Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, today I introduce the bipartisan Wildlife Conservation and Anti-Trafficking Act of 2018. I want to first recognize my good friend and Republican colead on this important legislation, Congressman Don Young from Alaska, dean of the House and a longtime conservation leader. I want to thank him for his support as the original cosponsor. I also want to thank the leading wildlife and marine conservation, whistleblower, and animal welfare groups that have endorsed the bill to date. The Wildlife Conservation and Anti-Trafficking Act will strengthen enforcement against poachers, traffickers, and the global trade in illegal wildlife and seafood products. Wildlife trafficking; poaching; and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing rank among the top global crimes, generating billions in illicit profits each year for transnational criminal organizations and extremist groups. In tackling the global wildlife trafficking trade as our bill does, Congress can help to conserve iconic wildlife and cut off illicit financing for groups responsible for human rights abuses, political corruption, and even terrorism worldwide. Our bipartisan bill includes enforcement provisions passed by the House in November of 2015, by voice vote, which will empower Federal prosecutors and law enforcement to combat the global wildlife trafficking trade.…”