OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

War Crimes Rewards Expansion Act

Floor Speech

Date: Sept. 28, 2021
Location: Washington, DC

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Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from California for yielding.

I want to thank especially the gentleman from Maryland, Mr. Raskin, for his support on this bill as well as my other colleagues.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this bipartisan bill, which will enhance the domestic prosecution of perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.

Though we often think of these atrocities as being tried at international tribunals, there are many domestic statutes as well that criminalize genocide and war crimes. It is important that we can apply domestic law in the prosecution of these criminals, and this bill allows the State Department's War Crimes Rewards Program to offer rewards for the arrest or conviction of perpetrators of these atrocities.

Earlier this month, we witnessed our domestic justice system prosecuting war crimes and acts of terrorism. One of the now infamous associates of Jihadi John just pled guilty to all eight counts against him in a U.S. district court. He played a leading role in the ISIS plan to kidnap, hold for ransom, and ultimately behead four American hostages. Domestic prosecution can bring swift justice and allows nations to hold perpetrators more directly accountable to those that they have wronged, such as the victims' families.

With passage of the War Crimes Rewards Expansion Act, we can see even more perpetrators of atrocities against Americans brought to justice.

During just the last 20 years, we have witnessed three declared genocides: Darfur in 2004, ISIS in 2016, and the Xinjiang province in 2021. We want those who commit these atrocities and heinous crimes to feel the weight of the law pressing in on them and feel that America is hunting for them. We want them never to feel safe, never find rest, and we know we will not rest until they are brought to justice.

This bill will help make America safer and bring perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide to justice.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important bill.

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