 
     Restitution Relating to Wildlife Trafficking Violations.--Any 
     amounts received by the United States as fines, forfeitures 
     of property or assets, or restitution to the Government for 
     any violation under this section that involves an unlawful 
     activity described in subsection (b)(i)(4) shall be 
     transferred by the Secretary of the Treasury, to the extent 
     practicable, to the Multinational Species Conservation Fund 
     and used as provided in advance in appropriations Acts for 
     the benefit of the species impacted by the applicable 
     violation.''.
       (b) Money Laundering.--Section 1956 of title 18, United 
     States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (c)(7)--
       (A) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``or'' at the end;
       (B) in subparagraph (F), by adding ``or'' at the end; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:

[[Page 16939]]

       ``(G) any act or acts constituting a criminal violation of 
     section 9(a)(1) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 
     U.S.C. 1538(a)(1)), section 2203 of the African Elephant 
     Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 4223), or section 7(a) of the 
     Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 (16 U.S.C. 
     5305a(a)), if the endangered or threatened species, products, 
     items, or substances involved in the violation and relevant 
     conduct, as applicable, have a total value of more than 
     $10,000;''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(j) Use of Amounts From Civil Penalties, Fines, 
     Forfeitures, and Restitution Relating to Wildlife Trafficking 
     Violations.--Any amounts received by the United States as 
     fines, forfeitures of property or assets, or restitution to 
     the Government for any violation under this section that 
     involves an unlawful activity described in subsection 
     (c)(7)(G) shall be transferred by the Secretary of the 
     Treasury, to the extent practicable, to the Multinational 
     Species Conservation Fund and used as provided in advance in 
     appropriations Acts for the benefit of the species impacted 
     by the applicable violation.''.
       (c) RICO.--Chapter 96 of title 18, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) in section 1961(1)--
       (A) by striking ``or (G)'' and inserting ``(G)''; and
       (B) by inserting before the semicolon at the end the 
     following: ``, or (H) any act constituting a criminal 
     violation of section 9(a)(1) of the Endangered Species Act of 
     1973 (16 U.S.C. 1538(a)(1)), section 2203 of the African 
     Elephant Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 4223), or section 7(a) 
     of the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 (16 
     U.S.C. 5305a(a)), if the endangered or threatened species, 
     products, items, or substances involved in the violation and 
     relevant conduct, as applicable, have a total value of more 
     than $10,000''; and
       (2) in section 1963, by adding at the end the following:
       ``(n) Use of Amounts From Fines, Forfeitures, and 
     Restitution Relating to Wildlife Trafficking Violations.--Any 
     amounts received by the United States as fines, forfeitures 
     of property or assets, or restitution to the Government for 
     any violation under section 1962 that is based on 
     racketeering activity described in section 1961(1)(H) shall 
     be transferred by the Secretary of the Treasury, to the 
     extent practicable, to the Multinational Species Conservation 
     Fund and used as provided in advance in appropriations Acts 
     for the benefit of the species impacted by the applicable 
     violation.''.
       (d) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
       (1) Use of amounts from fines.--Section 1402(b)(1)(A) of 
     the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10601(b)(1)(A)) 
     is amended--
       (A) in clause (i), by striking ``and'' at the end; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(iii) sections 1952(f), 1956(j), and 1963(n) of title 18, 
     United States Code; and''.
       (2) Use of amounts from forfeitures.--Section 524(c)(4)(A) 
     of title 28, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
     before ``or the Postmaster General'' the following: ``or 
     section 1952(f), 1956(j), or 1963(n) of title 18,''.

     SEC. 9. OTHER ACTIONS RELATING TO WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING 
                   PROGRAMS.

       It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of State 
     should dedicate sufficient program resources to--
       (1) conduct monitoring and evaluation, with a special 
     emphasis where feasible on impact evaluations, of wildlife 
     trafficking programs consistent with the Department of 
     State's January 2015 Evaluation Policy;
       (2) publish program information on wildlife trafficking 
     programs on the Department of State's Internet website, 
     ``ForeignAssistance.gov'' in a digital format consistent with 
     the United States commitment to the International Aid 
     Transparency Initiative (IATI); and
       (3) develop and implement a learning agenda to improve the 
     performance and impact of wildlife trafficking programs and 
     to share best practices among relevant executive branch 
     agencies.

  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.

                              {time}  1745


                             General Leave

  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative to revise and extend their remarks and to include 
extraneous material.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record an exchange of letters between 
myself and the chairmen of the Natural Resources and Judiciary 
Committees.
  Mr. Speaker, the very disturbing reality is that some of the world's 
most majestic animals have become ``blood currency'' for terrorist 
organizations and rebel groups. Some of the same radical organizations 
that carry out terror for political purposes get their resources by the 
sale of rhino horns and ivory through the slaughter of these animals in 
order to fund their terrorist operations. Poachers are taking advantage 
of under-equipped and undermanned park rangers. As we watch this play 
out across the sub-Saharan continent, they are decimating elephant and 
rhino populations and trading their tusks.
  In the 1980s, over 1 million African elephants roamed the continent's 
forests and savannahs. That is not that long ago. Today, there are less 
than 500,000 left. With this explosion in poaching, at these current 
rates, in about two decades, they will vanish. The rhino would vanish.
  In South Africa, home of the one of the largest rhino populations, 
poachers killed an average of 14 rhinos per year in the 1990s and 
2000s. Last year, they killed 1,200--the top year on record.
  This is bigger than security. This, frankly, is a security issue for 
the entire planet. As we watch what is developing with these 
organizations, wildlife trafficking is now the most lucrative criminal 
activity--certainly, one of the most lucrative--around the world. I saw 
an estimate that poaching in Africa is worth $10 billion in annual 
income for these radical organizations.
  The Foreign Affairs Committee has held several hearings and briefings 
in which we learned how nefarious groups like al Shabaab, the 
Janjaweed, and Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army benefit from 
trafficking in wildlife and trading the ivory for guns. An average-size 
tusk is worth 25 cases of fresh ammunition in central Africa. Twenty-
five cases will enable rebel groups to continue to rampage and 
terrorize civilian populations.
  The U.S. has invested a great deal of resources in trying to bring 
stability to the countries where these armed groups operate: Somalia, 
Sudan, and the Congo. All of that effort and investment are undermined 
when these terrorist organizations and rebel groups find these new 
financial lifelines. We remember the situation with blood diamonds. 
Well, for the last decade and a half, it has been ivory and rhino 
horns.
  Mr. Speaker, to address this crisis, the Global Anti-Poaching Act 
tackles wildlife trafficking in several ways. This legislation 
designates those countries that are ignoring wildlife trafficking and 
allows the Secretary of State to withhold security assistance from the 
worst offenders.
  In some wildlife trafficking cases, foreign governments have been 
found complicit. A ``naming and shaming'' of these countries is the 
minimum we can do if we are to contend with the poaching explosion. We 
know from some of our antitrafficking legislation how much pressure 
this does, in fact, put on foreign governments. Countries in Asia that 
are driving the demand for wildlife products also come under the 
spotlight in this bill.
  In the same tactic of naming and shaming that this legislation 
establishes, it has been used, as I mentioned, not just with 
traffickers, but also in drug trafficking cases. It is a way to force 
other countries to become part of the solution, rather than part of the 
problem.
  To make this big business riskier for those who are involved in it, 
the legislation makes wildlife trafficking an offense under 
racketeering and money laundering statutes, going after the 
international networks that are taking profits out of this. It is the 
terrorist organizations on the ground doing the work, but it is the 
international criminal syndicates that then move the ivory around the 
world. We also have to stop that demand for the ivory.
  The legislation directs that any seized assets from these new 
penalties go toward the conservation of the very species that were 
trafficked. So when moneys are obtained from those involved in the 
pipeline, it can be employed for that purpose.

[[Page 16940]]

  Mr. Speaker, tackling poaching can protect exotic wildlife, increase 
security, and help Africa's development. One of the fastest growing 
sectors in Africa is ecotourism. In 2014, the industry contributed $70 
billion to the African economy and directly employed 8 million people.
  These majestic animals drive tourism in Africa. They drive 
sustainable development there. But if we don't bring the slaughter to 
an end, there might not be any of these animals to see in a few years.
  The park rangers on the front lines trying to stop the slaughter at 
the hands of poachers are outmaneuvered and outgunned. This bipartisan 
legislation will help even out the fight by pressuring the 
administration to provide vital security assistance, including vehicles 
as well as intelligence and surveillance tools, to these park rangers.
  We know the security and economic consequences if today's poaching 
rates go on unchecked: terrorist and rebels fund their dangerous 
activities, and the African economy takes a major hit. The legislation 
before us today is a chance to change this course and to reverse this 
course back toward one of sustainable development; back toward one 
where, in the future, people from around the globe can go to Africa and 
see these magnificent animals and participate in building the economy 
through ecotourism in Africa.
  I reserve the balance of my time.

                                         House of Representatives,


                                   Committee on the Judiciary.

                                 Washington, DC, October 15, 2015.
     Hon. Ed Royce,
     Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Royce: I am writing with respect to H.R. 
     2494, the ``Global Anti-Poaching Act,'' which was referred to 
     the Committee on Foreign Affairs and in addition to the 
     Committee on the Judiciary. As a result of your having 
     consulted with us on provisions in H.R. 2494 that fall within 
     the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on the Judiciary, I 
     agree to discharge our Committee from further consideration 
     of this bill so that it may proceed expeditiously to the 
     House floor for consideration.
       The Judiciary Committee takes this action with our mutual 
     understanding that by foregoing consideration of H.R. 2494 at 
     this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over subject 
     matter contained in this or similar legislation, and that our 
     Committee will be appropriately consulted and involved as 
     this bill or similar legislation moves forward so that we may 
     address any remaining issues in our jurisdiction. Our 
     Committee also reserves the right to seek appointment of an 
     appropriate number of conferees to any House-Senate 
     conference involving this or similar legislation, and asks 
     that you support any such request.
       I would appreciate a response to this letter confirming 
     this understanding with respect to H.R. 2494 and would ask 
     that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be 
     included in the Congressional Record during Floor 
     consideration of H.R. 2494.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Bob Goodlatte,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                 Committee on Foreign Affairs,

                                 Washington, DC, October 15, 2015.
     Hon. Bob Goodlatte,
     Chairman, House Committee on the Judiciary, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for consulting with the 
     Committee on Foreign Affairs on H.R. 2494, the Global Anti-
     Poaching Act, and for agreeing to be discharged from further 
     consideration of that bill.
       I agree that your forgoing further action on this measure 
     does not in any way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of the 
     Committee on the Judiciary, or prejudice its jurisdictional 
     prerogatives on this bill or similar legislation in the 
     future. I would support your effort to seek appointment of an 
     appropriate number of conferees to any House-Senate 
     conference involving this legislation.
       I will seek to place our letters on H.R. 2494 into the 
     Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill. 
     I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation and 
     look forward to continuing to work with your Committee as 
     this measure moves through the legislative process.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Edward R. Royce,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                               Committee on Natural Resources,

                                 Washington, DC, October 15, 2015.
     Hon. Edward R. Royce,
     Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: I write regarding H.R. 2494, the Global 
     Anti-Poaching Act. This bill contains provisions under the 
     jurisdiction of the Committee on Natural Resources.
       I recognize and appreciate your desire to bring this bill 
     before the House of Representatives in an expeditious manner, 
     and accordingly, I will agree that the Committee on Natural 
     Resources be discharged from further consideration of the 
     bill. I do so with the understanding that this action does 
     not affect the jurisdiction of the Committee on Natural 
     Resources, and that the Committee expressly reserves its 
     authority to seek conferees on any provision within its 
     jurisdiction during any House-Senate conference that may be 
     convened on this, or any similar legislation. I ask that you 
     support any such request.
       Finally, I also ask that a copy of this letter and your 
     response be included in the Congressional Record during 
     consideration of H.R. 2494 on the House floor.
       Thank you for your work on this bill and I look forward to 
     its enactment.
           Sincerely,
                                                       Rob Bishop,
     Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                 Committee on Foreign Affairs,

                                 Washington, DC, October 15, 2015.
     Hon. Rob Bishop,
     Chairman, House Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, 
         DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for consulting with the 
     Committee on Foreign Affairs on H.R. 2494, the Global Anti-
     Poaching Act, and for agreeing to be discharged from further 
     consideration of that bill.
       I agree that your forgoing further action on this measure 
     does not in any way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of the 
     Committee on Natural Resources, or prejudice its 
     jurisdictional prerogatives on this bill or similar 
     legislation in the future. I would support your effort to 
     seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees to any 
     House-Senate conference involving this legislation.
       I will seek to place our letters on H.R. 2494 into the 
     Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill. 
     I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation and 
     look forward to continuing to work with your Committee as 
     this measure moves through the legislative process.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Edward R. Royce,
                                                         Chairman.

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this measure.
  I want to, first of all, thank my friend, the chairman of the Foreign 
Affairs Committee, Ed Royce, for authoring the Global Anti-Poaching 
Act. I am very proud to be an original cosponsor. This bill, again, is 
a good example of our committee working across the aisle to get real 
results.
  On average, one elephant is killed every 20 minutes. That is just a 
shocking statistic. So in the 40 minutes we have to debate this bill, 
two elephants will be killed. Last year, the toll was 20,000. It is 
just disgusting.
  And make no mistake, these animals aren't being killed for sport. No 
matter how you feel about big game hunting, the real reason elephants 
and other iconic animals are being wiped out is far more sinister, and 
it is why this issue deserves the attention of Congress and the 
administration. Those responsible for poaching are profiting from their 
crimes by selling ivory or rhinoceros horns or cheetah pelts.
  Where do these profits go? These profits go to buy weapons for 
violent, armed militias, to bribe government officials and law 
enforcement, and to fuel criminal networks. In short, poaching pumps 
resources into groups that threaten security and stability, groups that 
want to do harm to innocent people and want to do harm to the United 
States of America. That is why Chairman Royce and I view wildlife 
trafficking as a security issue, and that is why we introduced the 
Global Anti-Poaching Act.
  Our bill would bring wildlife trafficking under money laundering and 
racketeering statutes that are already part of our law. It would 
support the professionalization of wildlife law enforcement units on 
the ground and allow us to provide them nonlethal assistance. It would 
strengthen regional Wildlife Enforcement Networks designed to combat 
poaching, and it would name and shame governments that aren't taking 
this problem seriously.
  Mr. Speaker, I would also like to highlight the excellent work of the 
Wildlife Conservation Society from my hometown, Bronx, New York. The 
Wildlife Conservation Society runs the Bronx Zoo and many other 
cultural institutions in New York City. They have

[[Page 16941]]

been actively fighting poaching and trafficking for many years. They 
have been on the forefront of the American fight against poaching and 
trafficking. It is a pleasure to work with them on this and so many 
other issues.
  I, of course, have longstanding ties with one of their leaders, John 
Calvelli, who used to be my chief of staff in Washington--he ran my 
Washington office--so I know how dedicated this group is.
  We need to crack down on wildlife trafficking, both to deny resources 
to dangerous organizations and to protect some of the world's most 
iconic creatures.
  People may feel: Well, if I just buy a little ivory doll or I buy 
something made out of ivory, how can that hurt? After all, it is there.
  It may be cute. It may be trendy. What is wrong with it? I will tell 
you what is wrong with it. It funnels and aids and abets terrorism, 
because these groups that sell the tusks and sell the ivory are, by and 
large, groups that get the money back and use it to force terror.
  People who are buying these things are not buying some innocent 
things; they are buying things that help terrorist organizations. Just 
like we have the fight with the artifacts that are coming in from Syria 
that ISIS takes and loots and then sells abroad to help finance their 
terrorist activities, the same thing is true for ivory and the same 
reasons are being used: It is being done to funnel this money towards 
helping sinister groups, many of whom are terrorist organizations.
  So I urge my colleagues to support this bill. This is a very 
important bill. I thank my friend and partner, Chairman Royce.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I just want to recognize Mr. Engel's 
commitment to conservation on this planet and to his work on this 
legislation as well.
  I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe), chairman of 
the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and 
Trade. He is an original cosponsor of this bill.
  Mr. POE of Texas. I thank the chairman for yielding. I also thank the 
chairman and ranking member for their work on this very important piece 
of legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, around the world, big game like elephant and rhinos are 
getting slaughtered. Ivory-seeking poachers have killed 100,000 
elephants in 3 years. The black rhino population has dropped 95 percent 
since the early 20th century. In 2007, there were 12 rhinos killed in 
South Africa; but in 2013 and 2014, over 1,000 were killed each year.
  Regarding elephants, this is a photograph of one of the oldest 
elephants in existence. Satao was his name. He was in his forties. He 
was killed for his tusks. They were so long, they drug on the ground.
  That is what is happening to the elephant population in Africa. They 
are killed not for their meat; they are killed for their tusks.
  Most of the people doing the poaching are really not the locals who 
poach for an animal to eat. That is not most of the poaching, although 
that does occur.
  Most of those doing the poaching are transnational criminal 
organizations. The criminal groups come from places like China and 
Vietnam. China is the number one destination for elephant tusks. 
Vietnam is the number one world destination for rhino horns.
  Criminal cartels that are involved in this trafficking don't just 
traffic wildlife. They traffic drugs, weapons, and people. It is all 
the same group of criminals that are trafficking. They traffic anything 
for money.
  The wildlife trafficking trade has exploded in recent years because 
the criminals understand that profits they get from trafficking 
wildlife are bigger than what they get for trafficking drugs.

                              {time}  1800

  Also, the chances of getting caught are less and, if caught, the 
punishment is less. So that is why wildlife trafficking is on the 
increase.
  A rhino horn is now worth about $27,000 per pound. That is twice the 
value of gold and platinum and more than cocaine and diamonds.
  It should come as no surprise that terrorist groups are involved in 
this as well. I held a hearing in my subcommittee in February on the 
connection between wildlife trafficking and terrorist groups. The 
witnesses testified that terrorists are one of several groups involved 
in wildlife trafficking. And, of course, they do it all for the money. 
They use the money, as Mr. Engel said, to buy bullets and guns to cause 
terror in Africa and other places in the world.
  Just over the weekend, al Qaeda's Somali affiliate, Al-Shabaab, 
released photographs of its fighters hunting and killing a giraffe. 
Here is a photograph of that giraffe that was killed in Africa. It is a 
recruiting poster for jihad.
  Al-Shabaab put this on its recruiting poster. This recent video says: 
Terrorism is in my nation, and we do it for tourism. Therefore, come 
and help us in jihad. That is a recruiting poster, the killing of 
wildlife in Africa.
  Killing of elephants is a main revenue source for the Lord's 
Resistance Army, led by the infamous Joseph Kony.
  By going after wildlife traffickers, we are going after transnational 
criminal organizations and terrorists.
  But we also must call out, as this legislation does, corrupt 
government officials that give a wink and a nod for allowing the 
poaching, in their countries, of rhinos, elephants, and others.
  This isn't just a wildlife problem. It is a national security 
problem. This bill will give our law enforcement the authority it needs 
to be able to go after criminals and terrorists and help foreign 
governments save rhinos and elephants from extinction.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.
  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, if we don't stop wildlife trafficking 
of rhinos, elephants, and other animals by terrorist groups, for 
organized criminal activities, the only places our kids and grandkids 
are going to see rhinos and elephants are at the zoo or in a Disney 
cartoon.
  And that is just the way it is.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Again, let me thank Chairman Royce for his leadership on this issue, 
the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe), and all of the people that have 
worked so hard on this.
  We need to be creative in the way we go after financing for violent 
groups. If nothing is done, I believe the statistic is that, in 11 
years, elephants will be extinct in the wild. Isn't that a tragedy? Who 
would have thought? So we need to be creative in the way we go after 
the financing for violent groups.
  Mr. Poe pointed out some very, very important things about terrorism 
and criminal activities. So, again, I want to say that, when people buy 
these things, it is not innocent. They are aiding terrorism, and they 
are aiding criminality.
  We need to use every tool at our disposal, so this legislation does 
that by going after a critical source of funding for criminals and 
terrorists. At the same time, it will help to preserve some of the 
world's most imperiled animals.
  Again, I urge all my colleagues to support this measure. I thank 
Chairman Royce for his hard work on this and so many other things. This 
is something that everyone needs to support.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, part of the tragedy of this can be seen in 
what happened in Garissa National Park in Africa. The jihadists hit 
that park in order to take those tusks, in order to get that hard 
currency and trade those tusks for weapons and for bullets, and then 
used that weaponry to turn on Garissa University.
  Now, remember, these are jihadists. The one thing that Al-Shabaab has 
in common with the Janjaweed and with these other jihadi organizations 
is a hatred--just as Boko Haram has this hatred--a hatred of those who 
study.
  So what did they do? What did they do when they had their hands on 
those weapons? They then went to Garissa University and slaughtered 145 
students after slaughtering the elephants in the parks.

[[Page 16942]]

  There is a direct link when jihadi organizations, as Judge Ted Poe 
shared with you, carried out these attacks to recruit, to show that 
they have got the power to kill, that they have got the power to 
exterminate, to annihilate not just these animal species but human 
beings as well.
  Mr. Speaker, time is not on our side. Each day of inaction means more 
animals poached, and the coffers of terrorist organizations and rebels 
grow full because the criminal syndicates that buy the ivory give them 
the weapons and give them the money. That has to come to an end.
  Since the time we started this debate, as Mr. Engel pointed out, two 
elephants have already been poached, have been slaughtered, because one 
is killed every 15 minutes in Africa.
  It is quite possible, as Mr. Engel said and as Mr. Poe alluded, that 
our children could grow up in a world without rhinoceros, without 
elephants, and it is no exaggeration. Certainly the forest elephant is 
going to be wiped out; the black rhino is going to be wiped out.
  Do we want to live in that kind of a world? Do we want to allow that 
to happen on our watch?
  The Global Anti-Poaching Act combats today's unprecedented levels of 
poaching and wildlife trafficking by holding foreign governments 
accountable, by adding greater consequences for traffickers in this 
illicit trade, while also assisting those park rangers on the ground 
who, frankly, need our help, need the help of our intelligence 
services, need our satellites and other capabilities, and need a better 
way in which to defend themselves and those parklands across Africa.
  Some years ago, myself and another Member of this body authored 
legislation to help set up these national parks across Africa, the 
Congo Basin Forest Partnership Act, which Clay Shaw and I authored.
  But today these terrorist organizations are in the parklands 
themselves, slaughtering these species.
  I would like to thank the Members that have been involved in putting 
this together and, also, some from the other committees that assisted 
us, like Chairman Goodlatte of the Judiciary Committee and Chairman 
Bishop of the Natural Resources Committee, for their constructive input 
and assistance in getting this legislation to the floor.
  And, of course, I would like, in closing, to recognize, again, 
Ranking Member Engel and Representatives Poe, Smith, and Bass for their 
valuable contributions.
  I urge all my colleagues to seize this opportunity and vote for H.R. 
2494 and then help us bring a little pressure to bear to get this bill 
out of the Senate.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRAYSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reiterate a point I made 
during the Foreign Affairs Committee markup of the Global Anti-Poaching 
Act, H.R. 2494, which is being considered on the House floor today.
  At the markup in June, I offered a very specific amendment to this 
bill that would simply ensure that nothing in Section 6 of this Act 
shall be construed to authorize the use of the United States Armed 
Forces in combat activities. Since that time, I am happy to see that 
the Chairman has amended the text of this legislation to reflect my 
concerns.
  I think it is important to state, once again, that this bill does not 
authorize the use of U.S. forces in combat activities as a result of 
fighting poaching. At markup the Chairman assured me that nothing in 
this bill could be construed to authorize such a combat activity, and 
the amended text of this bill does more to ensure that is the case.
  We all know that poaching is a very serious problem and I believe 
this bill is a constructive step toward combating that evil. I applaud 
Chairman Royce for his work on this important legislation.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, as a longstanding member of the 
Congressional Animal Rights Caucus and champion of wildlife 
preservation and protection of animals, I rise in support of H.R. 2494, 
the Global Anti-Poaching Act by Chairman of the Foreign Affairs 
Committee, Congressman Royce of California.
  Earlier this year, in light of the brutal killing of Cecil the Lion, 
I introduced and sought the support of my colleagues as original co-
sponsors of my legislation entitled, Cecil the Lion Endangered and 
Threatened Species Act of 2015.
  H.R. 2494 embodies the purpose of my legislation by strengthening 
partner countries' capacity in countering wildlife trafficking and 
designating major wildlife countries for protection.
  Mr. Speaker, my legislation on Cecil the Lion amends the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973 to prohibit the taking and transportation of any 
endangered or threatened species as a trophy into the United States.
  This current legislation crystallizes our bipartisan collective 
efforts to address and tackle a yearly $7 to $10 billion illicit 
venture that seeks to destroy endangered and troubled wildlife.
  Currently, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) does not protect the vast 
majority of wild animals killed and imported.
  While the ESA allows for the importation of endangered and threatened 
species for scientific research, propagation or survival of the 
species, hunters are abusing this limited exception to murder and 
transport protected wildlife for sport.
  As a result of this loophole, tens of thousands of wild animals are 
killed every year by trophy hunters and transported into the United 
States.
  The conservation of endangered and threatened species is critically 
important to the sustainability of our biodiversity, ecosystem and the 
beauty of wildlife as we know it.
  Terrorist organizations are not only proving to be a threat to global 
security but also a threat to our environment and natural wildlife, 
utilizing the funds from their illicit activity of wildlife poaching to 
fund their terroristic activities.
  Vulnerable species are at the mercy of transnational terrorist groups 
whose actions place these natural inhabitants of the earth in danger of 
extinction.
  For example, the population of African elephants has decreased from 
1.3 million to 400,000, with 22,000 poached in 2012.
  Only 3,200 tigers remain in the wild, and these tigers remain in 
danger of being poached for their skins, bones and body parts.
  H.R. 2494 works to enforce the United Nations Security Council 
multilateral sanctions against individuals and entities engaging in 
illicit trade of wildlife in support of armed groups like the Lord's 
Resistance Army, al-Shabaab and other terrorist organizations.
  This legislation supports the efforts of the State Department under 
the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program to dismantle the 
wildlife trafficking syndicates in the global south from Africa to 
Asia.
  This legislation supports the President's Executive Order 13648, 
geared at combatting wildlife trafficking, through the creation of a 
Presidential Task Force responsible for our national strategy to combat 
wildlife trafficking.
  Indeed, the United States along with 40 countries from Africa, Asia, 
the Middle East and Latin America participated in the London Conference 
on the Illegal Wildlife Trade where we collectively committed to 
addressing the cultural, social, environmental and economic 
consequences of the illegal trade in wildlife.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill seeks to protect endangered species, expand 
and professionalize wildlife enforcement networks through: assessment 
of the capacity of existing enforcement networks in member countries; 
establishment of a central secretariat to coordinate enforcement 
networks; facilitation of law enforcement and intelligence efforts and 
information sharing; utilization of the expertise of international 
bodies and civil society organizations to tackle the issue; and 
training of enforcement personnel, and the creation and 
institutionalization of a wildlife enforcement platform based on the 
rule of law.
  Indeed, by making certain large-scale wildlife trafficking crimes 
predicate offenses for money laundering, racketeering, and smuggling, 
this bill elevates the seriousness of major wildlife trafficking 
offenses, putting wildlife crime on par legally with other forms of 
transnational organized crime.
  Mr. Speaker, as ranking member on the House Judiciary Subcommittee on 
Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations, this bill is a 
step in the right direction as it enforces existing laws, directs 
fines, forfeitures, and penalties, all imperative for wildlife 
conservation.
  I strongly support H.R. 2494 because it supports on-the-ground 
efforts to protect species, including elephants, tigers, and rhinos 
from becoming victims of wildlife crime.
  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, illegal poaching has hit a crisis point 
for many of the world's most iconic species. Nearly 100 elephants are 
being slaughtered each day by ivory poachers. The black market sale of 
rhino horn and trafficking in infant gorillas is driving these species 
to the brink of extinction. H.R. 2494, the Global Anti-Poaching Act, 
takes critical steps to strengthen the punishments for poaching and 
wildlife tracking.
  The United States is a leader in the fight to protect endangered and 
threatened species

[[Page 16943]]

around the world, and this legislation continues that legacy. This bill 
will ensure that the full strength of the U.S. criminal justice system 
can be brought to bear against those who seek to kill, trade, or 
otherwise profit from the furs, pelts, skins, or other body parts of 
protected species. The profits from this illegal trade are often used 
to fund terrorist or criminal activities, making the tougher 
enforcements in this bill an issue of national security as well.
  Additionally, this bill creates important partnerships with nations 
around the world to lend our country's expertise in countering wildlife 
trafficking to local law enforcement officials on the ground. By 
engaging partners across national boundaries, coordinating resources, 
and sharing intelligence, this legislation would make anti-poaching 
efforts around the world more efficient and more effective.
  Poaching is a big business in the criminal world that threatens 
species across the globe. This legislation steps up America's efforts 
to ensure the protection of endangered species and crack down on this 
black market industry. I thank Mr. Royce, as the author of this bill 
and our founding co-chair on the International Conservation Caucus, for 
his leadership on this issue, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 
2494.
  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. 2494, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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