Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick speaking to a group of students. File photo.
Credit: Tom Sofield/NewtownPANow.com
A group of bills supported by Republican Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-8) have been approved by the House of Representatives.
The bills are a package of counter-terrorism financing legislation that aim to fight the financing of terrorism. Fitzpatrick is chairman of the Financial Services Task Force to Investigate Terrorism Financing.
Fitzpatrick’s office has provided information on the bills:
-
National Strategy for Combating Terrorist, Underground, and Other Illicit Financing Act [H.R. 5594]: Sponsored by Fitzpatrick, this bill requires the President, acting through the Treasury Secretary, to develop and publish an annual government strategy to combat money laundering and terror financing, providing Congress the necessary information to allocate resources and grant authority to stay ahead of the latest criminal financing techniques.
-
Enhancing Treasury’s Anti-Terror Tools Act [H.R. 5607]: Sponsored by Pittenger, this bill enhances a number of tools the Treasury Department uses in its efforts to combat the financing of terror, money laundering, and related illicit finance. It specifically requires the Treasury Department to investigate ways to incorporate U.S. Embassies into counter-terrorism financing efforts and to improve anti-terror finance monitoring of cross-border fund transfers. It also adds the Treasury Secretary to the National Security Council.
-
H.R. 5602: Sponsored by Lynch, this bill authorizes the Treasury Secretary to include all funds when issuing certain geographic targeting orders, including funds in an electronic fund transfer.
“Any terrorist organization or rogue actor needs access to the global financial system to sustain their operations. By restricting funding, we deprive groups like ISIS, Boko Haram, and al Shabaab of their ability to operate and carry out their vicious acts,” Fitzpatrick said in a statement. “The House voted to make certain U.S. policy considers every option to combat the threats posed by these deadly organizations. I thank the Task Force for sounding the alarm on the dangerous global impact of illicit financing.”
The Financial Services Task Force to Investigate Terrorism Financing and Fitzpatrick have heard testimony from experts and learned about how terrorism groups are gaining funding.
The bills now move to the Senate for their vote.
