The publication is reproduced in full below:
BASSAM BARABANDI REWARDS FOR JUSTICE ACT
Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1036) to amend the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to authorize rewards under the Department of State's rewards program relating to information regarding individuals or entities engaged in activities in contravention of United States or United Nations sanctions, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1036
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Bassam Barabandi Rewards for Justice Act''.
SECTION 2. AMENDMENT TO DEPARTMENT OF STATE REWARDS PROGRAM.
Subsection (b) of section 36 of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2708) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (11), by striking ``or'' after the semicolon at the end;
(2) in paragraph (12), by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; or''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph.
``(13) the identification or location of an individual or entity that--
``(A) knowingly, directly or indirectly, imports, exports, or reexports to, into, or from any country any goods, services, or technology controlled for export by the United States because of the use of such goods, services, or technology in contravention of a United States or United Nations sanction; or
``(B) knowingly, directly or indirectly, provides training, advice, or other services or assistance, or engages in significant financial transactions, relating to any such goods, services, or technology in contravention of such sanction.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Houlahan) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania.
General Leave
Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1036.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania?
There was no objection.
Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1036, the Bassam Barabandi Rewards for Justice Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by my friend, the gentleman from South Carolina, Congressman Joe Wilson, and the gentleman from Florida, Ted Deutch.
Mr. Speaker, whistleblower programs have proven themselves effective over and over again. In 2017, the U.S. Department of Justice collected
$3.7 billion in settlements and judgments from False Claim Act cases against companies and individuals who had defrauded the government. Of the $3.7 billion, 92 percent came from cases brought by whistleblowers. Whistleblowers have easier access to evidence of misdeeds than outside law enforcement investigators, deeper knowledge of the bad actors engaged in unlawful behavior, and greater insights into the methods through which fraud or theft is being carried out.
This bipartisan bill would authorize the Department of State to offer rewards for information about the identity or location of individuals who defy sanctions imposed by the United States or by the United Nations.
This legislation builds on several existing programs that provide rewards of information leading to the arrest or conviction of criminals engaging in human trafficking, smuggling, or other transnational crimes.
This bill will also increase compliance with American and international sanctions programs and, therefore, serves a valuable role promoting human rights, good governance, and the rule of law around the world.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Wilson and Mr. Deutch for their diligent work on this legislation, and I encourage all Members to join me in supporting it.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Rewards for Justice Act introduced by our good friends, Joe Wilson and Congressman Deutch. It is a good bipartisan bill, and I think it will really make a difference.
The bill would expand the Rewards for Justice program at the State Department to authorize rewards for individuals coming forward with information on sanctions evasion practices.
The bill was inspired by Bassam Barabandi, a Syrian defector and former diplomat at the Syrian embassy in Washington, who worked to provide passports to critics of the criminal Assad regime.
For years after his defection, Bassam lobbied the U.S. Government with information on Syrian oligarchs close to Assad, detailing their sanctions evasion practices. Bassam's assistance highlighted the need to create a clear mechanism to incentivize individuals to come forward with this kind of vital information.
The legislation will do just that and ultimately enhance compliance with U.S. and international sanctions, increase confidence in the rule of law, and bring criminals and rogue regimes seeking to circumvent U.S. law to justice.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for the purpose of closing.
Mr. Speaker, this legislation is vital to helping the United States protect human rights and the rule of law around the world.
By allowing the State Department to compensate individuals for bringing forward evidence of sanctions evasion and criminal misconduct by bad actors, America will be better equipped to punish those who flout the rule of law.
I thank my colleagues, Representatives Wilson and Deutch for putting forward this key legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support it.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Houlahan) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1036.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion are postponed.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 126
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