H.R. 1036 – Bassam Barabandi Rewards for Justice Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 7, 2026 at 10:36 PM UTC

The Bassam Barabandi Rewards for Justice Act amends the State Department’s Basic Authorities Act to let the Department offer monetary rewards for information that leads to the identification or location of people or companies violating U.S. or United Nations sanctions. It expands the rewards program to cover sanctions‑related import, export, re‑export, and related services or financial transactions, affecting potential informants and anyone engaged in prohibited sanction activities.

Key Provisions

Adds a new reward category for tips that identify or locate individuals or entities that knowingly import, export, or re‑export goods, services, or technology controlled by the U.S. in violation of U.S. or UN sanctions
Allows rewards for information about those who knowingly provide training, advice, services, or significant financial transactions that support such prohibited sanction activities
Updates existing language in the rewards program to incorporate the new paragraph and ensure the new category fits within the existing framework

Legislative Activity

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14 earlier actions

SenateCalendars Latest Action

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 460.

July 21, 2022

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

February 11, 2021

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Foreign Affairs Committee

February 11, 2021

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Foreign Affairs Committee

April 21, 2021

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.

Foreign Affairs Committee

April 21, 2021

HouseFloor

Ms. Houlahan moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

July 19, 2021 • 4:04 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3657-3658; text: CR H3657)

July 19, 2021 • 4:04 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1036.

July 19, 2021 • 4:04 PM

HouseFloor

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

July 19, 2021 • 4:09 PM

HouseFloor

Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 535, proceedings on H.R. 1036 are considered vacated.

July 20, 2021 • 4:44 PM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: Pursuant to section 7 of H. Res. 535, and the motion offered by Mr. Hoyer, the following bills passed under suspension of the rules: H.R. 678; H.R. 1036; H.R. 1079, as amended; H.R. 1158; H.R. 1250; H.R. 1754; H.R. 1833, as amended; H.R. 1850; H.R. 1871; H.R. 1877, as amended; H.R. 1893; H.R. 1895; H.R. 2118; H.R. 2795, as amended; H.R. 2928; H.R. 2980, as amended; H.R. 3003; H.R. 3138, as amended; H.R. 3223; H.R. 3263; and H.R. 3264; and the following resolutions were agreed to under suspension of the rules: H. Res. 277; and H. Res. 294.(consideration: CR H3715-3730; text: CR H3716)

July 20, 2021 • 4:44 PM

HouseFloor

Pursuant to section 7 of H. Res. 535, and the motion offered by Mr. Hoyer, the following bills passed under suspension of the rules: H.R. 678; H.R. 1036; H.R. 1079, as amended; H.R. 1158; H.R. 1250; H.R. 1754; H.R. 1833, as amended; H.R. 1850; H.R. 1871; H.R. 1877, as amended; H.R. 1893; H.R. 1895; H.R. 2118; H.R. 2795, as amended; H.R. 2928; H.R. 2980, as amended; H.R. 3003; H.R. 3138, as amended; H.R. 3223; H.R. 3263; and H.R. 3264; and the following resolutions were agreed to under suspension of the rules: H. Res. 277; and H. Res. 294. (consideration: CR H3715-3730; text: CR H3716)

July 20, 2021 • 4:44 PM

SenateIntro Referral

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Foreign Relations Committee

July 21, 2021

SenateCommittee

Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

Foreign Relations Committee

July 19, 2022

SenateCommittee

Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Menendez with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

Foreign Relations Committee

July 21, 2022

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 460.

July 21, 2022

Floor Debate

7 members

What members said about H.R. 1036 on the floor

+2

5 Republicans2 Democrats

Rep. Chrissy HoulahanD-PA-6 · Jul 19, 2021

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1036) to amend the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to authorize rewards under the Department of State's rewards program…

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1036) to amend the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to authorize rewards under the Department of State's rewards program relating to information regarding individuals or entities engaged in activities in contravention of United States or United Nations sanctions, and for other purposes.

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. 1036.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1036, the Bassam Barabandi Rewards for Justice Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by my friend, the gentleman from South Carolina, Congressman Joe Wilson, and the gentleman from Florida, Ted Deutch.

Mr. Speaker, whistleblower programs have proven themselves effective over and over again. In 2017, the U.S. Department of Justice collected $3.7 billion in settlements and judgments from False Claim Act cases against companies and individuals who had defrauded the government. Of the $3.7 billion, 92 percent came from cases brought by whistleblowers. Whistleblowers have easier access to evidence of misdeeds than outside law enforcement investigators, deeper knowledge of the bad

actors engaged in unlawful behavior, and greater insights into the methods through which fraud or theft is being carried out.

This bipartisan bill would authorize the Department of State to offer rewards for information about the identity or location of individuals who defy sanctions imposed by the United States or by the United Nations.

This legislation builds on several existing programs that provide rewards of information leading to the arrest or conviction of criminals engaging in human trafficking, smuggling, or other transnational crimes.

This bill will also increase compliance with American and international sanctions programs and, therefore, serves a valuable role promoting human rights, good governance, and the rule of law around the world.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Wilson and Mr. Deutch for their diligent work on this legislation, and I encourage all Members to join me in supporting it.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for the purpose of closing.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation is vital to helping the United States protect human rights and the rule of law around the world.

By allowing the State Department to compensate individuals for bringing forward evidence of sanctions evasion and criminal misconduct by bad actors, America will be better equipped to punish those who flout the rule of law.

I thank my colleagues, Representatives Wilson and Deutch for putting forward this key legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Rep. Christopher H. SmithR-NJ-4 · Jul 19, 2021

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Rewards for Justice Act introduced by our good friends, Joe Wilson and Congressman Deutch. It is a…

Rep. Rick W. AllenR-GA-12 · Jul 20, 2021

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 212. members recorded pursuant to house resolution 8, 117th congress Aderholt (Moolenaar) Buchanan (LaHood) DeSaulnier…

Rep. Steny H. HoyerD-MD-5 · Jul 20, 2021

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to section 7 of House Resolution 535, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bills: H.R. 678; H.R. 1036; H.R. 1079; H.R. 1158; H.R. 1250; H.R. 1754; H.R. 1833; H.R. 1850;

Rep. Pete StauberR-MN-8 · Jul 20, 2021

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 212.

Show 2 more

Rep. Mary E. MillerR-IL-15 · Jul 19, 2021

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Rep. Matthew M. Rosendale, Sr.R-MT · Jul 20, 2021

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Bill Text

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Reported to SenateIssued July 21, 2022

II

Calendar No. 460

117th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 1036

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

July 21, 2021

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

July 21, 2022

Reported by Mr. Menendez, with an amendment

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic

AN ACT

To amend the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to authorize rewards under the Department of State’s rewards program relating to information regarding individuals or entities engaged in activities in contravention of United States or United Nations sanctions, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Bassam Barabandi Rewards for Justice Act.

2.

Amendment to Department of State rewards program

Subsection (b) of section 36 of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2708) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (11), by striking or after the semicolon at the end;

(2)

in paragraph (12), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(13)

the identification or location of an individual or entity that—

(A)

knowingly, directly or indirectly, imports, exports, or reexports to, into, or from any country any goods, services, or technology controlled for export by the United States because of the use of such goods, services, or technology in contravention of a United States or United Nations sanction; or

(B)

knowingly, directly or indirectly, provides training, advice, or other services or assistance, or engages in significant financial transactions, relating to any such goods, services, or technology in contravention of such sanction.

.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Bassam Barabandi Rewards for Justice Act.

2.

Amendment to Department of State rewards program

Subsection (b) of section 36 of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2708) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (12), by striking or after the semicolon at the end;

(2)

in paragraph (13), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(14)

the identification or location of an individual or entity that—

(A)

knowingly, directly or indirectly, imports, exports, or reexports to, into, or from any country any goods, services, or technology controlled for export by the United States because of the use of such goods, services, or technology in contravention of a United States or United Nations sanction; or

(B)

knowingly, directly or indirectly, provides training, advice, or other services or assistance, or engages in significant financial transactions, relating to any such goods, services, or technology in contravention of such sanction.

.

July 21, 2022

Reported with an amendment