Nita Lowey: “I agree that the counterterrorism financing program is a vital tool in assisting foreign countries' efforts to identify…”

“I agree that the counterterrorism financing program is a vital tool in assisting foreign countries' efforts to identify, freeze and prevent the use of financial institutions, businesses and charitable organizations as conduits for money to terrorist organizations, including giving countries an investigative ability to follow the money trail and arrest terrorists preemptively. I support the work of the Department of State, the Department of Justice and the Department of Treasury in assisting countries who are at risk to terrorist financing. However, overall budgetary constraints did not provide sufficient opportunity for us to increase the requested funding level at this time. However, I want to assure you, this is a priority of this committee. This is a priority of this Congress. In fact, I have been a member for years of this same task force, the same committee of which you are cochair, I believe, and I look forward to working with you as the bill moves through this Congress to conference to see if we can bolster those funds.”