War Crimes Rewards Expansion Act

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4250) 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.

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. 4250.

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

I rise today in support of H.R. 4250, the War Crimes Rewards Expansion Act, authored by Representative Foxx.

The bill broadens the State Department rewards program for individuals or whistleblowers who come forward with and provide information on genocide or war crimes. It clarifies that the rewards can also be provided for prosecutions that fall under domestic law, including American law or the law of another nation, in addition to international law.

We have seen, time and again, that whistleblower programs are the most effective type of compliance mechanism, and the State Department rewards program itself is a proven tool for bringing the perpetrators of atrocities to justice.

The United States must continue to demonstrate that we are steadfast in our commitment to holding war criminals accountable and that the mechanisms we have in place to bring about their arrest are flexible and robust.

This bill is straightforward. By expanding the scope of what rewards can be paid for information, we will incentivize more individuals to come forward and gain more information with which to find and prosecute these criminals.

This legislation has passed the House in previous Congresses, and we hope

this bill can make it across the finish line this time around.

This is an important measure. I support it, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

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

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

Mrs. KIM of CALIFORNIA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx), the author of the bill.

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

Mrs. KIM of CALIFORNIA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

The Department of State's rewards program serves an important purpose by turning the tables on dangerous foreign terrorists and human rights violators so they face the justice they so rightly deserve.

I want to thank Dr. Foxx for her work on this bill and Chairman Meeks for bringing this bill to the floor and giving us the opportunity to clarify this important authority.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, the War Crimes Rewards Expansion Act would broaden the State Department's rewards program by clarifying that rewards can also be provided for prosecutions that fall under domestic law, whether it be American law or the law of another nation. This would further incentivize individuals to come forward with valuable information, leading to the arrest and prosecution of some of the worst perpetrators of human rights abuses and war crimes.

I thank Representative Foxx for authoring this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from California for yielding.

I want to thank especially the gentleman from Maryland, Mr. Raskin, for his support on this bill as well as my other colleagues.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this bipartisan bill, which will enhance the domestic prosecution of perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.

Though we often think of these atrocities as being tried at international tribunals, there are many domestic statutes as well that criminalize genocide and war crimes. It is important that we can apply domestic law in the prosecution of these criminals, and this bill allows the State Department's War Crimes Rewards Program to offer rewards for the arrest or conviction of perpetrators of these atrocities.

Earlier this month, we witnessed our domestic justice system prosecuting war crimes and acts of terrorism. One of the now infamous associates of Jihadi John just pled guilty to all eight counts against him in a U.S. district court. He played a leading role in the ISIS plan to kidnap, hold for ransom, and ultimately behead four American hostages. Domestic prosecution can bring swift justice and allows nations to hold perpetrators more directly accountable to those that they have wronged, such as the victims' families.

With passage of the War Crimes Rewards Expansion Act, we can see even more perpetrators of atrocities against Americans brought to justice.

During just the last 20 years, we have witnessed three declared genocides: Darfur in 2004, ISIS in 2016, and the Xinjiang province in 2021. We want those who commit these atrocities and heinous crimes to feel the weight of the law pressing in on them and feel that America is hunting for them. We want them never to feel safe, never find rest, and we know we will not rest until they are brought to justice.

This bill will help make America safer and bring perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide to justice.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important bill.

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

I rise today in support of the War Crimes Rewards Expansion Act.

Sadly, we live in a world where crimes against humanity still occur. We have seen three declared genocides in just the last 20 years: in Darfur in 2004, by ISIS in 2016, and the one in Xinjiang that was formally declared by Secretary Mike Pompeo before he left office earlier this year.

We have, of course, also seen the horrific ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya in Burma. We have seen 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 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, this successful program has since been expanded to include drug traffickers, war criminals, and perpetrators of genocide.

As the world changes and as international criminals evolve, we need to make sure this important program evolves with them.

That is why I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the War Crimes Rewards Expansion Act. This 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.

I want to thank the author of the bill, the gentlewoman from North Carolina, Dr. Virginia Foxx, for her work on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 416, H.R. 4250.

I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

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