Meng Legislation to Strengthen Rewards Program that Fights International Crimes Passed by Key House Committee

Today, the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed legislation sponsored by U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) that would strengthen the Reward for Justice program, an initiative that allows the Secretary of State to pay rewards for information leading to the capture of individuals involved in international crimes including international terrorism, narcotics trafficking, transnational crime, war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and other foreign criminal acts.

Meng’s measure, which was included as an amendment to the State Department Authorization bill, will permit the Secretary to provide a reward to individuals who provide information on those who aid or abet war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide. Presently, people who offer information on individuals who “aid” or “abet” these types of crimes are not eligible for this kind of monetary reward.

“This legislation greatly strengthens this critical program, and it will improve efforts to apprehend those who assist others in these heinous crimes,” said Meng. “We must do all we can to bring these perpetrators to justice, and this expansion of the Reward for Justice program will provide us with an added tool to accomplish that crucial goal. I thank my colleagues on the Foreign Affairs Committee and look forward to my provision moving forward through the House and Senate.”

The Reward for Justice program was established in 1984 and updated in 2013. The amount of the rewards provided for information is at the discretion of the Secretary.

Meng is a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and took part in today’s vote.