Eliminate, Neutralize, and Disrupt Wildlife Trafficking Act of 2016

Bill: 114-hr-2494
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Royce, Edward R. [R-CA-39]
Introduced: 2015-05-21
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Africa

Asia

Civil actions and liability

Congressional oversight

Currency

Endangered and threatened species

Foreign aid and international relief

Fraud offenses and financial crimes

Law enforcement administration and funding

Law enforcement officers

Mammals

Marine and coastal resources, fisheries

Military assistance, sales, and agreements

Organized crime

Sanctions

Smuggling and trafficking

Travel and tourism

Wildlife conservation and habitat protection
Latest action: action_date: 2016-10-07
text: Became Public Law No: 114-231.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-05-21
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Global Anti-Poaching Act</b></p> <p>This bill addresses the illegal trade in endangered and threatened wildlife and their related parts and products.</p> <p>The Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other appropriate agencies are urged to: (1) support strengthening existing wildlife enforcement networks and establishing new networks in other appropriate regions, and (2) promote the professionalization of the wildlife law enforcement sector and professional ranger training in partner countries.</p> <p> The State Department: (1) must provide to Congress an annual list of each foreign country that is a major source, transit point, or consumer of wildlife trafficking products; and (2) may withhold certain assistance from countries that have failed to adhere to their obligations under international agreements relating to endangered or threatened species.</p> <p>The President may provide defense articles, services, and related training to security forces of African countries to counter wildlife trafficking and poaching. If a unit of a security force has been found to engage in wildlife trafficking or poaching, the President may not provide such assistance unless the President determines that the government of the country is taking steps to hold the security unit accountable and prevent trafficking and poaching. </p> <p>The bill amends the federal criminal code to make wildlife trafficking violations of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, the African Elephant Conservation Act, and the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 predicate offenses for racketeering and money laundering prosecutions, if such violations involve more than $10,000. Fines and forfeitures from such violations must be transferred to the Multinational Species Conservation Fund and used for the benefit of the species impacted by the violation. </p>

action_date: 2015-11-02
action_desc: Passed House amended
text: <p><b>Global Anti-Poaching Act</b></p> <p>This bill addresses the illegal trade in endangered and threatened wildlife and their related parts and products.</p> <p>(Sec 3) The Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other appropriate agencies are urged to: (1) support strengthening existing wildlife enforcement networks and establishing new networks in other appropriate regions, and (2) promote the professionalization of the wildlife law enforcement sector and professional ranger training in partner countries.</p> <p>(Sec 5) For the next five years, the State Department must provide to Congress an annual list of each foreign country that is a major source, transit point, or consumer of wildlife trafficking products. The report must designate each country listed in the report that has failed to demonstrably make substantial efforts to adhere to its obligations under international agreements relating to endangered or threatened species. The State Department may withhold certain foreign aid from a designated country and must notify each such country that it is subject to the withholding of assistance.</p> <p>The bill amends the Sudan Peace Act by repealing a requirement for the State Department to report annually on the conflict in Sudan.</p> <p>(Sec. 6) The bill urges the United States to continue providing defense articles (not including significant military equipment), defense services, and related training to appropriate security forces of African countries for countering wildlife trafficking and poaching.</p> <p>(Sec. 7) The State Department is included in the certification process under the Pelly Amendment to the Fishermen's Protective Act of 1967. The Pelly Amendment authorizes the President to embargo wildlife products when the Department of the Interior or of Commerce certifies that a country is engaging in trade or certain actions that diminishes the effectiveness of an international agreement for the conservation of endangered or threatened species.</p> <p>(Sec. 8) The bill applies provisions of the federal criminal code concerning money laundering and racketeering to wildlife trafficking violations of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, the African Elephant Conservation Act, and the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994, if the endangered or threatened species, products, items, or substances involved in the violation and relevant conduct have a total value of more than $10,000. The amounts generated from penalties for those wildlife violations must be used for the benefit and conservation of impacted species.</p> <p>(Sec. 9) The bill urges the State Department to dedicate resources to: (1) conduct monitoring and evaluation of wildlife trafficking programs consistent with the Department's January 2015 Evaluation Policy; (2) publish program information on wildlife trafficking programs on the website, ForeignAssistance.gov; and (3) develop and implement a learning agenda to improve the performance and impact of wildlife trafficking programs and to share best practices among executive agencies. </p>

action_date: 2016-10-07
action_desc: Public Law
text: <p><b>Eliminate, Neutralize, and Disrupt Wildlife Trafficking Act of 2016 </b></p> <p>This bill addresses wildlife trafficking, which is the poaching or other illegal taking of protected or managed species and the illegal trade in wildlife and their related parts and products.</p> <p>TITLE I--PURPOSES AND POLICY</p> <p>(Sec. 102) The bill states that it is the policy of the United States to:</p> <ul> <li>take immediate actions to stop the illegal global trade in wildlife and wildlife products and associated transnational organized crime;</li> <li> employ appropriate assets and resources for curtailing poaching and disrupting and dismantling illegal wildlife trade networks and the financing of those networks in each foreign country that is a major source or major transit point of wildlife trafficking products or their derivatives, or a major consumer of wildlife trafficking products (focus country);</li> <li>provide assistance in helping focus countries in halting the poaching of imperiled species and ending the illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife products;</li> <li> build upon the &quot;National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking&quot; published on February 11, 2014, or a successor strategy, to further combat wildlife trafficking; and </li> <li>recognize the ties of wildlife trafficking to broader forms of transnational organized criminal activities, and where applicable, to focus on those crimes.</li> </ul> <p>TITLE II--REPORT ON MAJOR WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING COUNTRIES</p> <p>(Sec. 201) The Department of State must submit an annual report for five years after this bill's enactment that: (1) lists each focus country as determined by the State Department; and (2) identifies each country of concern, which is a focus country with a government that has actively engaged in or knowingly profited from the trafficking of endangered or threatened species.</p> <p>TITLE III--FRAMEWORK FOR INTERAGENCY RESPONSE</p> <p>(Sec. 301) The bill establishes coordination and collaboration requirements for the Presidential Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking.</p> <p> Each year the task force must submit a strategic assessment of its work and provide a briefing to appropriate congressional committees.</p> <p>The bill terminates the task force five years after enactment of this bill, unless the President terminates it on an earlier date.</p> <p> TITLE IV--PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS THE ESCALATING WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING CRISIS </p> <p>(Sec. 401) The State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) may provide assistance to focus countries for improving the effectiveness of wildlife law enforcement in regions and countries that have demonstrated capacity, willingness, and need for assistance.</p> <p>The bill urges the United States to continue providing defense articles (not including significant military equipment), defense services, and related training to appropriate security forces of African countries for countering wildlife trafficking and poaching. </p> <p>(Sec. 402) The State Department and USAID may design and implement programs in focus countries for: (1) increasing the capacity of wildlife law enforcement and customs and border security officers in the countries, or (2) combating the transnational trade in illegal wildlife. </p> <p>(Sec. 403) Each chief of mission to a focus country should begin to implement the recommendations on wildlife trafficking contained in the task force's strategic plan within two years of this bill's enactment. (A chief of mission is the principal officer in charge of a U.S. diplomatic mission or of a U.S. office abroad which is diplomatic in nature. The chief of mission is often, but not always, an ambassador.)</p> <p>(Sec. 404) The State Department may also provide support in focus countries to carry out the recommendations on wildlife trafficking contained in the task force's strategic plan related to the development, scaling, and replication of community wildlife conservancies and community conservation programs in those countries to: (1) assist with rural stability and security for people and wildlife, (2) empower and support communities in managing or benefiting from their wildlife resources in a long-term biologically viable manner, and (3) reduce the threat of poaching and trafficking.</p> <p> TITLE V--OTHER ACTIONS RELATING TO WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING PROGRAMS </p> <p>(Sec. 501) The State Department is included in the certification process under the Pelly Amendment to the Fishermen's Protective Act of 1967. (The Pelly Amendment authorizes the President to embargo wildlife products when the Department of Commerce or the Department of the Interior certifies that nationals of a foreign country are engaging in trade or certain actions that diminish the effectiveness of an international agreement for the conservation of endangered or threatened species.) Commerce and Interior shall each report each certification to the President within 15 days after it is made. </p> <p>(Sec. 502) The bill applies provisions of the federal criminal code concerning money laundering to wildlife trafficking violations of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, the African Elephant Conservation Act, and the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994, if the endangered or threatened species of fish or wildlife, products, items, or substances involved in the violation and relevant conduct have a total value of more than $10,000.</p>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2494 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 21, 2015 Mr. Royce (for himself, Mr. Engel , Mr. Poe of Texas , Mr. Keating , Mr. Smith of New Jersey , Ms. Bass , Mr. Crenshaw , Ms. McCollum , and Mr. Cuellar ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs , and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary and 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 concerned A BILL To support global anti-poaching efforts, strengthen the capacity of partner countries to counter wildlife trafficking, designate major wildlife trafficking countries, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Global Anti-Poaching Act . 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Poaching and the illicit trade in endangered and threatened wildlife are among the most lucrative criminal activities worldwide, worth an estimated $7 to $10 billion annually. (2) Poaching and wildlife trafficking have escalated in scale, sophistication and violence, risking the potential extinction of some of the world’s most iconic species. (3) Wildlife poaching and trafficking threaten elephants, rhinoceros, and tigers greatly, but also have devastating impact on a number of other species, including sharks, great apes, and turtles. (4) Researchers conservatively estimate that some 22,000 African elephants were poached in 2012 alone, leaving the current population of elephants around 400,000, down from approximately 1.3 million in 1979. (5) An average of 14 rhinos were killed annually by poachers in South Africa between 1990 and 2005, but more than 1,200 rhinos were poached in South Africa alone in 2014. (6) Fewer than 3,200 tigers remain in the wild and these remaining wild tigers are under heavy threat of poaching for their skins, bones and other body parts. (7) The high demand for rare wildlife products has driven prices to historically high levels. (8) Much of the demand for wildlife products comes from Asia and is fueled by the perceived medicinal value and social status associated with these products. (9) Reporting indicates that a number of rebel groups and terrorist organizations, including Sudan’s Janjaweed militia, the Lord’s Resistance Army, the Seleka rebel movement in the Central African Republic, and Somalia’s al-Shabaab, either participate in or draw funding from illicit wildlife trafficking networks. (10) Analyses suggest the high demand for illegal wildlife products, combined with weak law enforcement and security measures and corruption and governance failures, has led to the increased involvement of transnational organized crime in wildlife trafficking. (11) The United Nations Security Council has authorized multilateral sanctions against individuals and entities supporting armed groups through the illicit trade in wildlife, in addition to other natural resources, in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic. (12) A National Intelligence Council analysis of wildlife poaching threats found that certain African government officials facilitated the movement of wildlife products, and that these governments’ ability to reduce poaching and trafficking was hindered by corruption and weak rule of law. (13) On November 13, 2013, the Secretary of State announced the first reward under the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program for information leading to the dismantling of the Xaysavang Network, a large wildlife trafficking syndicate that is based in Laos and spans Africa and Asia. (14) On July 1, 2013, the President issued Executive Order 13648 on combating wildlife trafficking, establishing a Presidential Task Force which was responsible for producing a national strategy to combat wildlife trafficking. (15) On February 13, 2014, more than 40 countries, including the United States, European Union, and countries from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, participated in the London Conference on the Illegal Wildlife Trade and committed to a declaration which recognized the significant scale and detrimental economic, social and environmental consequences of the illegal trade in wildlife. 3. Expansion of wildlife enforcement networks (a) Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Wildlife enforcement networks are government-led, regionally-focused mechanisms that increase capacity and coordination efforts between law enforcement, environmental agencies, and other entities focused on countering wildlife trafficking of member countries. (2) Currently there are active wildlife enforcement networks in Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Central America. The more mature wildlife enforcement networks, such as the Southeast Asia wildlife enforcement network, have proven effective in dismantling transnational wildlife trafficking networks and bringing to justice those individuals involved in the illegal trade of endangered and threatened species. (3) Efforts are underway to establish additional wildlife enforcement networks in Central Africa, the Horn of Africa, South America, and Central and West Asia, among other regions. (b) Statement of policy The Secretary of State, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and heads of other appropriate agencies should, in an effort to address regional threats to biodiversity and conservation, support strengthening existing wildlife enforcement networks and the establishment of new networks in other appropriate regions. (c) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that in the process of strengthening and expanding wildlife enforcement networks, the appropriate agencies should— (1) assess the existing capacity of wildlife enforcement network member countries to gather baseline data that may be used for developing program activities for the wildlife enforcement network; (2) establish a central secretariat within each wildlife enforcement network that will coordinate the operational mechanisms of each such network; (3) establish a focal mechanism in each member country of a wildlife enforcement network, that includes representatives from environmental and wildlife protection agencies, law enforcement agencies, financial intelligence units, customs and border protection agencies, and the judiciary system, that will serve as a conduit to the larger wildlife enforcement network and the central secretariat; (4) strengthen cooperation and the capacity of law enforcement agencies of the wildlife enforcement network; (5) facilitate the sharing of intelligence and relevant case information within the agencies of a wildlife enforcement network; (6) support the cooperation and coordination between different regional wildlife enforcement networks; (7) incorporate and utilize expertise from international bodies and civil society organizations that have appropriate subject matter expertise; and (8) eventually create an institutionalized, sustainable, and self-sufficient platform. 4. Supporting the professionalization of the wildlife law enforcement sector The Secretary of State, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and heads of other appropriate agencies, including the National Park Service and the United States Forest Service, should, in an effort to address local and regional threats to biodiversity and conservation and support the rule of law and good governance, promote the professionalization of the wildlife law enforcement sector and professional ranger training in partner countries through support and technical assistance for the following: (1) The creation and adoption of standards for professional ranger training and qualifications, including in relevant international fora and multilateral agreements. (2) Training and accreditation systems based on the standards described in paragraph (1) that produce professionally trained and qualified rangers and promote the overall professionalization of ranger forces, whether through existing United States institutions, such as International Law Enforcement Academies, or through partnerships with national or regional training institutions. (3) Legal reforms, where necessary, to provide rangers with authority to detain and arrest suspects, process crime scenes, present evidence in court, and defend themselves in life threatening situations. (4) The development and institutionalization of reward and promotion systems for rangers based on performance and set competencies. (5) The development and institutionalization of national systems to provide insurance to rangers and their families and compensation for those rangers killed in the line of duty. (6) Cooperation and coordination between local law enforcement tasked with wildlife or park protection and defense forces, where appropriate, including training opportunities, logistical support, or provision of equipment. 5. Designation of major wildlife trafficking countries and authority to withhold certain assistance (a) Report Not later than September 15 of each year, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce, shall submit to Congress a report that lists each foreign country determined to be a major source of wildlife trafficking products or their derivatives, a major transit point of wildlife trafficking products or their derivatives, or a major consumer of wildlife trafficking products or their derivatives. (b) Special designation In each report required under subsection (a), the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Interior and the Secretary of Commerce, shall— (1) designate each country listed in the report that has failed demonstrably, during the previous 12-month period, to make substantial efforts to adhere to its obligations under international agreements relating to endangered or threatened species; and (2) include a short justification for each determination made under paragraph (1). (c) Withholding of assistance The Secretary of State may withhold assistance described in subsection (d) with respect to each foreign country that is specially designated under subsection (b). (d) Assistance described The assistance described in this subsection are sections 516, 524, and 541 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 ( 22 U.S.C. 2321j , 2344, or 2347), chapter 6 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 ( 22 U.S.C. 2348 et seq. ), and section 23 of the Arms Export Control Act ( 22 U.S.C. 2763 ). (e) Notification The Secretary of State shall notify— (1) the government of each foreign country that is listed in the report required under subsection (a) that the country has been so listed; and (2) the government of each foreign country that is specially designated under subsection (b) and is subject to the withholding of assistance described in subsection (c). 6. Authority to provide security assistance to counter wildlife trafficking and poaching in Africa (a) In general The President is authorized to provide defense articles, defense services, and related training to security forces of countries of Africa for the purpose of countering wildlife trafficking and poaching. (b) Types of assistance Assistance provided under subsection (a) may include intelligence and surveillance assets, communications and electronic equipment, mobility assets, night vision and thermal imaging devices, and organizational clothing and individual equipment, pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Arms Export Control Act ( 22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq. ), the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 ( 22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq. ), and other relevant provisions of law. (c) Special rule Assistance provided under subsection (a) shall be in addition to any other assistance provided to the countries referred to in such subsection under any other provision of law. (d) Prohibition on assistance (1) In general No assistance may be provided under subsection (a) to a unit of a security force of a country of Africa if the President determines that the unit has been found to engage in wildlife trafficking or poaching. (2) Exception The prohibition in paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to a unit of a security force of a country of Africa if the President determines that the government of the country is taking effective steps to hold the unit accountable and prevent the unit from engaging in trafficking and poaching. (e) Definitions In this section: (1) Defense article, defense service, and training The terms defense article , defense service , and training have the meanings given such terms in section 47 of the Arms Export Control Act ( 22 U.S.C. 2794 note). (2) Security force The term security force means a military, law enforcement, gendarmerie, park ranger, or any other security force with responsibility for protecting wildlife and natural habitats. 7. Updates to the Fishermen’s Protective Act of 1967 Section 8 of the Fishermen’s Protective Act of 1967 ( 22 U.S.C. 1978 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting , in consultation with the Secretary of State, after Secretary of Commerce ; (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting , in consultation with the Secretary of State, before finds ; (C) in paragraph (3), by inserting in consultation with the Secretary of State, after , as appropriate, ; and (D) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5), and by inserting after paragraph (3) the following: (4) The Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the Interior shall each report to the Congress each certification to the President made by such Secretary under this subsection, within 15 days after making such certification. ; and (2) in subsection (d), by inserting in consultation with the Secretary of State, after as the case may be, . 8. Wildlife trafficking violations as predicate offenses under racketeering and money laundering statutes (a) Travel Act Section 1952 of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (b)— (A) by striking or (3) and inserting (3) ; and (B) by striking of this title and (ii) and inserting the following: of this title, or (4) any act that is a criminal violation of section 9(a)(1) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1538(a)(1) ), section 2203 of the African Elephant Conservation Act ( 16 U.S.C. 4223 ), or section 7(a) of the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 ( 16 U.S.C. 5305a(a) ), if the endangered or threatened species, products, items, or substances involved in the violation and relevant conduct, as applicable, have a total value of more than $10,000 and (ii) ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (f) Use of amounts from fines, forfeitures, and restitution relating to wildlife trafficking violations Any amounts received by the United States as fines, forfeitures of property or assets, or restitution to the Government for any violation under this section that involves an unlawful activity described in subsection (b)(i)(4) shall be transferred by the Secretary of the Treasury, to the extent practicable, to the Multinational Species Conservation Fund and used for the benefit of the species impacted by the applicable violation. . (b) Money laundering Section 1956 of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (c)(7)— (A) in subparagraph (E), by striking or at the end; (B) in subparagraph (F), by adding or at the end; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (G) any act or acts constituting a criminal violation of section 9(a)(1) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1538(a)(1) ), section 2203 of the African Elephant Conservation Act ( 16 U.S.C. 4223 ), or section 7(a) of the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 ( 16 U.S.C. 5305a(a) ), if the endangered or threatened species, products, items, or substances involved in the violation and relevant conduct, as applicable, have a total value of more than $10,000; ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (j) Use of amounts from civil penalties, fines, forfeitures, and restitution relating to wildlife trafficking violations Any amounts received by the United States as fines, forfeitures of property or assets, or restitution to the Government for any violation under this section that involves an unlawful activity described in subsection (c)(7)(G) shall be transferred by the Secretary of the Treasury, to the extent practicable, to the Multinational Species Conservation Fund and used for the benefit of the species impacted by the applicable violation. . (c) RICO Chapter 96 of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1) in section 1961(1)— (A) by striking or (G) and inserting (G) ; and (B) by inserting before the semicolon at the end the following: , or (H) any act constituting a criminal violation of section 9(a)(1) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1538(a)(1) ), section 2203 of the African Elephant Conservation Act ( 16 U.S.C. 4223 ), or section 7(a) of the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 ( 16 U.S.C. 5305a(a) ), if the endangered or threatened species, products, items, or substances involved in the violation and relevant conduct, as applicable, have a total value of more than $10,000 ; and (2) in section 1963, by adding at the end the following: (n) Use of amounts from fines, forfeitures, and restitution relating to wildlife trafficking violations Any amounts received by the United States as fines, forfeitures of property or assets, or restitution to the Government for any violation under section 1962 that is based on racketeering activity described in section 1961(1)(H) shall be transferred by the Secretary of the Treasury, to the extent practicable, to the Multinational Species Conservation Fund and used for the benefit of the species impacted by the applicable violation. . (d) Technical and conforming amendments (1) Use of amounts from fines Section 1402(b)(1)(A) of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 ( 42 U.S.C. 10601(b)(1)(A) ) is amended— (A) in clause (i), by striking and at the end; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (iii) sections 1952(e), 1956(j), and 1963(n) of title 18, United States Code; and . (2) Use of amounts from forfeitures Section 524(c)(4)(A) of title 28, United States Code, is amended by inserting before or the Postmaster General the following: under section 1952(f), 1956(j), or 1963(n) of title 18, .

tv_txt: IIB 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2494 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES November 3, 2015 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations AN ACT To support global anti-poaching efforts, strengthen the capacity of partner countries to counter wildlife trafficking, designate major wildlife trafficking countries, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Global Anti-Poaching Act . 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Poaching and the illicit trade in endangered and threatened wildlife are among the most lucrative criminal activities worldwide, worth an estimated $7 to $10 billion annually. (2) Poaching and wildlife trafficking have escalated in scale, sophistication and violence, risking the potential extinction of some of the world’s most iconic species. (3) Wildlife poaching and trafficking threaten elephants, rhinoceros, and tigers greatly, but also have devastating impact on a number of other species, including sharks, great apes, and turtles. (4) The high demand for rare wildlife products has driven prices to historically high levels. (5) Much of the demand for wildlife products comes from Asia and is fueled by the perceived medicinal value and social status associated with these products. (6) Reporting indicates that a number of rebel groups and terrorist organizations, including Sudan’s Janjaweed militia, the Lord’s Resistance Army, the Seleka rebel movement in the Central African Republic, and Somalia’s al-Shabaab, either participate in or draw funding from illicit wildlife trafficking networks. (7) Analyses suggest the high demand for illegal wildlife products, combined with weak law enforcement and security measures and corruption and governance failures, has led to the increased involvement of transnational organized crime in wildlife trafficking. (8) The United Nations Security Council has authorized multilateral sanctions against individuals and entities supporting armed groups through the illicit trade in wildlife, in addition to other natural resources, in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic. (9) A National Intelligence Council analysis of wildlife poaching threats found that certain African government officials facilitated the movement of wildlife products, and that these governments’ ability to reduce poaching and trafficking was hindered by corruption and weak rule of law. (10) On November 13, 2013, the Secretary of State announced the first reward under the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program for information leading to the dismantling of the Xaysavang Network, a large wildlife trafficking syndicate that is based in Laos and spans Africa and Asia. 3. Expansion of wildlife enforcement networks (a) Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Wildlife enforcement networks are government-led, regionally-focused mechanisms that increase capacity and coordination efforts between law enforcement, environmental agencies, and other entities focused on countering wildlife trafficking of member countries. (2) Currently there are active wildlife enforcement networks in Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Central America. The more mature wildlife enforcement networks, such as the Southeast Asia wildlife enforcement network, have proven effective in dismantling transnational wildlife trafficking networks and bringing to justice those individuals involved in the illegal trade of endangered and threatened species. (3) Efforts are underway to establish additional wildlife enforcement networks in Central Africa, the Horn of Africa, South America, and Central and West Asia, among other regions. (b) Statement of policy The Secretary of State, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and heads of other appropriate agencies should, in an effort to address regional threats to biodiversity and conservation, support strengthening existing wildlife enforcement networks and the establishment of new networks in other appropriate regions. (c) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that in the process of strengthening and expanding wildlife enforcement networks, the appropriate agencies should— (1) assess the existing capacity of wildlife enforcement network member countries to gather baseline data that may be used for developing program activities for the wildlife enforcement network; (2) establish a central secretariat within each wildlife enforcement network that will coordinate the operational mechanisms of each such network; (3) establish a focal mechanism in each member country of a wildlife enforcement network, that includes representatives from environmental and wildlife protection agencies, law enforcement agencies, financial intelligence units, customs and border protection agencies, and the judiciary system, that will serve as a conduit to the larger wildlife enforcement network and the central secretariat; (4) strengthen cooperation and the capacity of law enforcement agencies of the wildlife enforcement network; (5) facilitate the sharing of intelligence and relevant case information within the agencies of a wildlife enforcement network; (6) support the cooperation and coordination between different regional wildlife enforcement networks; (7) incorporate and utilize expertise from international bodies and civil society organizations that have appropriate subject matter expertise; (8) eventually create an institutionalized, sustainable, and self-sufficient platform; and (9) recognize that lawful, well regulated hunting can contribute to sustainability and economic development, and that enforcement policies should not discourage or impede this activity. 4. Supporting the professionalization of the wildlife law enforcement sector The Secretary of State, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and heads of other appropriate agencies, including the National Park Service and the United States Forest Service, should, in an effort to address local and regional threats to biodiversity and conservation and support the rule of law and good governance, promote the professionalization of the wildlife law enforcement sector and professional ranger training in partner countries through support and technical assistance for the following: (1) The creation and adoption of standards for professional ranger training and qualifications, including in relevant international fora and multilateral agreements. (2) Training and accreditation systems based on the standards described in paragraph (1) that produce professionally trained and qualified rangers and promote the overall professionalization of ranger forces, whether through existing United States institutions, such as International Law Enforcement Academies, or through partnerships with national or regional training institutions. (3) Legal reforms, where necessary, to provide rangers with authority to detain and arrest suspects, process crime scenes, present evidence in court, and defend themselves in life threatening situations. (4) The development and institutionalization of reward and promotion systems for rangers based on performance and set competencies. (5) The development and institutionalization of national systems to provide insurance to rangers and their families and compensation for those rangers killed in the line of duty. (6) Cooperation and coordination between local law enforcement tasked with wildlife or park protection and local defense forces, where appropriate, including training opportunities, logistical support, or provision of equipment. 5. Designation of major wildlife trafficking countries and authority to withhold certain assistance (a) Report Not later than September 15 of each year, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce, shall submit to Congress a report that lists each foreign country determined to be a major source of wildlife trafficking products or their derivatives, a major transit point of wildlife trafficking products or their derivatives, or a major consumer of wildlife trafficking products or their derivatives. (b) Special designation In each report required under subsection (a), the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Interior and the Secretary of Commerce, shall— (1) designate each country listed in the report that has failed demonstrably, during the previous 12-month period, to make substantial efforts to adhere to its obligations under international agreements relating to endangered or threatened species; and (2) include a short justification for each determination made under paragraph (1). (c) Withholding of assistance The Secretary of State may withhold assistance described in subsection (d) with respect to each foreign country that is specially designated under subsection (b). (d) Assistance described The assistance described in this subsection are sections 516, 524, and 541 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 ( 22 U.S.C. 2321j , 2344, or 2347), chapter 6 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 ( 22 U.S.C. 2348 et seq. ), and section 23 of the Arms Export Control Act ( 22 U.S.C. 2763 ). (e) Notification The Secretary of State shall notify— (1) the government of each foreign country that is listed in the report required under subsection (a) that the country has been so listed; and (2) the government of each foreign country that is specially designated under subsection (b) and is subject to the withholding of assistance described in subsection (c). (f) Reporting cost offset Section 8 of Public Law 107–245 ( 50 U.S.C. 1701 note) is repealed. (g) Sunset This section shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act. 6. Sense of Congress regarding security assistance to counter wildlife trafficking and poaching in Africa It is the sense of Congress that the United States should continue to provide defense articles (not including significant military equipment), defense services, and related training to appropriate security forces of countries of Africa for the purposes of countering wildlife trafficking and poaching. 7. Updates to the Fishermen’s Protective Act of 1967 Section 8 of the Fishermen’s Protective Act of 1967 ( 22 U.S.C. 1978 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting , in consultation with the Secretary of State, after Secretary of Commerce ; (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting , in consultation with the Secretary of State, before finds ; (C) in paragraph (3), by inserting in consultation with the Secretary of State, after , as appropriate, ; (D) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5), and by inserting after paragraph (3) the following: (4) The Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the Interior shall each report to the Congress each certification to the President made by such Secretary under this subsection, within 15 days after making such certification. ; and (2) in subsection (d), by inserting in consultation with the Secretary of State, after as the case may be, . 8. Wildlife trafficking violations as predicate offenses under racketeering and money laundering statutes (a) Travel Act Section 1952 of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (b)— (A) by striking or (3) and inserting (3) ; and (B) by striking of this title and (ii) and inserting the following: of this title, or (4) any act that is a criminal violation of section 9(a)(1) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1538(a)(1) ), section 2203 of the African Elephant Conservation Act ( 16 U.S.C. 4223 ), or section 7(a) of the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 ( 16 U.S.C. 5305a(a) ), if the endangered or threatened species, products, items, or substances involved in the violation and relevant conduct, as applicable, have a total value of more than $10,000 and (ii) ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (f) Use of amounts from fines, forfeitures, and restitution relating to wildlife trafficking violations Any amounts received by the United States as fines, forfeitures of property or assets, or restitution to the Government for any violation under this section that involves an unlawful activity described in subsection (b)(i)(4) shall be transferred by the Secretary of the Treasury, to the extent practicable, to the Multinational Species Conservation Fund and used as provided in advance in appropriations Acts for the benefit of the species impacted by the applicable violation. . (b) Money laundering Section 1956 of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (c)(7)— (A) in subparagraph (E), by striking or at the end; (B) in subparagraph (F), by adding or at the end; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (G) any act or acts constituting a criminal violation of section 9(a)(1) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1538(a)(1) ), section 2203 of the African Elephant Conservation Act ( 16 U.S.C. 4223 ), or section 7(a) of the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 ( 16 U.S.C. 5305a(a) ), if the endangered or threatened species, products, items, or substances involved in the violation and relevant conduct, as applicable, have a total value of more than $10,000; ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (j) Use of amounts from civil penalties, fines, forfeitures, and restitution relating to wildlife trafficking violations Any amounts received by the United States as fines, forfeitures of property or assets, or restitution to the Government for any violation under this section that involves an unlawful activity described in subsection (c)(7)(G) shall be transferred by the Secretary of the Treasury, to the extent practicable, to the Multinational Species Conservation Fund and used as provided in advance in appropriations Acts for the benefit of the species impacted by the applicable violation. . (c) RICO Chapter 96 of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1) in section 1961(1)— (A) by striking or (G) and inserting (G) ; and (B) by inserting before the semicolon at the end the following: , or (H) any act constituting a criminal violation of section 9(a)(1) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1538(a)(1) ), section 2203 of the African Elephant Conservation Act ( 16 U.S.C. 4223 ), or section 7(a) of the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 ( 16 U.S.C. 5305a(a) ), if the endangered or threatened species, products, items, or substances involved in the violation and relevant conduct, as applicable, have a total value of more than $10,000 ; and (2) in section 1963, by adding at the end the following: (n) Use of amounts from fines, forfeitures, and restitution relating to wildlife trafficking violations Any amounts received by the United States as fines, forfeitures of property or assets, or restitution to the Government for any violation under section 1962 that is based on racketeering activity described in section 1961(1)(H) shall be transferred by the Secretary of the Treasury, to the extent practicable, to the Multinational Species Conservation Fund and used as provided in advance in appropriations Acts for the benefit of the species impacted by the applicable violation. . (d) Technical and conforming amendments (1) Use of amounts from fines Section 1402(b)(1)(A) of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 ( 42 U.S.C. 10601(b)(1)(A) ) is amended— (A) in clause (i), by striking and at the end; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (iii) sections 1952(f), 1956(j), and 1963(n) of title 18, United States Code; and . (2) Use of amounts from forfeitures Section 524(c)(4)(A) of title 28, United States Code, is amended by inserting before or the Postmaster General the following: or section 1952(f), 1956(j), or 1963(n) of title 18, . 9. Other actions relating to wildlife trafficking programs It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of State should dedicate sufficient program resources to— (1) conduct monitoring and evaluation, with a special emphasis where feasible on impact evaluations, of wildlife trafficking programs consistent with the Department of State’s January 2015 Evaluation Policy; (2) publish program information on wildlife trafficking programs on the Department of State’s Internet website, ForeignAssistance.gov in a digital format consistent with the United States commitment to the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI); and (3) develop and implement a learning agenda to improve the performance and impact of wildlife trafficking programs and to share best practices among relevant executive branch agencies.

Passed the House of Representatives November 2, 2015. Karen L. Haas, Clerk

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2494 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To support global anti-poaching efforts, strengthen the capacity of partner countries to counter wildlife trafficking, designate major wildlife trafficking countries, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Global Anti-Poaching Act . 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Poaching and the illicit trade in endangered and threatened wildlife are among the most lucrative criminal activities worldwide, worth an estimated $7 to $10 billion annually. (2) Poaching and wildlife trafficking have escalated in scale, sophistication and violence, risking the potential extinction of some of the world’s most iconic species. (3) Wildlife poaching and trafficking threaten elephants, rhinoceros, and tigers greatly, but also have devastating impact on a number of other species, including sharks, great apes, and turtles. (4) The high demand for rare wildlife products has driven prices to historically high levels. (5) Much of the demand for wildlife products comes from Asia and is fueled by the perceived medicinal value and social status associated with these products. (6) Reporting indicates that a number of rebel groups and terrorist organizations, including Sudan’s Janjaweed militia, the Lord’s Resistance Army, the Seleka rebel movement in the Central African Republic, and Somalia’s al-Shabaab, either participate in or draw funding from illicit wildlife trafficking networks. (7) Analyses suggest the high demand for illegal wildlife products, combined with weak law enforcement and security measures and corruption and governance failures, has led to the increased involvement of transnational organized crime in wildlife trafficking. (8) The United Nations Security Council has authorized multilateral sanctions against individuals and entities supporting armed groups through the illicit trade in wildlife, in addition to other natural resources, in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic. (9) A National Intelligence Council analysis of wildlife poaching threats found that certain African government officials facilitated the movement of wildlife products, and that these governments’ ability to reduce poaching and trafficking was hindered by corruption and weak rule of law. (10) On November 13, 2013, the Secretary of State announced the first reward under the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program for information leading to the dismantling of the Xaysavang Network, a large wildlife trafficking syndicate that is based in Laos and spans Africa and Asia. 3. Expansion of wildlife enforcement networks (a) Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Wildlife enforcement networks are government-led, regionally-focused mechanisms that increase capacity and coordination efforts between law enforcement, environmental agencies, and other entities focused on countering wildlife trafficking of member countries. (2) Currently there are active wildlife enforcement networks in Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Central America. The more mature wildlife enforcement networks, such as the Southeast Asia wildlife enforcement network, have proven effective in dismantling transnational wildlife trafficking networks and bringing to justice those individuals involved in the illegal trade of endangered and threatened species. (3) Efforts are underway to establish additional wildlife enforcement networks in Central Africa, the Horn of Africa, South America, and Central and West Asia, among other regions. (b) Statement of policy The Secretary of State, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and heads of other appropriate agencies should, in an effort to address regional threats to biodiversity and conservation, support strengthening existing wildlife enforcement networks and the establishment of new networks in other appropriate regions. (c) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that in the process of strengthening and expanding wildlife enforcement networks, the appropriate agencies should— (1) assess the existing capacity of wildlife enforcement network member countries to gather baseline data that may be used for developing program activities for the wildlife enforcement network; (2) establish a central secretariat within each wildlife enforcement network that will coordinate the operational mechanisms of each such network; (3) establish a focal mechanism in each member country of a wildlife enforcement network, that includes representatives from environmental and wildlife protection agencies, law enforcement agencies, financial intelligence units, customs and border protection agencies, and the judiciary system, that will serve as a conduit to the larger wildlife enforcement network and the central secretariat; (4) strengthen cooperation and the capacity of law enforcement agencies of the wildlife enforcement network; (5) facilitate the sharing of intelligence and relevant case information within the agencies of a wildlife enforcement network; (6) support the cooperation and coordination between different regional wildlife enforcement networks; (7) incorporate and utilize expertise from international bodies and civil society organizations that have appropriate subject matter expertise; (8) eventually create an institutionalized, sustainable, and self-sufficient platform; and (9) recognize that lawful, well regulated hunting can contribute to sustainability and economic development, and that enforcement policies should not discourage or impede this activity. 4. Supporting the professionalization of the wildlife law enforcement sector The Secretary of State, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and heads of other appropriate agencies, including the National Park Service and the United States Forest Service, should, in an effort to address local and regional threats to biodiversity and conservation and support the rule of law and good governance, promote the professionalization of the wildlife law enforcement sector and professional ranger training in partner countries through support and technical assistance for the following: (1) The creation and adoption of standards for professional ranger training and qualifications, including in relevant international fora and multilateral agreements. (2) Training and accreditation systems based on the standards described in paragraph (1) that produce professionally trained and qualified rangers and promote the overall professionalization of ranger forces, whether through existing United States institutions, such as International Law Enforcement Academies, or through partnerships with national or regional training institutions. (3) Legal reforms, where necessary, to provide rangers with authority to detain and arrest suspects, process crime scenes, present evidence in court, and defend themselves in life threatening situations. (4) The development and institutionalization of reward and promotion systems for rangers based on performance and set competencies. (5) The development and institutionalization of national systems to provide insurance to rangers and their families and compensation for those rangers killed in the line of duty. (6) Cooperation and coordination between local law enforcement tasked with wildlife or park protection and local defense forces, where appropriate, including training opportunities, logistical support, or provision of equipment. 5. Designation of major wildlife trafficking countries and authority to withhold certain assistance (a) Report Not later than September 15 of each year, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce, shall submit to Congress a report that lists each foreign country determined to be a major source of wildlife trafficking products or their derivatives, a major transit point of wildlife trafficking products or their derivatives, or a major consumer of wildlife trafficking products or their derivatives. (b) Special designation In each report required under subsection (a), the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Interior and the Secretary of Commerce, shall— (1) designate each country listed in the report that has failed demonstrably, during the previous 12-month period, to make substantial efforts to adhere to its obligations under international agreements relating to endangered or threatened species; and (2) include a short justification for each determination made under paragraph (1). (c) Withholding of assistance The Secretary of State may withhold assistance described in subsection (d) with respect to each foreign country that is specially designated under subsection (b). (d) Assistance described The assistance described in this subsection are sections 516, 524, and 541 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 ( 22 U.S.C. 2321j , 2344, or 2347), chapter 6 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 ( 22 U.S.C. 2348 et seq. ), and section 23 of the Arms Export Control Act ( 22 U.S.C. 2763 ). (e) Notification The Secretary of State shall notify— (1) the government of each foreign country that is listed in the report required under subsection (a) that the country has been so listed; and (2) the government of each foreign country that is specially designated under subsection (b) and is subject to the withholding of assistance described in subsection (c). (f) Reporting cost offset Section 8 of Public Law 107–245 ( 50 U.S.C. 1701 note) is repealed. (g) Sunset This section shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act. 6. Sense of Congress regarding security assistance to counter wildlife trafficking and poaching in Africa It is the sense of Congress that the United States should continue to provide defense articles (not including significant military equipment), defense services, and related training to appropriate security forces of countries of Africa for the purposes of countering wildlife trafficking and poaching. 7. Updates to the Fishermen’s Protective Act of 1967 Section 8 of the Fishermen’s Protective Act of 1967 ( 22 U.S.C. 1978 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting , in consultation with the Secretary of State, after Secretary of Commerce ; (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting , in consultation with the Secretary of State, before finds ; (C) in paragraph (3), by inserting in consultation with the Secretary of State, after , as appropriate, ; (D) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5), and by inserting after paragraph (3) the following: (4) The Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the Interior shall each report to the Congress each certification to the President made by such Secretary under this subsection, within 15 days after making such certification. ; and (2) in subsection (d), by inserting in consultation with the Secretary of State, after as the case may be, . 8. Wildlife trafficking violations as predicate offenses under racketeering and money laundering statutes (a) Travel Act Section 1952 of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (b)— (A) by striking or (3) and inserting (3) ; and (B) by striking of this title and (ii) and inserting the following: of this title, or (4) any act that is a criminal violation of section 9(a)(1) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1538(a)(1) ), section 2203 of the African Elephant Conservation Act ( 16 U.S.C. 4223 ), or section 7(a) of the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 ( 16 U.S.C. 5305a(a) ), if the endangered or threatened species, products, items, or substances involved in the violation and relevant conduct, as applicable, have a total value of more than $10,000 and (ii) ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (f) Use of amounts from fines, forfeitures, and restitution relating to wildlife trafficking violations Any amounts received by the United States as fines, forfeitures of property or assets, or restitution to the Government for any violation under this section that involves an unlawful activity described in subsection (b)(i)(4) shall be transferred by the Secretary of the Treasury, to the extent practicable, to the Multinational Species Conservation Fund and used as provided in advance in appropriations Acts for the benefit of the species impacted by the applicable violation. . (b) Money laundering Section 1956 of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (c)(7)— (A) in subparagraph (E), by striking or at the end; (B) in subparagraph (F), by adding or at the end; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (G) any act or acts constituting a criminal violation of section 9(a)(1) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1538(a)(1) ), section 2203 of the African Elephant Conservation Act ( 16 U.S.C. 4223 ), or section 7(a) of the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 ( 16 U.S.C. 5305a(a) ), if the endangered or threatened species, products, items, or substances involved in the violation and relevant conduct, as applicable, have a total value of more than $10,000; ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (j) Use of amounts from civil penalties, fines, forfeitures, and restitution relating to wildlife trafficking violations Any amounts received by the United States as fines, forfeitures of property or assets, or restitution to the Government for any violation under this section that involves an unlawful activity described in subsection (c)(7)(G) shall be transferred by the Secretary of the Treasury, to the extent practicable, to the Multinational Species Conservation Fund and used as provided in advance in appropriations Acts for the benefit of the species impacted by the applicable violation. . (c) RICO Chapter 96 of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1) in section 1961(1)— (A) by striking or (G) and inserting (G) ; and (B) by inserting before the semicolon at the end the following: , or (H) any act constituting a criminal violation of section 9(a)(1) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1538(a)(1) ), section 2203 of the African Elephant Conservation Act ( 16 U.S.C. 4223 ), or section 7(a) of the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 ( 16 U.S.C. 5305a(a) ), if the endangered or threatened species, products, items, or substances involved in the violation and relevant conduct, as applicable, have a total value of more than $10,000 ; and (2) in section 1963, by adding at the end the following: (n) Use of amounts from fines, forfeitures, and restitution relating to wildlife trafficking violations Any amounts received by the United States as fines, forfeitures of property or assets, or restitution to the Government for any violation under section 1962 that is based on racketeering activity described in section 1961(1)(H) shall be transferred by the Secretary of the Treasury, to the extent practicable, to the Multinational Species Conservation Fund and used as provided in advance in appropriations Acts for the benefit of the species impacted by the applicable violation. . (d) Technical and conforming amendments (1) Use of amounts from fines Section 1402(b)(1)(A) of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 ( 42 U.S.C. 10601(b)(1)(A) ) is amended— (A) in clause (i), by striking and at the end; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (iii) sections 1952(f), 1956(j), and 1963(n) of title 18, United States Code; and . (2) Use of amounts from forfeitures Section 524(c)(4)(A) of title 28, United States Code, is amended by inserting before or the Postmaster General the following: or section 1952(f), 1956(j), or 1963(n) of title 18, . 9. Other actions relating to wildlife trafficking programs It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of State should dedicate sufficient program resources to— (1) conduct monitoring and evaluation, with a special emphasis where feasible on impact evaluations, of wildlife trafficking programs consistent with the Department of State’s January 2015 Evaluation Policy; (2) publish program information on wildlife trafficking programs on the Department of State’s Internet website, ForeignAssistance.gov in a digital format consistent with the United States commitment to the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI); and (3) develop and implement a learning agenda to improve the performance and impact of wildlife trafficking programs and to share best practices among relevant executive branch agencies.

Passed the House of Representatives November 2, 2015. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.

tv_txt: II Calendar No. 459 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 2494 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES November 3, 2015 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations May 9, 2016 Reported by Mr. Corker , with an amendment Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic AN ACT To support global anti-poaching efforts, strengthen the capacity of partner countries to counter wildlife trafficking, designate major wildlife trafficking countries, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Global Anti-Poaching Act . 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Poaching and the illicit trade in endangered and threatened wildlife are among the most lucrative criminal activities worldwide, worth an estimated $7 to $10 billion annually. (2) Poaching and wildlife trafficking have escalated in scale, sophistication and violence, risking the potential extinction of some of the world’s most iconic species. (3) Wildlife poaching and trafficking threaten elephants, rhinoceros, and tigers greatly, but also have devastating impact on a number of other species, including sharks, great apes, and turtles. (4) The high demand for rare wildlife products has driven prices to historically high levels. (5) Much of the demand for wildlife products comes from Asia and is fueled by the perceived medicinal value and social status associated with these products. (6) Reporting indicates that a number of rebel groups and terrorist organizations, including Sudan’s Janjaweed militia, the Lord’s Resistance Army, the Seleka rebel movement in the Central African Republic, and Somalia’s al-Shabaab, either participate in or draw funding from illicit wildlife trafficking networks. (7) Analyses suggest the high demand for illegal wildlife products, combined with weak law enforcement and security measures and corruption and governance failures, has led to the increased involvement of transnational organized crime in wildlife trafficking. (8) The United Nations Security Council has authorized multilateral sanctions against individuals and entities supporting armed groups through the illicit trade in wildlife, in addition to other natural resources, in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic. (9) A National Intelligence Council analysis of wildlife poaching threats found that certain African government officials facilitated the movement of wildlife products, and that these governments’ ability to reduce poaching and trafficking was hindered by corruption and weak rule of law. (10) On November 13, 2013, the Secretary of State announced the first reward under the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program for information leading to the dismantling of the Xaysavang Network, a large wildlife trafficking syndicate that is based in Laos and spans Africa and Asia. 3. Expansion of wildlife enforcement networks (a) Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Wildlife enforcement networks are government-led, regionally-focused mechanisms that increase capacity and coordination efforts between law enforcement, environmental agencies, and other entities focused on countering wildlife trafficking of member countries. (2) Currently there are active wildlife enforcement networks in Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Central America. The more mature wildlife enforcement networks, such as the Southeast Asia wildlife enforcement network, have proven effective in dismantling transnational wildlife trafficking networks and bringing to justice those individuals involved in the illegal trade of endangered and threatened species. (3) Efforts are underway to establish additional wildlife enforcement networks in Central Africa, the Horn of Africa, South America, and Central and West Asia, among other regions. (b) Statement of policy The Secretary of State, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and heads of other appropriate agencies should, in an effort to address regional threats to biodiversity and conservation, support strengthening existing wildlife enforcement networks and the establishment of new networks in other appropriate regions. (c) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that in the process of strengthening and expanding wildlife enforcement networks, the appropriate agencies should— (1) assess the existing capacity of wildlife enforcement network member countries to gather baseline data that may be used for developing program activities for the wildlife enforcement network; (2) establish a central secretariat within each wildlife enforcement network that will coordinate the operational mechanisms of each such network; (3) establish a focal mechanism in each member country of a wildlife enforcement network, that includes representatives from environmental and wildlife protection agencies, law enforcement agencies, financial intelligence units, customs and border protection agencies, and the judiciary system, that will serve as a conduit to the larger wildlife enforcement network and the central secretariat; (4) strengthen cooperation and the capacity of law enforcement agencies of the wildlife enforcement network; (5) facilitate the sharing of intelligence and relevant case information within the agencies of a wildlife enforcement network; (6) support the cooperation and coordination between different regional wildlife enforcement networks; (7) incorporate and utilize expertise from international bodies and civil society organizations that have appropriate subject matter expertise; (8) eventually create an institutionalized, sustainable, and self-sufficient platform; and (9) recognize that lawful, well regulated hunting can contribute to sustainability and economic development, and that enforcement policies should not discourage or impede this activity. 4. Supporting the professionalization of the wildlife law enforcement sector The Secretary of State, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and heads of other appropriate agencies, including the National Park Service and the United States Forest Service, should, in an effort to address local and regional threats to biodiversity and conservation and support the rule of law and good governance, promote the professionalization of the wildlife law enforcement sector and professional ranger training in partner countries through support and technical assistance for the following: (1) The creation and adoption of standards for professional ranger training and qualifications, including in relevant international fora and multilateral agreements. (2) Training and accreditation systems based on the standards described in paragraph (1) that produce professionally trained and qualified rangers and promote the overall professionalization of ranger forces, whether through existing United States institutions, such as International Law Enforcement Academies, or through partnerships with national or regional training institutions. (3) Legal reforms, where necessary, to provide rangers with authority to detain and arrest suspects, process crime scenes, present evidence in court, and defend themselves in life threatening situations. (4) The development and institutionalization of reward and promotion systems for rangers based on performance and set competencies. (5) The development and institutionalization of national systems to provide insurance to rangers and their families and compensation for those rangers killed in the line of duty. (6) Cooperation and coordination between local law enforcement tasked with wildlife or park protection and local defense forces, where appropriate, including training opportunities, logistical support, or provision of equipment. 5. Designation of major wildlife trafficking countries and authority to withhold certain assistance (a) Report Not later than September 15 of each year, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce, shall submit to Congress a report that lists each foreign country determined to be a major source of wildlife trafficking products or their derivatives, a major transit point of wildlife trafficking products or their derivatives, or a major consumer of wildlife trafficking products or their derivatives. (b) Special designation In each report required under subsection (a), the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Interior and the Secretary of Commerce, shall— (1) designate each country listed in the report that has failed demonstrably, during the previous 12-month period, to make substantial efforts to adhere to its obligations under international agreements relating to endangered or threatened species; and (2) include a short justification for each determination made under paragraph (1). (c) Withholding of assistance The Secretary of State may withhold assistance described in subsection (d) with respect to each foreign country that is specially designated under subsection (b). (d) Assistance described The assistance described in this subsection are sections 516, 524, and 541 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 ( 22 U.S.C. 2321j , 2344, or 2347), chapter 6 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 ( 22 U.S.C. 2348 et seq. ), and section 23 of the Arms Export Control Act ( 22 U.S.C. 2763 ). (e) Notification The Secretary of State shall notify— (1) the government of each foreign country that is listed in the report required under subsection (a) that the country has been so listed; and (2) the government of each foreign country that is specially designated under subsection (b) and is subject to the withholding of assistance described in subsection (c). (f) Reporting cost offset Section 8 of Public Law 107–245 ( 50 U.S.C. 1701 note) is repealed. (g) Sunset This section shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act. 6. Sense of Congress regarding security assistance to counter wildlife trafficking and poaching in Africa It is the sense of Congress that the United States should continue to provide defense articles (not including significant military equipment), defense services, and related training to appropriate security forces of countries of Africa for the purposes of countering wildlife trafficking and poaching. 7. Updates to the Fishermen’s Protective Act of 1967 Section 8 of the Fishermen’s Protective Act of 1967 ( 22 U.S.C. 1978 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting , in consultation with the Secretary of State, after Secretary of Commerce ; (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting , in consultation with the Secretary of State, before finds ; (C) in paragraph (3), by inserting in consultation with the Secretary of State, after , as appropriate, ; (D) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5), and by inserting after paragraph (3) the following: (4) The Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the Interior shall each report to the Congress each certification to the President made by such Secretary under this subsection, within 15 days after making such certification. ; and (2) in subsection (d), by inserting in consultation with the Secretary of State, after as the case may be, . 8. Wildlife trafficking violations as predicate offenses under racketeering and money laundering statutes (a) Travel Act Section 1952 of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (b)— (A) by striking or (3) and inserting (3) ; and (B) by striking of this title and (ii) and inserting the following: of this title, or (4) any act that is a criminal violation of section 9(a)(1) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1538(a)(1) ), section 2203 of the African Elephant Conservation Act ( 16 U.S.C. 4223 ), or section 7(a) of the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 ( 16 U.S.C. 5305a(a) ), if the endangered or threatened species, products, items, or substances involved in the violation and relevant conduct, as applicable, have a total value of more than $10,000 and (ii) ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (f) Use of amounts from fines, forfeitures, and restitution relating to wildlife trafficking violations Any amounts received by the United States as fines, forfeitures of property or assets, or restitution to the Government for any violation under this section that involves an unlawful activity described in subsection (b)(i)(4) shall be transferred by the Secretary of the Treasury, to the extent practicable, to the Multinational Species Conservation Fund and used as provided in advance in appropriations Acts for the benefit of the species impacted by the applicable violation. . (b) Money laundering Section 1956 of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (c)(7)— (A) in subparagraph (E), by striking or at the end; (B) in subparagraph (F), by adding or at the end; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (G) any act or acts constituting a criminal violation of section 9(a)(1) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1538(a)(1) ), section 2203 of the African Elephant Conservation Act ( 16 U.S.C. 4223 ), or section 7(a) of the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 ( 16 U.S.C. 5305a(a) ), if the endangered or threatened species, products, items, or substances involved in the violation and relevant conduct, as applicable, have a total value of more than $10,000; ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (j) Use of amounts from civil penalties, fines, forfeitures, and restitution relating to wildlife trafficking violations Any amounts received by the United States as fines, forfeitures of property or assets, or restitution to the Government for any violation under this section that involves an unlawful activity described in subsection (c)(7)(G) shall be transferred by the Secretary of the Treasury, to the extent practicable, to the Multinational Species Conservation Fund and used as provided in advance in appropriations Acts for the benefit of the species impacted by the applicable violation. . (c) RICO Chapter 96 of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1) in section 1961(1)— (A) by striking or (G) and inserting (G) ; and (B) by inserting before the semicolon at the end the following: , or (H) any act constituting a criminal violation of section 9(a)(1) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1538(a)(1) ), section 2203 of the African Elephant Conservation Act ( 16 U.S.C. 4223 ), or section 7(a) of the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 ( 16 U.S.C. 5305a(a) ), if the endangered or threatened species, products, items, or substances involved in the violation and relevant conduct, as applicable, have a total value of more than $10,000 ; and (2) in section 1963, by adding at the end the following: (n) Use of amounts from fines, forfeitures, and restitution relating to wildlife trafficking violations Any amounts received by the United States as fines, forfeitures of property or assets, or restitution to the Government for any violation under section 1962 that is based on racketeering activity described in section 1961(1)(H) shall be transferred by the Secretary of the Treasury, to the extent practicable, to the Multinational Species Conservation Fund and used as provided in advance in appropriations Acts for the benefit of the species impacted by the applicable violation. . (d) Technical and conforming amendments (1) Use of amounts from fines Section 1402(b)(1)(A) of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 ( 42 U.S.C. 10601(b)(1)(A) ) is amended— (A) in clause (i), by striking and at the end; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (iii) sections 1952(f), 1956(j), and 1963(n) of title 18, United States Code; and . (2) Use of amounts from forfeitures Section 524(c)(4)(A) of title 28, United States Code, is amended by inserting before or the Postmaster General the following: or section 1952(f), 1956(j), or 1963(n) of title 18, . 9. Other actions relating to wildlife trafficking programs It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of State should dedicate sufficient program resources to— (1) conduct monitoring and evaluation, with a special emphasis where feasible on impact evaluations, of wildlife trafficking programs consistent with the Department of State’s January 2015 Evaluation Policy; (2) publish program information on wildlife trafficking programs on the Department of State’s Internet website, ForeignAssistance.gov in a digital format consistent with the United States commitment to the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI); and (3) develop and implement a learning agenda to improve the performance and impact of wildlife trafficking programs and to share best practices among relevant executive branch agencies.

1. Short title; table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Eliminate, Neutralize, and Disrupt Wildlife Trafficking Act of 2016 . (b) Table of contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. Definitions. TITLE I—Purposes and policy Sec. 101. Purposes. Sec. 102. Statement of United States policy. TITLE II—Report on major wildlife trafficking countries Sec. 201. Report. TITLE III—Framework for interagency response Sec. 301. Presidential Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking. TITLE IV—Programs to address the escalating wildlife trafficking crisis Sec. 401. Anti-poaching programs. Sec. 402. Anti-trafficking programs. Sec. 403. Engagement of United States diplomatic missions. Sec. 404. Community conservation. TITLE V—Transition of overseas contingency funding to base funding Sec. 501. Sense of congress on funding. TITLE VI—Other actions relating to wildlife trafficking programs Sec. 601. Amendments to Fisherman's Protective Act of 1967. 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Appropriate congressional committees The term appropriate congressional committees means— (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and (B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. (2) Co-chairs of the task force The term Co-Chairs of the Task Force means the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Attorney General, as established pursuant to Executive Order 13648. (3) Community conservation The term community conservation means an approach to conservation that recognizes the rights of local people to sustainably manage, or benefit directly and indirectly from wildlife and other natural resources and includes— (A) devolving management and governance to local communities to create positive conditions for sustainable resource use; and (B) building the capacity of communities for conservation and natural resource management. (4) Country of concern The term country of concern refers to a foreign country specially designated by the Secretary of State pursuant to subsection (b) of section 201 as a major source of wildlife trafficking products or their derivatives, a major transit point of wildlife trafficking products or their derivatives, or a major consumer of wildlife trafficking products, in which the government has actively engaged in or knowingly profited from the trafficking of endangered or threatened species. (5) Focus country The term focus country refers to a foreign country determined by the Secretary of State to be a major source of wildlife trafficking products or their derivatives, a major transit point of wildlife trafficking products or their derivatives, or a major consumer of wildlife trafficking products. (6) Defense article; defense service; significant military equipment; training The terms defense article , defense service , significant military equipment , and training have the meanings given such terms in section 47 of the Arms Export Control Act ( 22 U.S.C. 2794 ). (7) Implementation plan The term Implementation Plan means the Implementation Plan for the National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking released on February 11, 2015, a modification of that plan, or a successor plan. (8) National strategy The term National Strategy means the National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking published on February 11, 2014, a modification of that strategy, or a successor strategy. (9) National wildlife services The term national wildlife services refers to the ministries and government bodies designated to manage matters pertaining to wildlife management, including poaching or trafficking, in a focus country. (10) Security force The term security force means a military, law enforcement, gendarmerie, park ranger, or any other security force with a responsibility for protecting wildlife and natural habitats. (11) Task force The term Task Force means the Presidential Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking, as established by Executive Order 13648 (78 Fed. Reg. 40621) and modified by section 201. (12) Wildlife trafficking The term wildlife trafficking refers to the poaching or other illegal taking of protected or managed species and the illegal trade in wildlife and their related parts and products. I Purposes and policy 101. Purposes The purposes of this Act are— (1) to support a collaborative, interagency approach to address wildlife trafficking; (2) to protect and conserve the remaining populations of wild elephants, rhinoceroses, and other species threatened by poaching and the illegal wildlife trade; (3) to disrupt regional and global transnational organized criminal networks and to prevent the illegal wildlife trade from being used as a source of financing for criminal groups that undermine United States and global security interests; (4) to prevent wildlife poaching and trafficking from being a means to make a living in focus countries; (5) to support the efforts of, and collaborate with, individuals, communities, local organizations, and foreign governments to combat poaching and wildlife trafficking; (6) to assist focus countries in implementation of national wildlife anti-trafficking and poaching laws; and (7) to ensure that United States assistance to prevent and suppress illicit wildlife trafficking is carefully planned and coordinated, and that it is systematically and rationally prioritized on the basis of detailed analysis of the nature and severity of threats to wildlife and the willingness and ability of foreign partners to cooperate effectively toward these ends. 102. Statement of United States policy It is the policy of the United States— (1) to take immediate actions to stop the illegal global trade in wildlife and wildlife products and associated transnational organized crime; (2) to provide technical and other forms of assistance to help focus countries halt the poaching of elephants, rhinoceroses, and other imperiled species and end the illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife products, including by providing training and assistance in— (A) wildlife protection and management of wildlife populations; (B) anti-poaching and effective management of protected areas including community managed and privately-owned lands; (C) local engagement of security forces in anti-poaching responsibilities, where appropriate; (D) wildlife trafficking investigative techniques, including forensic tools; (E) transparency and corruption issues; (F) management, tracking, and inventory of confiscated wildlife contraband; (G) demand reduction strategies in countries that lack the means and resources to conduct them; and (H) bilateral and multilateral agreements and cooperation; (3) to employ appropriate assets and resources of the United States Government in a coordinated manner to curtail poaching and disrupt and dismantle illegal wildlife trade networks and the financing of those networks in a manner appropriate for each focus country; (4) to build upon the National Strategy and Implementation Plan to further combat wildlife trafficking in a holistic manner and guide the response of the United States Government to ensure progress in the fight against wildlife trafficking; and (5) to recognize the ties of wildlife trafficking to broader forms of transnational organized criminal activities, including trafficking, and where applicable, to focus on those crimes in a coordinated, cross-cutting manner. II Report on major wildlife trafficking countries 201. Report (a) Report Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce, shall submit to Congress a report that lists each country determined by the Secretary of State to be a focus country within the meaning of this Act. (b) Special designation In each report required under subsection (a), the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce, shall identify each country listed in the report that also constitutes a country of concern (as defined in section 2(4)) . (c) Sunset This section shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act. III Framework for interagency response 301. Presidential Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking (a) Responsibilities In addition to the functions required by Executive Order 13648 (78 Fed. Reg. 40621), the Task Force shall be informed by the Secretary of State’s annual report required under section 201 and considering all available information, ensure that relevant United States Government agencies— (1) collaborate, to the greatest extent practicable, with the national wildlife services, or other relevant bodies of each focus country to prepare, not later than 90 days after the date of submission of the report required under section 201(a), a United States mission assessment of the threats to wildlife in that focus country and an assessment of the capacity of that country to address wildlife trafficking; (2) collaborate, to the greatest extent practicable, with relevant ministries, national wildlife services, or other relevant bodies of each focus country to prepare, not later than 180 days after preparation of the assessment referred to in paragraph (1), a United States mission strategic plan that includes recommendations for addressing wildlife trafficking, taking into account any regional or national strategies for addressing wildlife trafficking in a focus country developed before the preparation of such assessment; (3) coordinate efforts among United States Federal agencies and non-Federal partners, including missions, domestic and international organizations, the private sector, and other global partners, to implement the strategic plans required by paragraph (2) in each focus country; (4) not less frequently than annually, consult and coordinate with stakeholders qualified to provide advice, assistance, and information regarding effective support for anti-poaching activities, coordination of regional law enforcement efforts, development of and support for effective legal enforcement mechanisms, and development of strategies to reduce illicit trade and reduce consumer demand for illegally traded wildlife and wildlife products, and other relevant topics under this Act; and (5) coordinate or carry out other functions as are necessary to implement this Act. (b) Duplication and efficiency The Task Force shall— (1) ensure that the activities of the Federal agencies involved in carrying out efforts under this Act are coordinated and not duplicated; and (2) encourage efficiencies and coordination among the efforts of Federal agencies and interagency initiatives ongoing as of the date of the enactment of this Act to address trafficking activities, including trafficking of wildlife, humans, weapons, and narcotics, illegal trade, transnational organized crime, or other illegal activities. (c) Consistency with agency responsibilities The Task Force shall carry out its responsibilities under this Act in a manner consistent with the authorities and responsibilities of agencies represented on the Task Force. (d) Task force strategic review One year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Task Force shall submit a strategic assessment of its work and provide a briefing to the appropriate congressional committees that shall include— (1) a review and assessment of the Task Force’s implementation of this Act, identifying successes, failures, and gaps in its work, or that of agencies represented on the Task Force, including detailed descriptions of— (A) what approaches, initiatives, or programs have succeeded best in increasing the willingness and capacity of focus countries to suppress and prevent illegal wildlife trafficking, and what approaches, initiatives, or programs have not succeeded as well as hoped; and (B) which foreign governments subject to subsections (a) and (b) of section 201 have proven to be the most successful partners in suppressing and preventing illegal wildlife trafficking, which focus countries have not proven to be so, and what factors contributed to these results in each country discussed; (2) a description of each Task Force member agency’s priorities and objectives for combating wildlife trafficking; (3) an account of total United States funding each year since fiscal year 2014 for all government agencies and programs involved in countering poaching and wildlife trafficking; (4) an account of total United States funding since fiscal year 2014 to support the activities of the Task Force, including administrative overhead costs and congressional reporting; and (5) recommendations for how to improve United States and international efforts to suppress and prevent illegal wildlife trafficking in the future, based upon the Task Force’s experience as of the time of the review. (e) Termination of task force The statutory authorization for the Task Force provided by this Act shall terminate 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act or such earlier date that the President terminates the Task Force by rescinding, superseding, or otherwise modifying relevant portions of Executive Order 13648. IV Programs to address the escalating wildlife trafficking crisis 401. Anti-poaching programs (a) Wildlife law enforcement professional training and coordination activities The Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, in collaboration with the heads of other relevant United States agencies and nongovernmental partners where appropriate, may provide assistance to focus countries to carry out the recommendations made in the strategic plan required by section 301(a)(2), among other goals, to improve the effectiveness of wildlife law enforcement in regions and countries that have demonstrated capacity, willingness, and need for assistance. (b) Authority to provide security assistance to counter wildlife trafficking and poaching (1) In general The President is authorized to provide defense articles, defense services, and related training to security forces of focus countries for the purpose of countering wildlife trafficking and poaching where appropriate. (2) Types of assistance (A) In general Assistance provided under paragraph (1) may include intelligence and surveillance assets, communications and electronic equipment, mobility assets, night vision and thermal imaging devices, and organizational clothing and individual equipment, pursuant to the applicable provision of the Arms Export Control Act ( 22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq. ) or the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 ( 22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq. ). (B) Limitation Assistance provided under paragraph (1) may not include significant military equipment. (3) Special rule Assistance provided under paragraph (1) shall be in addition to any other assistance provided to the countries under any other provision of law. (4) Prohibition on assistance (A) In general No assistance may be provided under subsection (b) to a unit of a security force if the President determines that the unit has been found to engage in wildlife trafficking or poaching. (B) Exception The prohibition in subparagraph (A) shall not apply with respect to a unit of a security force of a country if the President determines that the government of the country is taking effective steps to hold the unit accountable and prevent the unit from engaging in trafficking and poaching. (5) Certification With respect to any assistance provided pursuant to this subsection, the Secretary of State shall certify to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives that such assistance is necessary for the purposes of combating wildlife trafficking. (6) Notification Consistent with the requirements of the Arms Export Control Act ( 22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq. ) and the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 ( 22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq. ), the Secretary of State shall notify the appropriate congressional committees regarding defense articles, defense services, and related training provided under paragraph (1). 402. Anti-trafficking programs (a) Investigative capacity building The Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, in collaboration with the heads of other relevant United States agencies and communities, regions, and governments in focus countries, may design and implement programs in focus countries to carry out the recommendations made in the strategic plan required under section 301(a)(2) among other goals, with clear and measurable targets and indicators of success, to increase the capacity of wildlife law enforcement and customs and border security officers in focus countries. (b) Transnational programs The Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, in collaboration with other relevant United States agencies, nongovernmental partners, and international bodies, and in collaboration with communities, regions, and governments in focus countries, may design and implement programs, including support for Wildlife Enforcement Networks, in focus countries to carry out the recommendations made in the strategic plan required under section 301(a)(2), among other goals, to better understand and combat the transnational trade in illegal wildlife. 403. Engagement of United States diplomatic missions As soon as practicable but not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, each chief of mission to a focus country should begin to implement the recommendations contained in the strategic plan required under section 301(a)(2), among other goals, for the country. 404. Community conservation The Secretary of State, in collaboration with the United State Agency for International Development, heads of other relevant United States agencies, the private sector, nongovernmental organizations, and other development partners, may provide support in focus countries to carry out the recommendations made in the strategic plan required under section 301(a)(2) as such recommendations relate to the development, scaling, and replication of community wildlife conservancies and community conservation programs in focus countries to assist with rural stability and greater security for people and wildlife, empower and support communities to manage or benefit from their wildlife resources sustainably, and reduce the threat of poaching and trafficking, including through— (1) promoting conservation-based enterprises and incentives, such as eco-tourism and sustainable agricultural production, that empower communities to manage wildlife, natural resources, and community ventures where appropriate, by ensuring they benefit from well-managed wildlife populations; (2) helping create alternative livelihoods to poaching by mitigating wildlife trafficking, helping support rural stability, greater security for people and wildlife, sustainable economic development, and economic incentives to conserve wildlife populations; (3) engaging regional businesses and the private sector to develop goods and services to aid in anti-poaching and anti-trafficking measures; (4) working with communities to develop secure and safe methods of sharing information with enforcement officials; (5) providing technical assistance to support sustainable land use plans to improve the economic, environmental, and social outcomes in community-owned or -managed lands; (6) supporting community anti-poaching efforts, including policing and informant networks; (7) working with community and national governments to develop relevant policy and regulatory frameworks to enable and promote community conservation programs, including supporting law enforcement engagement with wildlife protection authorities to promote information-sharing; and (8) working with national governments to ensure that communities have timely and effective support from national authorities to mitigate risks that communities may face when engaging in anti-poaching and anti-trafficking activities. V Transition of overseas contingency funding to base funding 501. Sense of congress on funding It is the sense of Congress that the President and Congress should provide for an appropriate and responsible transition for funding designated for overseas contingency operations to traditional and regular annual appropriations, including emergency supplemental funding, as appropriate. VI Other actions relating to wildlife trafficking programs 601. Amendments to Fisherman's Protective Act of 1967 Section 8 of the Fisherman’s Protective Act of 1967 ( 22 U.S.C. 1978 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting , in consultation with the Secretary of State, after Secretary of Commerce ; (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting , in consultation with the Secretary of State, after Secretary of the Interior ; (C) in paragraph (3), by inserting in consultation with the Secretary of State, after , as appropriate, ; (D) by redesigning paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and (E) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new paragraph: (4) The Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the Interior shall each report to Congress each certification to the President made by such Secretary under this subsection, within 15 days after making such certification. ; and (2) in subsection (d), by inserting in consultation with the Secretary of State, after as the case may be, .

May 9, 2016 Reported with an amendment

tv_txt: 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H.R. 2494 In the Senate of the United States, September 15, 2016. Amendment:

That the bill from the House of Representatives (H.R. 2494) entitled An Act to support global anti-poaching efforts, strengthen the capacity of partner countries to counter wildlife trafficking, designate major wildlife trafficking countries, and for other purposes. , do pass with the following Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following: 1. Short title; table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Eliminate, Neutralize, and Disrupt Wildlife Trafficking Act of 2016 . (b) Table of contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. Definitions. TITLE I—Purposes and policy Sec. 101. Purposes. Sec. 102. Statement of United States policy. TITLE II—Report on major wildlife trafficking countries Sec. 201. Report. TITLE III—Framework for interagency response Sec. 301. Presidential Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking. TITLE IV—Programs to address the escalating wildlife trafficking crisis Sec. 401. Anti-poaching programs. Sec. 402. Anti-trafficking programs. Sec. 403. Engagement of United States diplomatic missions. Sec. 404. Community conservation. TITLE V—Other actions relating to wildlife trafficking programs Sec. 501. Amendments to Fisherman's Protective Act of 1967. Sec. 502. Wildlife trafficking violations as predicate offenses under money laundering statute. 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Appropriate congressional committees The term appropriate congressional committees means— (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and (B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. (2) Co-chairs of the task force The term Co-Chairs of the Task Force means the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Attorney General, as established pursuant to Executive Order 13648. (3) Community conservation The term community conservation means an approach to conservation that recognizes the rights of local people to manage, or benefit directly and indirectly from wildlife and other natural resources in a long-term biologically viable manner and includes— (A) devolving management and governance to local communities to create positive conditions for resource use that takes into account current and future ecological requirements; and (B) building the capacity of communities for conservation and natural resource management. (4) Country of concern The term country of concern refers to a foreign country specially designated by the Secretary of State pursuant to subsection (b) of section 201 as a major source of wildlife trafficking products or their derivatives, a major transit point of wildlife trafficking products or their derivatives, or a major consumer of wildlife trafficking products, in which the government has actively engaged in or knowingly profited from the trafficking of endangered or threatened species. (5) Focus country The term focus country refers to a foreign country determined by the Secretary of State to be a major source of wildlife trafficking products or their derivatives, a major transit point of wildlife trafficking products or their derivatives, or a major consumer of wildlife trafficking products. (6) Defense article; defense service; significant military equipment; training The terms defense article , defense service , significant military equipment , and training have the meanings given such terms in section 47 of the Arms Export Control Act ( 22 U.S.C. 2794 ). (7) Implementation plan The term Implementation Plan means the Implementation Plan for the National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking released on February 11, 2015, a modification of that plan, or a successor plan. (8) National strategy The term National Strategy means the National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking published on February 11, 2014, a modification of that strategy, or a successor strategy. (9) National wildlife services The term national wildlife services refers to the ministries and government bodies designated to manage matters pertaining to wildlife management, including poaching or trafficking, in a focus country. (10) Security force The term security force means a military, law enforcement, gendarmerie, park ranger, or any other security force with a responsibility for protecting wildlife and natural habitats. (11) Task force The term Task Force means the Presidential Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking, as established by Executive Order 13648 (78 Fed. Reg. 40621) and modified by section 201. (12) Wildlife trafficking The term wildlife trafficking refers to the poaching or other illegal taking of protected or managed species and the illegal trade in wildlife and their related parts and products. I Purposes and policy 101. Purposes The purposes of this Act are— (1) to support a collaborative, interagency approach to address wildlife trafficking; (2) to protect and conserve the remaining populations of wild elephants, rhinoceroses, and other species threatened by poaching and the illegal wildlife trade; (3) to disrupt regional and global transnational organized criminal networks and to prevent the illegal wildlife trade from being used as a source of financing for criminal groups that undermine United States and global security interests; (4) to prevent wildlife poaching and trafficking from being a means to make a living in focus countries; (5) to support the efforts of, and collaborate with, individuals, communities, local organizations, and foreign governments to combat poaching and wildlife trafficking; (6) to assist focus countries in implementation of national wildlife anti-trafficking and poaching laws; and (7) to ensure that United States assistance to prevent and suppress illicit wildlife trafficking is carefully planned and coordinated, and that it is systematically and rationally prioritized on the basis of detailed analysis of the nature and severity of threats to wildlife and the willingness and ability of foreign partners to cooperate effectively toward these ends. 102. Statement of United States policy It is the policy of the United States— (1) to take immediate actions to stop the illegal global trade in wildlife and wildlife products and associated transnational organized crime; (2) to provide technical and other forms of assistance to help focus countries halt the poaching of elephants, rhinoceroses, and other imperiled species and end the illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife products, including by providing training and assistance in— (A) wildlife protection and management of wildlife populations; (B) anti-poaching and effective management of protected areas including community managed and privately-owned lands; (C) local engagement of security forces in anti-poaching responsibilities, where appropriate; (D) wildlife trafficking investigative techniques, including forensic tools; (E) transparency and corruption issues; (F) management, tracking, and inventory of confiscated wildlife contraband; (G) demand reduction strategies in countries that lack the means and resources to conduct them; and (H) bilateral and multilateral agreements and cooperation; (3) to employ appropriate assets and resources of the United States Government in a coordinated manner to curtail poaching and disrupt and dismantle illegal wildlife trade networks and the financing of those networks in a manner appropriate for each focus country; (4) to build upon the National Strategy and Implementation Plan to further combat wildlife trafficking in a holistic manner and guide the response of the United States Government to ensure progress in the fight against wildlife trafficking; and (5) to recognize the ties of wildlife trafficking to broader forms of transnational organized criminal activities, including trafficking, and where applicable, to focus on those crimes in a coordinated, cross-cutting manner. II Report on major wildlife trafficking countries 201. Report (a) Report Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce, shall submit to Congress a report that lists each country determined by the Secretary of State to be a focus country within the meaning of this Act. (b) Special designation In each report required under subsection (a), the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce, shall identify each country of concern listed in the report the government of which has actively engaged in or knowingly profited from the trafficking of endangered or threatened species. (c) Sunset This section shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act. III Framework for interagency response 301. Presidential Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking (a) Responsibilities In addition to the functions required by Executive Order 13648 (78 Fed. Reg. 40621), the Task Force shall be informed by the Secretary of State’s annual report required under section 201 and considering all available information, ensure that relevant United States Government agencies— (1) collaborate, to the greatest extent practicable, with the national wildlife services, or other relevant bodies of each focus country to prepare, not later than 90 days after the date of submission of the report required under section 201(a), a United States mission assessment of the threats to wildlife in that focus country and an assessment of the capacity of that country to address wildlife trafficking; (2) collaborate, to the greatest extent practicable, with relevant ministries, national wildlife services, or other relevant bodies of each focus country to prepare, not later than 180 days after preparation of the assessment referred to in paragraph (1), a United States mission strategic plan that includes recommendations for addressing wildlife trafficking, taking into account any regional or national strategies for addressing wildlife trafficking in a focus country developed before the preparation of such assessment; (3) coordinate efforts among United States Federal agencies and non-Federal partners, including missions, domestic and international organizations, the private sector, and other global partners, to implement the strategic plans required by paragraph (2) in each focus country; (4) not less frequently than annually, consult and coordinate with stakeholders qualified to provide advice, assistance, and information regarding effective support for anti-poaching activities, coordination of regional law enforcement efforts, development of and support for effective legal enforcement mechanisms, and development of strategies to reduce illicit trade and reduce consumer demand for illegally traded wildlife and wildlife products, and other relevant topics under this Act; and (5) coordinate or carry out other functions as are necessary to implement this Act. (b) Duplication and efficiency The Task Force shall— (1) ensure that the activities of the Federal agencies involved in carrying out efforts under this Act are coordinated and not duplicated; and (2) encourage efficiencies and coordination among the efforts of Federal agencies and interagency initiatives ongoing as of the date of the enactment of this Act to address trafficking activities, including trafficking of wildlife, humans, weapons, and narcotics, illegal trade, transnational organized crime, or other illegal activities. (c) Consistency with agency responsibilities The Task Force shall carry out its responsibilities under this Act in a manner consistent with the authorities and responsibilities of agencies represented on the Task Force. (d) Task force strategic review One year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Task Force shall submit a strategic assessment of its work and provide a briefing to the appropriate congressional committees that shall include— (1) a review and assessment of the Task Force’s implementation of this Act, identifying successes, failures, and gaps in its work, or that of agencies represented on the Task Force, including detailed descriptions of— (A) what approaches, initiatives, or programs have succeeded best in increasing the willingness and capacity of focus countries to suppress and prevent illegal wildlife trafficking, and what approaches, initiatives, or programs have not succeeded as well as hoped; and (B) which foreign governments subject to subsections (a) and (b) of section 201 have proven to be the most successful partners in suppressing and preventing illegal wildlife trafficking, which focus countries have not proven to be so, and what factors contributed to these results in each country discussed; (2) a description of each Task Force member agency’s priorities and objectives for combating wildlife trafficking; (3) an account of total United States funding each year since fiscal year 2014 for all government agencies and programs involved in countering poaching and wildlife trafficking; (4) an account of total United States funding since fiscal year 2014 to support the activities of the Task Force, including administrative overhead costs and congressional reporting; and (5) recommendations for how to improve United States and international efforts to suppress and prevent illegal wildlife trafficking in the future, based upon the Task Force’s experience as of the time of the review. (e) Termination of task force The statutory authorization for the Task Force provided by this Act shall terminate 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act or such earlier date that the President terminates the Task Force by rescinding, superseding, or otherwise modifying relevant portions of Executive Order 13648. IV Programs to address the escalating wildlife trafficking crisis 401. Anti-poaching programs (a) Wildlife law enforcement professional training and coordination activities The Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, in collaboration with the heads of other relevant United States agencies and nongovernmental partners where appropriate, may provide assistance to focus countries to carry out the recommendations made in the strategic plan required by section 301(a)(2), among other goals, to improve the effectiveness of wildlife law enforcement in regions and countries that have demonstrated capacity, willingness, and need for assistance. (b) Sense of Congress regarding security assistance To counter wildlife trafficking and poaching in Africa It is the sense of Congress that the United States should continue to provide defense articles (not including significant military equipment), defense services, and related training to appropriate security forces of countries of Africa for the purposes of countering wildlife trafficking and poaching. 402. Anti-trafficking programs (a) Investigative capacity building The Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, in collaboration with the heads of other relevant United States agencies and communities, regions, and governments in focus countries, may design and implement programs in focus countries to carry out the recommendations made in the strategic plan required under section 301(a)(2) among other goals, with clear and measurable targets and indicators of success, to increase the capacity of wildlife law enforcement and customs and border security officers in focus countries. (b) Transnational programs The Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, in collaboration with other relevant United States agencies, nongovernmental partners, and international bodies, and in collaboration with communities, regions, and governments in focus countries, may design and implement programs, including support for Wildlife Enforcement Networks, in focus countries to carry out the recommendations made in the strategic plan required under section 301(a)(2), among other goals, to better understand and combat the transnational trade in illegal wildlife. 403. Engagement of United States diplomatic missions As soon as practicable but not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, each chief of mission to a focus country should begin to implement the recommendations contained in the strategic plan required under section 301(a)(2), among other goals, for the country. 404. Community conservation The Secretary of State, in collaboration with the United State Agency for International Development, heads of other relevant United States agencies, the private sector, nongovernmental organizations, and other development partners, may provide support in focus countries to carry out the recommendations made in the strategic plan required under section 301(a)(2) as such recommendations relate to the development, scaling, and replication of community wildlife conservancies and community conservation programs in focus countries to assist with rural stability and greater security for people and wildlife, empower and support communities to manage or benefit from their wildlife resources in a long-term biologically viable manner, and reduce the threat of poaching and trafficking, including through— (1) promoting conservation-based enterprises and incentives, such as eco-tourism and stewardship-oriented agricultural production, that empower communities to manage wildlife, natural resources, and community ventures where appropriate, by ensuring they benefit from well-managed wildlife populations; (2) helping create alternative livelihoods to poaching by mitigating wildlife trafficking, helping support rural stability, greater security for people and wildlife, responsible economic development, and economic incentives to conserve wildlife populations; (3) engaging regional businesses and the private sector to develop goods and services to aid in anti-poaching and anti-trafficking measures; (4) working with communities to develop secure and safe methods of sharing information with enforcement officials; (5) providing technical assistance to support land use stewardship plans to improve the economic, environmental, and social outcomes in community-owned or -managed lands; (6) supporting community anti-poaching efforts, including policing and informant networks; (7) working with community and national governments to develop relevant policy and regulatory frameworks to enable and promote community conservation programs, including supporting law enforcement engagement with wildlife protection authorities to promote information-sharing; and (8) working with national governments to ensure that communities have timely and effective support from national authorities to mitigate risks that communities may face when engaging in anti-poaching and anti-trafficking activities. V Other actions relating to wildlife trafficking programs 501. Amendments to Fisherman's Protective Act of 1967 Section 8 of the Fisherman’s Protective Act of 1967 ( 22 U.S.C. 1978 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting , in consultation with the Secretary of State, after Secretary of Commerce ; (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting , in consultation with the Secretary of State, after Secretary of the Interior ; (C) in paragraph (3), by inserting in consultation with the Secretary of State, after , as appropriate, ; (D) by redesigning paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and (E) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new paragraph: (4) The Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the Interior shall each report to Congress each certification to the President made by such Secretary under this subsection, within 15 days after making such certification. ; and (2) in subsection (d), by inserting in consultation with the Secretary of State, after as the case may be, . 502. Wildlife trafficking violations as predicate offenses under money laundering statute Section 1956(c)(7) of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subparagraph (E), by striking ; or and inserting a semicolon; (2) in subparagraph (F), by striking the semicolon and inserting ; or ; and (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (G) any act that is a criminal violation of subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (D), (E), or (F) of paragraph (1) of section 9(a) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1538(a)(1) ), section 2203 of the African Elephant Conservation Act ( 16 U.S.C. 4223 ), or section 7(a) of the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 ( 16 U.S.C. 5305a(a) ), if the endangered or threatened species of fish or wildlife, products, items, or substances involved in the violation and relevant conduct, as applicable, have a total value of more than $10,000; .

Secretary

tv_txt: I One Hundred Fourteenth Congress of the United States of America At the Second Session Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday, the fourth day of January, two thousand and sixteen H. R. 2494 AN ACT To support global anti-poaching efforts, strengthen the capacity of partner countries to counter wildlife trafficking, designate major wildlife trafficking countries, and for other purposes.

1. Short title; table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Eliminate, Neutralize, and Disrupt Wildlife Trafficking Act of 2016 . (b) Table of contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. Definitions. TITLE I—Purposes and policy Sec. 101. Purposes. Sec. 102. Statement of United States policy. TITLE II—Report on major wildlife trafficking countries Sec. 201. Report. TITLE III—Framework for interagency response Sec. 301. Presidential Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking. TITLE IV—Programs to address the escalating wildlife trafficking crisis Sec. 401. Anti-poaching programs. Sec. 402. Anti-trafficking programs. Sec. 403. Engagement of United States diplomatic missions. Sec. 404. Community conservation. TITLE V—Other actions relating to wildlife trafficking programs Sec. 501. Amendments to Fisherman's Protective Act of 1967. Sec. 502. Wildlife trafficking violations as predicate offenses under money laundering statute. 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Appropriate congressional committees The term appropriate congressional committees means— (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and (B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. (2) Co-chairs of the task force The term Co-Chairs of the Task Force means the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Attorney General, as established pursuant to Executive Order 13648. (3) Community conservation The term community conservation means an approach to conservation that recognizes the rights of local people to manage, or benefit directly and indirectly from wildlife and other natural resources in a long-term biologically viable manner and includes— (A) devolving management and governance to local communities to create positive conditions for resource use that takes into account current and future ecological requirements; and (B) building the capacity of communities for conservation and natural resource management. (4) Country of concern The term country of concern refers to a foreign country specially designated by the Secretary of State pursuant to subsection (b) of section 201 as a major source of wildlife trafficking products or their derivatives, a major transit point of wildlife trafficking products or their derivatives, or a major consumer of wildlife trafficking products, in which the government has actively engaged in or knowingly profited from the trafficking of endangered or threatened species. (5) Focus country The term focus country refers to a foreign country determined by the Secretary of State to be a major source of wildlife trafficking products or their derivatives, a major transit point of wildlife trafficking products or their derivatives, or a major consumer of wildlife trafficking products. (6) Defense article; defense service; significant military equipment; training The terms defense article , defense service , significant military equipment , and training have the meanings given such terms in section 47 of the Arms Export Control Act ( 22 U.S.C. 2794 ). (7) Implementation plan The term Implementation Plan means the Implementation Plan for the National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking released on February 11, 2015, a modification of that plan, or a successor plan. (8) National strategy The term National Strategy means the National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking published on February 11, 2014, a modification of that strategy, or a successor strategy. (9) National wildlife services The term national wildlife services refers to the ministries and government bodies designated to manage matters pertaining to wildlife management, including poaching or trafficking, in a focus country. (10) Security force The term security force means a military, law enforcement, gendarmerie, park ranger, or any other security force with a responsibility for protecting wildlife and natural habitats. (11) Task force The term Task Force means the Presidential Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking, as established by Executive Order 13648 (78 Fed. Reg. 40621) and modified by section 201. (12) Wildlife trafficking The term wildlife trafficking refers to the poaching or other illegal taking of protected or managed species and the illegal trade in wildlife and their related parts and products. I Purposes and policy 101. Purposes The purposes of this Act are— (1) to support a collaborative, interagency approach to address wildlife trafficking; (2) to protect and conserve the remaining populations of wild elephants, rhinoceroses, and other species threatened by poaching and the illegal wildlife trade; (3) to disrupt regional and global transnational organized criminal networks and to prevent the illegal wildlife trade from being used as a source of financing for criminal groups that undermine United States and global security interests; (4) to prevent wildlife poaching and trafficking from being a means to make a living in focus countries; (5) to support the efforts of, and collaborate with, individuals, communities, local organizations, and foreign governments to combat poaching and wildlife trafficking; (6) to assist focus countries in implementation of national wildlife anti-trafficking and poaching laws; and (7) to ensure that United States assistance to prevent and suppress illicit wildlife trafficking is carefully planned and coordinated, and that it is systematically and rationally prioritized on the basis of detailed analysis of the nature and severity of threats to wildlife and the willingness and ability of foreign partners to cooperate effectively toward these ends. 102. Statement of United States policy It is the policy of the United States— (1) to take immediate actions to stop the illegal global trade in wildlife and wildlife products and associated transnational organized crime; (2) to provide technical and other forms of assistance to help focus countries halt the poaching of elephants, rhinoceroses, and other imperiled species and end the illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife products, including by providing training and assistance in— (A) wildlife protection and management of wildlife populations; (B) anti-poaching and effective management of protected areas including community managed and privately-owned lands; (C) local engagement of security forces in anti-poaching responsibilities, where appropriate; (D) wildlife trafficking investigative techniques, including forensic tools; (E) transparency and corruption issues; (F) management, tracking, and inventory of confiscated wildlife contraband; (G) demand reduction strategies in countries that lack the means and resources to conduct them; and (H) bilateral and multilateral agreements and cooperation; (3) to employ appropriate assets and resources of the United States Government in a coordinated manner to curtail poaching and disrupt and dismantle illegal wildlife trade networks and the financing of those networks in a manner appropriate for each focus country; (4) to build upon the National Strategy and Implementation Plan to further combat wildlife trafficking in a holistic manner and guide the response of the United States Government to ensure progress in the fight against wildlife trafficking; and (5) to recognize the ties of wildlife trafficking to broader forms of transnational organized criminal activities, including trafficking, and where applicable, to focus on those crimes in a coordinated, cross-cutting manner. II Report on major wildlife trafficking countries 201. Report (a) Report Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce, shall submit to Congress a report that lists each country determined by the Secretary of State to be a focus country within the meaning of this Act. (b) Special designation In each report required under subsection (a), the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce, shall identify each country of concern listed in the report the government of which has actively engaged in or knowingly profited from the trafficking of endangered or threatened species. (c) Sunset This section shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act. III Framework for interagency response 301. Presidential Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking (a) Responsibilities In addition to the functions required by Executive Order 13648 (78 Fed. Reg. 40621), the Task Force shall be informed by the Secretary of State’s annual report required under section 201 and considering all available information, ensure that relevant United States Government agencies— (1) collaborate, to the greatest extent practicable, with the national wildlife services, or other relevant bodies of each focus country to prepare, not later than 90 days after the date of submission of the report required under section 201(a), a United States mission assessment of the threats to wildlife in that focus country and an assessment of the capacity of that country to address wildlife trafficking; (2) collaborate, to the greatest extent practicable, with relevant ministries, national wildlife services, or other relevant bodies of each focus country to prepare, not later than 180 days after preparation of the assessment referred to in paragraph (1), a United States mission strategic plan that includes recommendations for addressing wildlife trafficking, taking into account any regional or national strategies for addressing wildlife trafficking in a focus country developed before the preparation of such assessment; (3) coordinate efforts among United States Federal agencies and non-Federal partners, including missions, domestic and international organizations, the private sector, and other global partners, to implement the strategic plans required by paragraph (2) in each focus country; (4) not less frequently than annually, consult and coordinate with stakeholders qualified to provide advice, assistance, and information regarding effective support for anti-poaching activities, coordination of regional law enforcement efforts, development of and support for effective legal enforcement mechanisms, and development of strategies to reduce illicit trade and reduce consumer demand for illegally traded wildlife and wildlife products, and other relevant topics under this Act; and (5) coordinate or carry out other functions as are necessary to implement this Act. (b) Duplication and efficiency The Task Force shall— (1) ensure that the activities of the Federal agencies involved in carrying out efforts under this Act are coordinated and not duplicated; and (2) encourage efficiencies and coordination among the efforts of Federal agencies and interagency initiatives ongoing as of the date of the enactment of this Act to address trafficking activities, including trafficking of wildlife, humans, weapons, and narcotics, illegal trade, transnational organized crime, or other illegal activities. (c) Consistency with agency responsibilities The Task Force shall carry out its responsibilities under this Act in a manner consistent with the authorities and responsibilities of agencies represented on the Task Force. (d) Task force strategic review One year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Task Force shall submit a strategic assessment of its work and provide a briefing to the appropriate congressional committees that shall include— (1) a review and assessment of the Task Force’s implementation of this Act, identifying successes, failures, and gaps in its work, or that of agencies represented on the Task Force, including detailed descriptions of— (A) what approaches, initiatives, or programs have succeeded best in increasing the willingness and capacity of focus countries to suppress and prevent illegal wildlife trafficking, and what approaches, initiatives, or programs have not succeeded as well as hoped; and (B) which foreign governments subject to subsections (a) and (b) of section 201 have proven to be the most successful partners in suppressing and preventing illegal wildlife trafficking, which focus countries have not proven to be so, and what factors contributed to these results in each country discussed; (2) a description of each Task Force member agency’s priorities and objectives for combating wildlife trafficking; (3) an account of total United States funding each year since fiscal year 2014 for all government agencies and programs involved in countering poaching and wildlife trafficking; (4) an account of total United States funding since fiscal year 2014 to support the activities of the Task Force, including administrative overhead costs and congressional reporting; and (5) recommendations for how to improve United States and international efforts to suppress and prevent illegal wildlife trafficking in the future, based upon the Task Force’s experience as of the time of the review. (e) Termination of task force The statutory authorization for the Task Force provided by this Act shall terminate 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act or such earlier date that the President terminates the Task Force by rescinding, superseding, or otherwise modifying relevant portions of Executive Order 13648. IV Programs to address the escalating wildlife trafficking crisis 401. Anti-poaching programs (a) Wildlife law enforcement professional training and coordination activities The Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, in collaboration with the heads of other relevant United States agencies and nongovernmental partners where appropriate, may provide assistance to focus countries to carry out the recommendations made in the strategic plan required by section 301(a)(2), among other goals, to improve the effectiveness of wildlife law enforcement in regions and countries that have demonstrated capacity, willingness, and need for assistance. (b) Sense of Congress regarding security assistance To counter wildlife trafficking and poaching in Africa It is the sense of Congress that the United States should continue to provide defense articles (not including significant military equipment), defense services, and related training to appropriate security forces of countries of Africa for the purposes of countering wildlife trafficking and poaching. 402. Anti-trafficking programs (a) Investigative capacity building The Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, in collaboration with the heads of other relevant United States agencies and communities, regions, and governments in focus countries, may design and implement programs in focus countries to carry out the recommendations made in the strategic plan required under section 301(a)(2) among other goals, with clear and measurable targets and indicators of success, to increase the capacity of wildlife law enforcement and customs and border security officers in focus countries. (b) Transnational programs The Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, in collaboration with other relevant United States agencies, nongovernmental partners, and international bodies, and in collaboration with communities, regions, and governments in focus countries, may design and implement programs, including support for Wildlife Enforcement Networks, in focus countries to carry out the recommendations made in the strategic plan required under section 301(a)(2), among other goals, to better understand and combat the transnational trade in illegal wildlife. 403. Engagement of United States diplomatic missions As soon as practicable but not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, each chief of mission to a focus country should begin to implement the recommendations contained in the strategic plan required under section 301(a)(2), among other goals, for the country. 404. Community conservation The Secretary of State, in collaboration with the United State Agency for International Development, heads of other relevant United States agencies, the private sector, nongovernmental organizations, and other development partners, may provide support in focus countries to carry out the recommendations made in the strategic plan required under section 301(a)(2) as such recommendations relate to the development, scaling, and replication of community wildlife conservancies and community conservation programs in focus countries to assist with rural stability and greater security for people and wildlife, empower and support communities to manage or benefit from their wildlife resources in a long-term biologically viable manner, and reduce the threat of poaching and trafficking, including through— (1) promoting conservation-based enterprises and incentives, such as eco-tourism and stewardship-oriented agricultural production, that empower communities to manage wildlife, natural resources, and community ventures where appropriate, by ensuring they benefit from well-managed wildlife populations; (2) helping create alternative livelihoods to poaching by mitigating wildlife trafficking, helping support rural stability, greater security for people and wildlife, responsible economic development, and economic incentives to conserve wildlife populations; (3) engaging regional businesses and the private sector to develop goods and services to aid in anti-poaching and anti-trafficking measures; (4) working with communities to develop secure and safe methods of sharing information with enforcement officials; (5) providing technical assistance to support land use stewardship plans to improve the economic, environmental, and social outcomes in community-owned or -managed lands; (6) supporting community anti-poaching efforts, including policing and informant networks; (7) working with community and national governments to develop relevant policy and regulatory frameworks to enable and promote community conservation programs, including supporting law enforcement engagement with wildlife protection authorities to promote information-sharing; and (8) working with national governments to ensure that communities have timely and effective support from national authorities to mitigate risks that communities may face when engaging in anti-poaching and anti-trafficking activities. V Other actions relating to wildlife trafficking programs 501. Amendments to Fisherman's Protective Act of 1967 Section 8 of the Fisherman’s Protective Act of 1967 ( 22 U.S.C. 1978 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting , in consultation with the Secretary of State, after Secretary of Commerce ; (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting , in consultation with the Secretary of State, after Secretary of the Interior ; (C) in paragraph (3), by inserting in consultation with the Secretary of State, after , as appropriate, ; (D) by redesigning paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and (E) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new paragraph: (4) The Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the Interior shall each report to Congress each certification to the President made by such Secretary under this subsection, within 15 days after making such certification. ; and (2) in subsection (d), by inserting in consultation with the Secretary of State, after as the case may be, . 502. Wildlife trafficking violations as predicate offenses under money laundering statute Section 1956(c)(7) of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subparagraph (E), by striking ; or and inserting a semicolon; (2) in subparagraph (F), by striking the semicolon and inserting ; or ; and (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (G) any act that is a criminal violation of subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (D), (E), or (F) of paragraph (1) of section 9(a) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1538(a)(1) ), section 2203 of the African Elephant Conservation Act ( 16 U.S.C. 4223 ), or section 7(a) of the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 ( 16 U.S.C. 5305a(a) ), if the endangered or threatened species of fish or wildlife, products, items, or substances involved in the violation and relevant conduct, as applicable, have a total value of more than $10,000; .

Speaker of the House of Representatives. Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate.