Andy Harris: “Mr. Speaker, this bill makes changes and modifications to the long-established U.S. State Department rewards programs to…”

“Mr. Speaker, this bill makes changes and modifications to the long-established U.S. State Department rewards programs to deal with the growing links between illicit drugs and the financing and support of terrorism. The State Department Rewards Program has clearly prevented acts of terrorism in the past, has helped to bring to justice long-sought terrorists, such as the individual who fled to Pakistan after assassinating our CIA employees in Virginia, and has served as a valuable intelligence tool in the global war on terrorism. The Rewards Program could do even more, if we enact this bill, with its reforms. It is time for renewed, expanded reward authority in the State Department, one which tackles and contends with the growing links, as recently reported in the press, of the illicit drug trade and the financing and supporting of terrorism. Our terrorist enemies may very well be changing their methods and means, and we mean to be even more flexible and creative than they are. H.R. 3782 would clarify that any information provided which could be used to disrupt terrorist financing networks, including information related to illicit narcotics production or international trafficking, is eligible for reward moneys.”