IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 856 

Opposing kleptocracy around the world and supporting efforts to develop 

an effective, independent International Anti-Corruption Court. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 12, 2020 

Ms. SPEIER (for herself and Mr. MCGOVERN) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Opposing kleptocracy around the world and supporting efforts to develop an effective, independent International 

Anti-Corruption Court. 

Whereas kleptocracy involves a country’s leaders at the highest levels illegally using public power for private gain, including by bribery, nepotism, fraud, or embezzlement; 

Whereas the corrupt actions of leaders may be facilitated and 

enabled by professionals who provide those leaders with 

money management, legal public relations, and other 

services; 

Whereas kleptocracy has deprived citizens of countries across 

the world of billions of dollars; 

Whereas an estimated 5 percent of the world’s gross domestic 

product (GDP) is lost to corruption; 


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•HRES 856 IH 

Whereas research by the International Monetary Fund has 

found that corruption is responsible for 

$1,000,000,000,000 in lost tax revenues; 

Whereas kleptocracy fosters an environment of criminality in 

a country, as leaders make corrupt use of or undermine 

institutions to allow them to steal, launder, hide, and 

store wealth, rather than effectively govern their countries; 

Whereas an environment of criminality creates incentives for 

human rights abuses, including restrictions on the freedom of the press, as leaders stigmatize and silence those 

who would shed light on their activities; 

Whereas kleptocracy also undermines human rights by stealing funds that could otherwise be invested in health, education, safe drinking water, and the defense and promotion of other rights; 

Whereas the amassing of illicit wealth in the hands of a few 

is detrimental to democratic processes and the rule of 

law; 

Whereas the World Bank has found corruption disproportionately harms the poor by impeding access to social services 

and the investment necessary for jobs and economic 

growth; 

Whereas grand corruption fuels the global migration crisis by 

depriving people of opportunities and livelihoods and generating criminal violence, thus pushing thousands around 

the world to leave their kleptocratic home countries and 

threatening international peace and security; 

Whereas kleptocracy is a global problem requiring a coordinated international response; 


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Whereas the United States has long led the fight against 

kleptocracy domestically and internationally; 

Whereas the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 allows 

the United States to prosecute businesses that engage in 

corrupt behavior and has served as a model for the legislation of other countries concerned with good governance 

and best practices; 

Whereas United States actions under the Foreign Corrupt 

Practices Act of 1977 have led to the seizure of millions 

of dollars in assets from corrupt foreign governments; 

Whereas the United States has used existing criminal money 

laundering, mail and wire fraud, and other authorities to 

investigate and prosecute kleptocrats for bribery; 

Whereas democratic countries are considering the expansion 

of foreign bribery laws to address the demand side of 

bribery; 

Whereas the United States is a state party to the InterAmerican Convention Against Corruption, the United 

Nations Convention Against Corruption, and the 

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign 

Public Officials in International Business Transactions; 

Whereas existing international conventions facilitate interstate cooperation in the fight against many forms of corruption, but are not sufficient to eliminate the impunity 

from which kleptocrats in many countries benefit; 

Whereas judicial systems in kleptocracies often fail because 

they have been captured or weakened by rulers seeking 

to protect their ill-gotten gains; 

Whereas an International Anti-Corruption Court (IACC) 

shows great promise for combating kleptocracy and corVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:13 Feb 12, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR856.IH HR856

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ruption by reducing impunity for acts of grand corruption around the world; 

Whereas an IACC would complement efforts to enforce antikleptocracy laws in countries where domestic judicial systems have failed; 

Whereas an IACC could offer an alternative avenue for citizens of many countries to pursue the return of stolen 

money, property, and other assets; 

Whereas an IACC would be structured to fairly and independently investigate and prosecute kleptocracy as defined by law; 

Whereas an IACC would be staffed with expert investigators 

and internationally recognized judges with the expertise 

and experience needed to effectively pursue kleptocracy 

cases; 

Whereas an IACC would safeguard the rights of the accused 

in keeping with internationally recognized due process 

rights; 

Whereas an IACC would even the playing field for United 

States businesses by strengthening the enforcement of 

antikleptocracy laws everywhere in the world; 

Whereas entering into international treaties is an exercise of 

national sovereignty; 

Whereas international judicial mechanisms already operate 

only when domestic mechanisms are unwilling or unable; 

and 

Whereas IACC rulings would be enforced through the exercise of the powers of its member states: Now, therefore, 

be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 


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1 (1) opposes kleptocracy and grand corruption 

2 and stands in solidarity with its victims around the 

3 world; 

4 (2) applauds the strong United States record in 

5 seeking to counter kleptocracy around the world; 

6 (3) reiterates the deep commitment of the 

7 United States to supporting global efforts to root 

8 out corruption and its corrosive economic, political, 

9 and social effects by fostering accountability and 

10 promoting good governance; and 

11 (4) supports United States efforts to engage in 

12 the development of an effective, independent Inter13 national Anti-Corruption Court (IACC). 

Æ 


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