I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 5398 
To amend the Eliminate, Neutralize, and Disrupt Wildlife Trafficking Act 
of 2016 to direct the Presidential Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking 
to develop recommendations to address wildlife trafficking on the internet 
and on social media, and to direct the Secretary of State and the 
Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development 
to develop a strategy to address wildlife trafficking on the internet 
and on social media, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 11, 2019 
Mr. CARTER of Georgia (for himself and Mr. GARAMENDI) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and 
in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee con-
cerned 
A BILL 
To amend the Eliminate, Neutralize, and Disrupt Wildlife 
Trafficking Act of 2016 to direct the Presidential Task 
Force on Wildlife Trafficking to develop recommenda-
tions to address wildlife trafficking on the internet and 
on social media, and to direct the Secretary of State 
and the Administrator of the United States Agency for 
International Development to develop a strategy to ad-
dress wildlife trafficking on the internet and on social 
media, and for other purposes. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:48 Dec 16, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6652
E:\BILLS\H5398.IH
H5398
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be referred to as the ‘‘Combating On-
line Wildlife Trafficking Act of 2019’’. 
SEC. 2. COMBATING WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING. 
(a) TASK FORCE.—The Eliminate, Neutralize, and 
Disrupt Wildlife Trafficking Act of 2016 (16 U.S.C. 7601 
et seq.) is amended— 
(1) in section 301 (16 U.S.C. 7631)— 
(A) in subsection (d)— 
(i) in paragraph (4) by striking ‘‘and’’ 
at the end; 
(ii) in paragraph (5) by striking the 
period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; 
and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(6) recommendations for how the Task Force 
can expand cooperative exchanges with technology 
and social media companies to combat wildlife traf-
ficking on the internet, including recommendations 
for— 
‘‘(A) identifying how wildlife is trafficked 
on internet sites and platforms; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:48 Dec 16, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5398.IH
H5398
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
‘‘(B) methods for technology companies to 
assist Federal agencies and international part-
ners to combat wildlife trafficking; and 
‘‘(C) methods to improve public-private re-
lationships with technology and internet compa-
nies to combat wildlife trafficking.’’; 
(B) by redesignating subsection (e) as sub-
section (f); and 
(C) by inserting after subsection (d) the 
following: 
‘‘(e) TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIAL MEDIA WORKING 
GROUP.— 
‘‘(1) MEMBERSHIP.—The Task Force shall 
form a Technology and Social Media Working 
Group, which shall be composed of such members of 
the Task Force as the Task Force determines appro-
priate and a representative of the Chairman of the 
Federal Communications Commission, as designated 
by such Chairman. 
‘‘(2) PURPOSE.—Such Technology and Social 
Media Working Group shall work to address ongoing 
concerns with wildlife trafficking on the internet. 
‘‘(3) MEETINGS.—Such Technology and Social 
Media Working Group shall convene at least once 
each year.’’; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:48 Dec 16, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5398.IH
H5398
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
(2) in section 402 (16 U.S.C. 7642), by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) INTERNET AND SOCIAL MEDIA.—The Secretary 
of State and the Administrator of the United States Agen-
cy for International Development, in collaboration with 
other relevant United States agencies, nongovernmental 
partners, private sector companies, and international bod-
ies, shall develop a strategy for engaging and partnering 
with internet and social media companies to combat the 
spread of wildlife trafficking on the internet.’’. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:48 Dec 16, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H5398.IH
H5398
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS