Sec. 16003. In general
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/bill/116/hr/6395/eh/section-16003·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Chapter 97 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: There is established in the Department of the Treasury a program to be known as the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Rewards Program for the payment of rewards to carry out the purposes of this section. The rewards program shall be designed to support U.S. Government programs and investigations aimed at restraining, seizing, forfeiting, or repatriating stolen assets linked to foreign government corruption and the proceeds of such corruption.
The rewards program shall be administered by, and at the sole discretion of, the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation, as appropriate, with the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, and the heads of such other departments and agencies as the Secretary may find appropriate. In the sole discretion of the Secretary and in consultation, as appropriate, with the heads of other relevant Federal departments or agencies, the Secretary may pay a reward to any individual, or to any nonprofit humanitarian organization designated by such individual, if that individual furnishes information leading to— the restraining or seizure of stolen assets in an account at a U.S. financial institution (including a U.S. branch of a foreign financial institution), that come within the United States, or that come within the possession or control of any United States person; the forfeiture of stolen assets in an account at a U.S. financial institution (including a U.S. branch of a foreign financial institution), that come within the United States, or that come within the possession or control of any United States person; or where appropriate, the repatriation of stolen assets in an account at a U.S. financial institution (including a U.S. branch of a foreign financial institution), that come within the United States, or that come within the possession or control of any United States person.
To ensure that the payment of rewards pursuant to this section does not duplicate or interfere with any other payment authorized by the Department of Justice or other Federal law enforcement agencies for the obtaining of information or other evidence, the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, and the heads of such other agencies as the Secretary may find appropriate, shall establish procedures for the offering, administration, and payment of rewards under this section, including procedures for— identifying actions with respect to which rewards will be offered; the receipt and analysis of data; and the payment of rewards and approval of such payments.
Before making a reward under this section in a matter over which there is Federal criminal jurisdiction, the Secretary of the Treasury shall obtain the written concurrence of the Attorney General. For the purpose of paying rewards pursuant to this section, there is authorized to be appropriated— $450,000 for fiscal year 2020; and for each fiscal year, any amount recovered in stolen assets described under subsection
(b)that the Secretary determines is necessary to carry out this program consistent with this section. Except as provided under paragraph (3), the total amount of rewards paid pursuant to this section may not exceed $25 million in any calendar year. The President may waive the limitation under paragraph
(2)with respect to a calendar year if the President provides written notice of such waiver to the appropriate committees of the Congress at least 30 days before any payment in excess of such limitation is made pursuant to this section. In paying any reward under this section, the Secretary shall, to the extent possible, make such reward payment— first, from appropriated funds authorized under paragraph (1)(B); and second, from appropriated funds authorized under paragraph (1)(A). No award may be made under this section based on information submitted to the Secretary unless such information is submitted under penalty of perjury. No reward paid under this section may exceed $5 million, unless the Secretary— personally authorizes such greater amount in writing; determines that offer or payment of a reward of a greater amount is necessary due to the exceptional nature of the case; and notifies the appropriate committees of the Congress of such determination. No reward amount may be paid under this section without the written approval of the Secretary. The Secretary may not delegate the approval required under subparagraph
(A)to anyone other than an Under Secretary of the Department of the Treasury. If the Secretary determines that the identity of the recipient of a reward or of the members of the recipient’s immediate family must be protected, the Secretary shall take such measures in connection with the payment of the reward as the Secretary considers necessary to effect such protection. The Secretary may make a reward under this section in the form of a monetary payment. An officer or employee of any entity of Federal, State, or local government or of a foreign government who, while in the performance of official duties, furnishes information described under subsection
(b)shall not be eligible for a reward under this section. If the claim for a reward is brought by an individual who the Secretary has a reasonable basis to believe knowingly planned, initiated, directly participated in, or facilitated the actions that led to assets of a foreign state or governmental entity being stolen, misappropriated, or illegally diverted or to the payment of bribes or other foreign governmental corruption, the Secretary shall appropriately reduce, and may deny, such award. If such individual is convicted of criminal conduct arising from the role described in the preceding sentence, the Secretary shall deny or may seek to recover any reward, as the case may be. Within 180 days of the enactment of this section, and annually thereafter for 5 years, the Secretary shall issue a report to the appropriate committees of the Congress— detailing to the greatest extent possible the amount, location, and ownership or beneficial ownership of any stolen assets that, on or after the date of the enactment of this section, come within the United States or that come within the possession or control of any United States person; discussing efforts being undertaken to identify more such stolen assets and their owners or beneficial owners; and including a discussion of the interactions of the Department of the Treasury with the international financial institutions (as defined in section 1701(c)(2) of the International Financial Institutions Act) to identify the amount, location, and ownership, or beneficial ownership, of stolen assets held in financial institutions outside the United States. The report issued under paragraph
(1)shall not include information related to ongoing investigations. For purposes of this section: The term appropriate committees of the Congress means the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate. The term ‘financial asset’ means any funds, investments, or ownership interests, as defined by the Secretary, that on or after the date of the enactment of this section come within the United States or that come within the possession or control of any United States person. The term foreign government corruption includes bribery of a foreign public official, or the misappropriation, theft, or embezzlement of public funds or property by or for the benefit of a foreign public official. The term foreign public official includes any person who occupies a public office by virtue of having been elected, appointed, or employed, including any military, civilian, special, honorary, temporary, or uncompensated official. The term immediate family member , with respect to an individual, has the meaning given the term member of the immediate family under section 36(k) of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 ( 22 U.S.C. 2708(k) ). The term rewards program means the program established in subsection (a)(1) of this section. The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Treasury. The term stolen assets means financial assets within the jurisdiction of the United States, constituting, derived from, or traceable to, any proceeds obtained directly or indirectly from foreign government corruption. . Within 360 days of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury shall issue a report to the appropriate committees of Congress (as defined under section 9706(h) of title 31, United States Code) describing policy choices and recommendations for disposition of stolen assets recovered pursuant to section 9706 of title 31, United States Code. The table of contents for chapter 97 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 9706. Department of the Treasury Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Rewards Program. .
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