SEC. 2. PURPOSES. 
The purposes of this Act are to— 
(1) direct Federal agencies to implement au-
thorities under current law to reward whistleblowers 
who furnish information that leads to an arrest, 
criminal conviction, civil penalty assessment, or for-
feiture of property for any wildlife trafficking viola-
tion; 
(2) provide a standardized process for deter-
mining and adjudicating awards to whistleblowers 
under such authorities; 
(3) amend the Marine Turtle Conservation Act 
of 2004 (16 U.S.C. 6601 et seq.) to make United 
States territories eligible for Federal funding and as-
sistance and provide for the conservation of fresh-
water turtles and tortoises under such Act; 
(4) direct any fines, penalties, and forfeitures of 
property from violations of the Marine Mammal Pro-
tection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) to sup-
port marine mammal conservation; 
(5) direct any fines, penalties, and forfeitures of 
property from shark finning violations under the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Man-
agement Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) to support 
shark conservation; 
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(6) authorize the International Wildlife Con-
servation Program to be administered by the United 
States Fish and Wildlife Service; 
(7) authorize the Secretary of the Interior to 
station United States Fish and Wildlife Service offi-
cials in high-intensity wildlife trafficking areas 
abroad; 
(8) make wildlife trafficking a predicate offense 
under section 1892 of title 18, United States Code 
(popularly known as the Travel Act), and the racket-
eering prohibitions (RICO) of chapter 96 of such 
title; 
(9) direct any civil penalties, fines, forfeitures, 
and restitution from wildlife trafficking violations 
under section 1892 of title 18, United States Code 
(popularly known as the Travel Act), and the racket-
eering prohibitions (RICO) of chapter 96 of such 
title to support wildlife conservation; 
(10) make violations for illegal, unreported, and 
unregulated fishing under the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 
U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) a predicate offense under the 
money laundering statute (section 1956 of title 18, 
United States Code); and 
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(11) direct any civil penalties, fines, forfeitures, 
and restitution from wildlife trafficking violations of 
money laundering statutes (including section 1956 
of title 18, United States Code, as enacted by Public 
Law 114–231) to support wildlife conservation. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) FOCUS COUNTRY.—The term ‘‘focus coun-
try’’ has the meaning given to that term by the 
Eliminate, Neutralize, and Disrupt Wildlife Traf-
ficking Act of 2016 (Public Law 114–231; 16 
U.S.C. 7601 et seq.). 
(2) RANGE STATE.—The term ‘‘range State’’ 
means a foreign country, a freely associated state 
(pursuant to the Compact of Free Association au-
thorized by Public Law 99–239), or any territory or 
possession of the United States, any portion of 
which is within the natural range of distribution of 
a wildlife species. 
(3) SHARK.—The term ‘‘shark’’ means any spe-
cies of the orders Hexanchiformes, Pristiophori-
formes, Squaliformes, Squatiniformes, Heterodonti-
formes, Orectolobiformes, Lamniformes, and Car-
chariniformes. 
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(4) SPECIES.—The term ‘‘species’’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 3 of the Endan-
gered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1532). 
(5) WILDLIFE.—The term ‘‘wildlife’’ has the 
meaning given to the term ‘‘fish or wildlife’’ in sec-
tion 3 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 
U.S.C. 1532). 
(6) WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING.—The term ‘‘wild-
life trafficking’’ has the meaning given to that term 
by the Eliminate, Neutralize, and Disrupt Wildlife 
Trafficking Act of 2016 (Public Law 114–231; 16 
U.S.C. 7601 et seq.). 
(7) TAKE.—The term ‘‘take’’ has the meaning 
given to that term by the Endangered Species Act 
of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1532(19)). 
SEC. 4. WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING WHISTLEBLOWERS. 
(a) PLAN OF ACTION.—In coordination with other 
Federal agencies as appropriate, the Secretary of the Inte-
rior, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of State, 
the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Attorney General 
shall within 1 year after the date of the enactment of this 
Act develop a plan of action to fully implement existing 
authorities for rewards to whistleblowers of violations of 
anti-wildlife-trafficking laws. Such plan of action shall— 
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(1) include a strategy to raise public awareness 
in the United States and abroad for reward opportu-
nities for whistleblowers provided under— 
(A) section 6(d) of the Lacey Act Amend-
ments of 1981 (16 U.S.C. 3375(d)); 
(B) section 11(d) of the Endangered Spe-
cies Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1540(d)); 
(C) section 106(c) of the Marine Mammal 
Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1376(c)); 
(D) section 3 of the Fish and Wildlife Im-
provement Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 742l); 
(E) section 7(f) of the Rhinoceros and 
Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 (16 U.S.C. 
5305a(f)); and 
(F) 
other 
applicable 
anti-wildlife-traf-
ficking laws; 
(2) delineate short-term and long-term goals for 
increasing anti-wildlife-trafficking enforcement in-
cluding recruitment of whistleblowers, as appro-
priate; 
(3) describe specific actions to be taken to 
achieve such goals and the means necessary to do so, 
including— 
(A) formal partnerships with nongovern-
mental organizations; and 
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(B) the establishment of Whistleblower Of-
fices to coordinate the receipt of whistleblower 
disclosures, ensure referrals to the appropriate 
law enforcement offices, and communicate with 
whistleblowers regarding the status of their re-
spective cases and potential rewards; 
(4) be published on the internet website of the 
Federal Register for public comment for no fewer 
than 60 days; and 
(5) be finalized within 90 days after the end of 
the public comment period and made readily avail-
able on a public Government internet website. 
(b) UPDATES TO PLAN OF ACTION.—In coordination 
with other Federal agencies as appropriate, the Secretary 
of the Interior, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary 
of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Attorney 
General shall review the plan of action under subsection 
(a) at least every 5 years and update it, as appropriate, 
following public notice and comment. 
(c) AWARDS TO WHISTLEBLOWERS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—If any of the Secretaries re-
ferred to in subsection (b), or the Attorney General, 
proceeds with any administrative or judicial action 
under any of the laws referred to in subsection (a) 
based on information brought to the Secretary’s or 
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the Attorney General’s attention by a person quali-
fied to receive an award under this subsection, such 
Secretary or the Attorney General, respectively, shall 
pay such person an award, subject to paragraph (2), 
in an amount that is at least 15 percent but not 
more than 50 percent of the amounts received by the 
United States as penalties, interest, fines, forfeit-
ures, community service payments, restitution pay-
ments, and additional amounts in such action (in-
cluding any related civil or criminal actions) or any 
under settlement or plea agreement in response to 
such action. The Secretary or the Attorney General, 
as applicable, shall determine the amount of such 
award based on the extent to which the person sub-
stantially contributed to such action. The amount of 
the award shall be determined within 90 days after 
the date of the applicable plea agreement, judgment, 
or settlement or plea agreement in such action, and 
shall be paid from the amounts so received by the 
United States. 
(2) REDUCTION IN OR DENIAL OF AWARD.—If 
the Secretary or Attorney General determines that 
the claim for an award under paragraph (1) is 
brought by a person who planned and initiated the 
actions that led to the violation, then the Secretary 
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or Attorney General may appropriately reduce such 
award. If such person is convicted of criminal con-
duct arising from the role described in the preceding 
sentence, the Secretary or Attorney General shall 
deny any award. 
(3) APPEAL OF AWARD DETERMINATION.—Any 
determination regarding an award under paragraph 
(1) may, within 30 days after the date of such deter-
mination, be appealed to the appropriate United 
States Court of Appeals pursuant to section 706 of 
title 5, United States Code. 
(4) SUBMISSION OF INFORMATION.—The Secre-
taries and the Attorney General shall permit the 
submission of confidential and anonymous reports 
under this section consistent with the procedures set 
forth in subsections (d)(2) and (h) of section 21F of 
the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 
78u–6(d)(2) and (h)). 
(5) APPLICATION OF PARAGRAPH (1).—The pro-
cedures set forth in paragraph (1) shall be applica-
ble only in a case in which the total sanction from 
all penalties, fines, community service payments, res-
titution, interest, forfeitures, or civil or criminal re-
coveries (including in related actions) exceeds 
$100,000. 
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(6) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Secretaries and the 
Attorney General shall each year conduct a study 
and report to Congress on the use of authorities, 
claims filed, awards paid, and outreach conducted 
under this section. Such report requirement may be 
satisfied by incorporating such report into the plan 
of action required under subsection (a) and updates 
under subsection (b). 
(7) LIMITATION
ON
APPLICATION.—This sec-
tion shall apply only with respect to amounts re-
ceived by the United States referred to in paragraph 
(1) on or after the date of the enactment of this sec-
tion. 
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF INTERNATIONAL WILDLIFE 
CONSERVATION PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Interior shall 
carry out the International Wildlife Conservation Program 
within the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to— 
(1) implement global habitat and conservation 
initiatives under the jurisdiction of the Secretary; 
(2) address global conservation threats; 
(3) combat wildlife trafficking, poaching, and 
the trade in illegal wildlife products; 
(4) provide financial, scientific, and other tech-
nical assistance; 
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(5) facilitate implementation of treaties, conven-
tions, accords, or similar international agreements 
entered into by the United States to promote fish, 
wildlife, plant, or habitat conservation; and 
(6) carry out other international wildlife con-
servation and habitat activities authorized by Fed-
eral law, as considered appropriate by the Secretary. 
(b) PROGRAM COMPONENTS.—The Program shall in-
clude the following: 
(1) REGIONAL COMPONENT.—A regional com-
ponent that shall— 
(A) address grassroots conservation prob-
lems through capacity building within regions of 
range States to achieve comprehensive land-
scape or ecosystem-level fish or wildlife con-
servation; and 
(B) develop and implement a plan to— 
(i) expand existing regional wildlife 
conservation programs as considered ap-
propriate by the Secretary; and 
(ii) establish new regional conserva-
tion programs in other critical landscapes 
and wildlife habitat globally, including the 
Asia-Pacific Region. 
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(2) SPECIES
COMPONENT.—A species compo-
nent that shall be comprised of administration of the 
programs authorized by— 
(A) the African Elephant Conservation Act 
(16 U.S.C. 4201 et seq.); 
(B) the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation 
Act of 1994 (16 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.); 
(C) the Asian Elephant Conservation Act 
of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 4261 et seq.); 
(D) the Great Ape Conservation Act of 
2000 (16 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.); 
(E) the Marine Turtle Conservation Act of 
2004 (16 U.S.C. 6601 et seq.); 
(F) the Neotropical Migratory Bird Con-
servation Act (16 U.S.C. 6101 et seq.); 
(G) Wild Bird Conservation Act of 1992 
(16 U.S.C. 4901 et seq.); 
(H) the Critically Endangered Animals 
Conservation Fund established by the Secretary 
and administered by the United States Fish 
and Wildlife Service; and 
(I) any similar authority provided to the 
Secretary of the Interior concerning wildlife 
conservation internationally. 
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(3) ANTI-TRAFFICKING COMPONENT.—An anti- 
trafficking component that shall be comprised of ad-
ministration of the programs authorized by— 
(A) the Endangered Species Act of 1973 
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); 
(B) the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 
(16 U.S.C. 3371 et seq.); 
(C) subsections (a) and (d) of section 8 of 
the Fishermen’s Protective Act of 1967 (22 
U.S.C. 1978); 
(D) the Eliminate, Neutralize, and Disrupt 
Wildlife Trafficking Act of 2016 (16 U.S.C. 
7601 et seq.); 
(E) 
other 
applicable 
anti-wildlife-traf-
ficking laws; and 
(F) activities authorized by section 6 of 
this Act. 
(4) CONVENTION
COMPONENT.—A convention 
component that shall be comprised of the Division of 
Management Authority and the Division of Scientific 
Authority to implement the Convention on Inter-
national Trade in Endangered Species of Wild 
Fauna and Flora (CITES) under section 8A of the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1537a) 
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and carry out other related duties, as considered ap-
propriate by the Secretary. 
(c) ADDITIONAL COMPONENTS.—The Secretary of 
the Interior may include additional components in the 
Program as the Secretary considers appropriate. 
(d) RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER LAW.—Nothing in this 
section alters the responsibilities of the Secretary of the 
Interior under section 8 of the Fish and Wildlife Act of 
1956 (16 U.S.C. 742g) and the Endangered Species Act 
of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). 
(e) ACCEPTANCE AND USE OF DONATIONS.—In ad-
ministering the Program, the Secretary of the Interior 
may accept donations of funds, gifts, and in-kind contribu-
tions and use such donations without further appropria-
tion for capacity building, grants, and other on-the-ground 
uses carried out by the program components authorized 
by this section. 
SEC. 6. USFWS OFFICERS ABROAD. 
(a) PLACEMENT OF OFFICERS.—The Secretary of 
the Interior, in consultation with the Secretary of State, 
may station at least one United States Fish and Wildlife 
Service officer in the primary United States diplomatic or 
consular post in— 
(1) each focus country; 
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(2) each foreign country certified by the Sec-
retary of the Interior under section 8(a) of the Fish-
ermen’s Protective Act of 1967 (22 U.S.C. 1978(a)) 
as a significant transit or destination point for wild-
life trafficking; or 
(3) other countries identified by the Secretary 
of the Interior, in consultation with the Secretary of 
State. 
(b) DUTIES.—United States Fish and Wildlife Serv-
ice officers stationed under subsection (a) shall— 
(1) assist local wildlife rangers in the protection 
of wildlife and on-the-ground conservation; 
(2) facilitate apprehension of individuals who il-
legally kill or take, or assist the illegal killing or tak-
ing of, wildlife; 
(3) support local wildlife rangers, host country 
agencies, and regional partners in wildlife trafficking 
investigations; 
(4) support United States-based wildlife traf-
ficking investigations with nexus to host country or 
region; 
(5) provide technical assistance and support to 
build capacity in-country for wildlife conservation 
and anti-trafficking enforcement by host country 
partner agencies; 
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(6) advise on leveraging United States Govern-
ment assets in combating wildlife trafficking; 
(7) support effective implementation of the 
Convention on International Trade in Endangered 
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and 
other international agreements pertaining to wildlife 
conservation, in coordination with the Secretary of 
State; 
(8) work to reduce global demand for illegally 
traded wildlife products and illegally taken wildlife; 
and 
(9) conduct other duties considered appropriate 
by the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with 
the Secretary of State, to combat wildlife trafficking 
and promote conservation of at-risk species. 
SEC. 7. AMENDMENT OF MARINE TURTLE CONSERVATION 
ACT OF 2004. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Marine Turtle Conservation 
Act of 2004 (Public Law 108–266) is amended— 
(1) in section 2(b) (16 U.S.C. 6601(b))— 
(A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘PURPOSE’’ 
and inserting ‘‘PURPOSES’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘purpose of this Act is’’ 
and inserting ‘‘purposes of this Act are’’; 
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(2) in sections 2(b) and 3(2) (16 U.S.C. 
6601(b), 6602(2)), by inserting ‘‘and territories of 
the United States’’ after ‘‘foreign countries’’ each 
place it occurs; 
(3) in section 3 (16 U.S.C. 6602)— 
(A) in paragraph (2)(C), by striking ‘‘and 
regional’’ and inserting ‘‘, regional, and terri-
torial’’; 
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘Marine 
Turtle Conservation Fund’’ and inserting ‘‘Tur-
tle and Tortoise Conservation Fund’’; 
(C) by inserting after paragraph (2) the 
following: 
‘‘(l) FRESHWATER TURTLE.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘freshwater 
turtle’ means any member of the family Caret-
tochelyidae, Chelidae, Chelydridae, Dermatemy-
didae, Emydidae, Geoemydidae, Kinosternidae, 
Pelomedusidae, Platysternidae, Podocnemidi-
dae, or Trionychidae. 
‘‘(B) INCLUSIONS.—The term ‘freshwater 
turtle’ includes— 
‘‘(i) any part, product, egg, or off-
spring of a turtle described in subpara-
graph (A); and 
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‘‘(ii) a carcass of such a turtle.’’; 
(D) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(l) TERRITORY OF THE UNITED STATES.— 
The term ‘territory of the United States’ means each 
of American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of 
the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth 
of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, 
and any other territory or possession of the United 
States. 
‘‘(l) TORTOISE.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The term ‘tortoise’ 
means any member of the family Testudinidae. 
‘‘(B) INCLUSIONS.—The term ‘tortoise’ in-
cludes— 
‘‘(i) any part, product, egg, or off-
spring of a tortoise described in subpara-
graph (A); and 
‘‘(ii) a carcass of such a tortoise.’’; 
and 
(E) by redesignating the paragraphs of 
such section in order as paragraphs (1) through 
(9); 
(4)(A) in each of sections 2(a)(4), 2(a)(5), 
2(a)(8), 
and 
2(a)(9) 
(16 
U.S.C. 
6601(a)(4), 
6601(a)(5), and 6601(a)(9)), by striking ‘‘marine 
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