Congressional Quarterly
Mar 15, 2004
Bill to Increase Rewards for Terrorist Information Scheduled for House Floor Action
By Carolyn Skorneck
CQ Staff Writer
The reward for information leading to the capture of Osama bin Laden
and other terrorist leaders could go up to $50 million under a bipartisan
House bill slated for floor action this week.
The Counter-Terrorist and Narco-Terrorist Rewards Program Act
(HR 3782) would amend the State Department Basic Authorities Act
of 1956 (PL 84-885) to increase the maximum award available under
the department's rewards program. The measure also would expand
the eligibility criteria for a reward and authorize non-monetary
awards.
The program, established in 1984 (PL 98-533), provides rewards
for information that prevents, frustrates, or favorably resolves
acts of international terrorism against U.S. citizens or property
throughout the world. The maximum reward for such information
on terrorism and narcoterrorism would increase from $5 million
to $25 million in most cases, although the 2001 anti-terrorism
law (PL 107-56) authorizes the secretary of State to offer larger
rewards if it is determined more is needed to combat terror or
to defend the United States against terrorist acts.
This bill, sponsored by Henry J. Hyde, R-Ill., chairman of the
International Relations Committee, also would enable Secretary
of State Colin L. Powell to double the reward to $50 million for
bin Laden. He has already authorized a reward of up to $25 million
for information leading to the capture of bin Laden and other
key al Qaeda leaders.
The fiscal 2004 supplemental appropriations law for the Iraq
and Afghan wars (PL 108-106), enacted last November, provided
$50 million for rewards for information leading to the capture
of bin Laden and Saddam Hussein.
In the past seven years, the United States has paid more than
$49 million to 29 people who provided credible information that
put terrorists behind bars or prevented acts of international
terrorism worldwide.
The program played a significant role in the arrest of Ramzi
Yousef, who was convicted in the 1993 bombing of the World Trade
Center.
The bill also would give the State Department flexibility in
the type of rewards it gives, allowing for the provision of vehicles,
appliances and other commodities instead of cash.
In addition, it clarifies that a reward need not be tied to a
specific act of terrorism.
Ranking Democrat Tom Lantos of California and Mark Steven Kirk,
R-Ill., cosponsored the bill, approved unanimously by Hyde's committee
Feb. 25.
Robert Tomkin contributed to this story.
Copyright© 2004, Congressional Quarterly
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