Robert Pittenger: “I thank Chairman Fitzpatrick for yielding and for his leadership. I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch)…”

“I thank Chairman Fitzpatrick for yielding and for his leadership. I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) for his extraordinary support and skills and knowledge in these areas. It has really been an honor to work with him. Our proposal seeks to enhance a number of the tools the Treasury Department uses in its efforts to combat the financing of terror, money laundering, and the related illicit finance. Specifically, our bill helps specify the roles the Treasury Department plays, both domestically and abroad, to assist in the fight against terror finance. Over the past year, our Task Force to Investigate Terrorism Financing has received ample testimony supporting the role of Treasury in our larger strategic efforts to defeat ISIS and other global terrorist networks. Many individuals are not aware of the substantial role our Treasury Department plays in our embassies abroad. Treasury has several attaches abroad that are used to supplement foreign efforts to enforce financial laws and combat terror financing. This bill is an effort to support Treasury's role in our larger strategic efforts to defeat terrorist organizations and put an end to their operations. Mr. Speaker, the longer groups like ISIS remain on the battlefield, the more effective their messaging and recruitment efforts become. Congress must fully support our government's efforts to stop the flow of dollars and resources from funding terror.…”