The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“WAR CRIMES REWARDS EXPANSION ACT” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H6082-H6083 on Dec. 3, 2020.
The State Department is responsibly for international relations with a budget of more than $50 billion. Tenure at the State Dept. is increasingly tenuous and it's seen as an extension of the President's will, ambitions and flaws.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
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.
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.
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