John Cornyn
Senator for Texas · Republican · United States
“Mr. President, I just wanted to say there is one thing that Senator Tillis said that I disagree with, and that is that he said he is not a statesman. He is.”
“Only 4 percent of the total money appropriated was obligated to red flag-related activities--4 percent--in States with existing red flag laws, and those States now had to comply with the law so a stricter due process standard applied.”
“Texas, like all the States, has received significant amounts of money; in the case of Texas, hundreds of millions of dollars from this law--more than $312 million, to date, to strengthen our mental health care and school hardening--to make it more difficult for violent individuals to attack soft targets like schools typically have been bu…”
“One of the things I heard most in the recent campaign I ran in was that we had passed a red flag law which would make it possible for an aggrieved partner or spouse or family member or maybe even a neighbor to basically turn in somebody and have their firearms confiscated without due process of law.”
“Our legislation created this due process framework that I know you will hear more about from Senator Tillis, but I knew that my State, Texas, would never pass a State red flag law, and the last thing I was going to do was to support or embrace a red flag law, national law, that would preempt Texas law.”
“Mr. President, 4 years ago, Congress passed our legislative response to one of the deadliest school shootings in American history. It happened in Uvalde, TX, at Robb Elementary School. Nineteen innocent children and two adults--teachers--lost their lives that day. It was a devastating--a devastating--occurrence.”
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“(b) Objectives.--The Strategy shall seek to accomplish the following objectives: (1) Reducing the ability of transnational criminal organizations to operate scam compounds in Southeast Asia and elsewhere. (2) Building the capacity of efforts related to digital forensics, anti-money laundering and investigative tools, anti-corruption, and border patrol, of trusted foreign law enforcement partners to degrade, disrupt, and shut down scam compounds and prevent their proliferation. (3) Supporting victims of human trafficking, including those exploited in forced criminality under the direction of the Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons.”
“(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Attorney General, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the heads of other Federal departments and agencies as appropriate, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a comprehensive strategy, with a classified annex if necessary, that-- (1) is designed-- (A) to shut down scam compounds and prevent their further proliferation; (B) to disrupt and dismantle-- (i) transnational criminal organizations and human traffickers involved in exploiting workers in, and fraudulently recruiting workers to, scam compounds; and (ii) the financial, operational, and technological infrastructure that enables such criminal enterprises to execute their scams and crimes; and (C) to hold accountable corrupt officials and non-state actors enabling scam compounds; (2) is global in scope and fosters cooperation among officials from affected regions; and (3) may prioritize efforts focused on countries where scam compound operations are most prevalent, including Southeast Asia.”
“(12) Transnational criminal organization.--The term ``transnational criminal organization'' means a group of persons that-- (A) includes one or more foreign person; (B) engages in or facilitates an ongoing pattern of serious criminal activity involving the jurisdictions of at least two foreign states or one foreign state and the United States; and (C) threatens the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States. (b) Rule of Construction.--The definitions under this section are exclusive to this subtitle and may not be construed to affect any other provision of United States law. SEC. 1276. STRATEGY TO COUNTER SCAM COMPOUNDS AND HOLD TRANSNATIONAL CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS AND HUMAN TRAFFICKERS ACCOUNTABLE.”
“(10) Scam compound.--The term ``scam compound'' means a physical installation where a transnational criminal organization carries out cyber-enabled fraud operations, using victims who may be exploited through human trafficking, including forced criminality. (11) Strategy.--The term ``Strategy'' means the strategy to counter scam compounds and hold transnational criminal organizations and human traffickers accountable described in section 1276.”
“(8) Human trafficking victim.--The terms ``human trafficking victim'' and ``victim of human trafficking'' mean a person subject to an act or practice described in section 103(11) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102(11)). (9) Impacted country.--The term ``impacted country'' means a country that is a significant-- (A) transit location through which victims of human trafficking pass en route to scam compounds; (B) source location for victims of human trafficking for scam compounds; or [[Page S3829]] (C) target of cyber-enabled fraud originating from scam compounds.”
“(6) Relevant foreign assistance programs.--The term ``relevant foreign assistance programs''-- (A) means foreign assistance programs funded by the United States Government to provide assistance for one or more foreign countries for the purpose of combating scam compound operations and related transnational criminal organizations as well as combating associated human trafficking; and (B) excludes intelligence activities, including activities authorized by the President and reported to Congress in accordance with section 503 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3093). (7) Human trafficking.--The term ``human trafficking'' has the meaning given the term severe forms of trafficking in persons in section 103(11) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102(11)).”
“(4) Forced criminality.--The term ``forced criminality'' means a form of forced labor for the purpose of causing the victim to engage in criminal activity, which may include cyber-enabled fraud. (5) Forced labor.--The term ``forced labor'' has the meaning given the term severe forms of trafficking in persons in section 103(11)(B) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102(11)(B)).”
“(2) Cyber-enabled fraud.--The term ``cyber-enabled fraud'' means the use of the internet or other technology to commit fraudulent activity, including illicitly obtaining money, property, data, identification documents, or authentication features, or creating counterfeit goods or services. (3) Enabling country.--The term ``enabling country'' means a country where-- (A) government authorities actively or implicitly permit, enable, or perpetuate scam compound operations; or (B) ineffective law enforcement or a failure to enact legislation intended to prevent facilitating services from reaching scam compounds or transnational criminal organizations enables scam compound operators to obtain facilitating services.”
“(a) In General.--In this subtitle: (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means-- (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; (B) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate; (C) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate; (D) the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; (E) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and (F) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; (G) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives; (H) the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives; and (I) the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives; and (J) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.”
“7101(b)(19)). SEC. 1274. STATEMENT OF POLICY. It shall be the policy of the United States-- (1) to comprehensively combat the transnational criminal organizations operating scam compounds and exploiting workers, including through human trafficking, such as forced criminality, to perpetrate large-scale online scams against the people of the United States; and (2) to bolster international law enforcement cooperation with nations in Southeast Asia and in other regions where scam compounds and associated financial and operational infrastructures are located to combat transnational crime, including scam compounds, human trafficking, narcotics trafficking, and money laundering. SEC. 1275. DEFINITIONS.”
“It is the sense of Congress that-- (1) the United States should redouble efforts to hold the perpetrators and enablers of scam compound operations accountable, including those involved in related money laundering, human trafficking, and fraudulent recruitment, by employing effective tools, such as targeted financial sanctions, visa restrictions, asset seizures, prosecutions, and forfeiture; (2) to enhance effective international cooperation and responses against cyber-enabled fraud originating from scam compounds internationally, the United States Government should work with partner governments, multilateral institutions, civil society experts, and private sector stakeholders to improve information sharing, strengthen preventative measures, raise public awareness, and increase coordination on law enforcement investigations and regulatory actions; and (3) victims and survivors of human trafficking, including for the purpose of forced criminality, require victim- centered and trauma-informed protection and support to ensure they are not inappropriately prosecuted, penalized, or otherwise punished solely for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked, consistent with section 102(b)(19) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C.”
“(7) Money laundering, human trafficking, and fraudulent recruitment related to such scam compounds have occurred in Southeast Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. SEC. 1273. SENSE OF CONGRESS.”
“(4) Transnational criminal organizations responsible for a large proportion of these scam compounds-- (A) are affiliated with the People's Republic of China; (B) are actively spreading propaganda on behalf of the People's Republic of China; (C) are promoting unification with Taiwan; and (D) have brokered projects for the Belt and Road Initiative. (5) Transnational criminal organizations have lured hundreds of thousands of human trafficking victims from an estimated 80 countries to scam compounds, which are located primarily in Burma, Cambodia, and Laos, for purposes of forced criminality. (6) Transnational criminal organizations are expanding scam compounds internationally, including in Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and the Pacific Islands.”
“This subtitle may be cited as the ``Scam Compound Accountability and Mobilization Act''. SEC. 1272. FINDINGS. Congress finds the following: (1) Transnational cyber-enabled fraud, particularly such fraud that is perpetrated from scam compounds in Southeast Asia, is a growing threat to citizens of the United States, national security, and global economic interests. (2) The Federal Bureau of Investigation reported $17,697,074,980 in losses in the United States due to cyber- enabled fraud during 2025, including schemes commonly perpetrated by transnational criminal organizations that are operating scam compounds. (3) Annual global losses due to cyber-enabled fraud are estimated at between $40,000,000,000 and $65,000,000,000, but the actual amount is likely higher since many instances are not reported.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S3828-S3831] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 6627. Mr. CORNYN (for himself and Mrs. Shaheen) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of title XII, add the following: Subtitle F--Scam Compound Accountability and Mobilization SEC. 1271. SHORT TITLE.”
“(c) Purpose.--Any testing conducted pursuant to subsection (b) should be conducted for the purpose of obtaining information that could help identify drug and drug precursor trafficking routes, any foreign persons, entities, or governments responsible for providing chemical precursors used by drug trafficking organizations to synthesize illicit substances, to assist the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of State, and the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration in efforts to identify and impose sanctions. (d) Sample Acquisition and Testing Consistent With Law.-- Acquisition and testing of any sample authorized under this section shall be conducted in accordance with-- (1) the requirements under chapter 8 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C.”
“(b) In General.--The Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, and in coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury, may coordinate with the necessary agencies and instrumentalities of covered foreign states to acquire samples of Captagon, its precursor chemicals, and other illicit drugs interdicted by the law enforcement agencies or other units of government of such covered foreign states.”
“(a) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Covered foreign state.--The term ``covered foreign state'' means a foreign state in which Captagon has been seized or interdicted. (2) Entity.--The term ``entity'' means a partnership, joint venture, association, corporation, organization, network, group, or subgroup, or any form of business collaboration. (3) Foreign person.--The term ``foreign person''-- (A) means-- (i) any citizen or national of a foreign country; or (ii) any entity not organized under the laws of the United States or a jurisdiction within the United States; and (B) does not include the government of a foreign country.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S3774] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 6577. Mr. CORNYN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of subtitle E of title XII, add the following: SEC. 1270A. COORDINATION WITH FOREIGN STATES TO TEST CAPTAGON AND OTHER ILLICIT DRUG SAMPLES.”
“``(2) PRC-linked transnational criminal organization.--The term `PRC-linked transnational criminal organization' means an organization that-- ``(A) includes 1 or more foreign person; ``(B) engages in or facilitates an ongoing pattern of serious criminal activity involving the jurisdictions of at least 2 foreign states, including the People's Republic of China, or 1 foreign state and the United States; ``(C) threatens the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States; and ``(D) meets any other criteria the Secretary determines to be appropriate.''. ______”
“``(2) Classified form.--To the extent possible, the report required under paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, with a classified annex, if necessary. ``(g) Definitions.--In this section: ``(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term `appropriate congressional committees' means-- ``(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; ``(B) the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; ``(C) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; ``(D) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate; ``(E) the Caucus on International Narcotics Control of the Senate; ``(F) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; ``(G) the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives; [[Page S3774]] ``(H) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and ``(I) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives.”
“``(f) Report on PRC Organized Crime in Latin America.-- ``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Attorney General, shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that-- ``(A) identifies all United States assistance provided by the Secretary of State to countries under this section, including each country that received assistance and a description of the assistance provided, including assistance amount and intended outcomes; ``(B) summarizes known organized criminal activity by PRC- linked transnational criminal organizations taking place in Latin American or the Caribbean; and ``(C) summarizes all known instances of the PRC providing law enforcement assistance or support to the countries described in subsection (e) to facilitate or disrupt such criminal activity; `` ``(D) analyzes the status of PRC efforts to negotiate, conclude, or expand bilateral policing and law enforcement cooperation agreements with the countries described in subsection (e); ``(E) analyzes patterns, behaviors, and linkages involving PRC-linked transnational criminal organizations operating in Latin America and Caribbean countries, as compared to such organizations operating in other continents, regions, and jurisdictions, to identify cross-regional patterns that inform regional threat assessments; and ``(F) identifies any mutual legal assistance treaty requests or other such assistance submitted by each county that receives assistance described in subparagraph (A), and the status of such requests.”
“``(e) Countries Described.--The foreign countries described in this subsection are countries in Latin America and the Caribbean where PRC-linked transnational criminal organizations engage in criminal activities, including narcotics trafficking, money laundering, illicit finance, human trafficking, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and foreign interference.”
“``(d) Relationship Certain Certifications.-- ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding a determination under section 490(a)(1) that a country has demonstrably failed to adhere to its obligations under applicable international counternarcotics agreements, assistance authorized under subsection (a) may be provided to such country if the Secretary of State determines that providing such assistance is in the national interest of the United States. ``(2) Notification.--The Secretary of State may not provide assistance pursuant to paragraph (1) unless not later than 15 days before providing such assistance, the Secretary submits to the appropriate congressional committees a determination that providing such assistance is in the national interest of the United States.”
“``(c) Assistance Described.--Assistance authorized under subsection (a) may include-- ``(1) consultation between law enforcement agencies in the countries described in subsection (e) and Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies with experience investigating, disrupting, and prosecuting PRC-linked transnational criminal organizations that are operating in the United States or abroad; ``(2) training regarding financial investigations, money laundering and illicit finance prosecution, and asset forfeiture related to PRC-linked transnational criminal organizations; ``(3) technical assistance, including digital forensics, telecommunications intercept coordination, and all-source and open-source intelligence relevant to PRC-linked transnational criminal organizations; and ``(4) support for vetting and screening programs to ensure foreign law enforcement agencies receiving assistance are not compromised by PRC-linked transnational criminal organizations, in accordance with the prohibition under section 487.”
“``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding section 660, the Secretary of State may establish a program to provide assistance to strengthen the capacity of law enforcement agencies of the countries described in subsection (e) to help such agencies collect information on, disrupt, and prosecute transnational criminal organizations linked to the People's Republic of China (referred to in this section as `PRC') that are engaged in narcotics trafficking, money laundering, illicit finance, transnational repression, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, foreign interference, and other related activities the Secretary determines are appropriate. ``(b) Coordination.--Assistance authorized under subsection (a) shall be provided in coordination with the Attorney General.”
“PROGRAM TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO BUILD THE CAPACITY OF LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO DISRUPT PRC ORGANIZED CRIMINAL GROUPS. (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Eliminate PRC Organized Crime Act''. (b) In General.--Chapter 8 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2291 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``SEC. 490A. PROGRAM TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO BUILD THE CAPACITY OF LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO DISRUPT PRC ORGANIZED CRIMINAL GROUPS.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S3773-S3774] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 6576. Mr. CORNYN (for himself and Mr. Coons) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of subtitle A of title XII, add the following: SEC. 1210.”
“(b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that includes-- (1) any terms and conditions applicable with respect to the access authorized under subsection (a); and (2) a list of each organization or entity that has been provided access pursuant to subsection (a). (c) Form.--The report required under subsection (b) shall be submitted in an unclassified form, but may include a classified annex. SEC. 1280A. SUNSET. This subtitle shall cease to be effective beginning on the date that is 7 years after the date of the enactment of this Act. ______”
“(a) Access to Satellite Imagery.--The Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, in coordination with, or at the request of, the Secretary of State, may provide nongovernmental organizations, nonprofit organizations, and intergovernmental entities access to current and archival high-resolution satellite imagery, subject to appropriate classification and information security requirements, to help advance efforts to combat scam compounds, forced criminality, and human trafficking, including monitoring and documenting observable activities at scam compounds in Southeast Asia, which may be associated with human trafficking, including forced labor or forced criminality.”
“(b) Form.--The report required under subsection (a) shall be submitted in an unclassified form. SEC. 1280. SATELLITE IMAGERY ACCESS TO MONITOR HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES RELATED TO SCAM COMPOUNDS TO DISCOVER THE PRESENCE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.”
“REDRESS TO VICTIMS OF INTERNATIONAL SCAM COMPOUND OPERATIONS. (a) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the heads of other appropriate Federal departments and agencies, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report containing an assessment of existing forfeiture law that-- (1) outlines challenges or limitations to providing financial redress to victims of international scam compound operations; and (2) offers recommendations, if any, to amend existing forfeiture law to better enable the Department of Justice to recover assets that may be used to compensate United States victims of scam operations.”
“(h) Waiver.-- [[Page S3772]] (1) In general.--The President may waive the application of sanctions under this section with respect to a foreign person or a foreign financial institution if the President determines that such waiver is in the national interest of the United States. (2) Report.--Not later than 15 days before granting a waiver pursuant to paragraph (1), the President shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that includes-- (A) the name of the individual or institution that is benefitting from such waiver; and (B) if the beneficiary is an individual, a detailed justification explaining how the waiver serves the national security interests of the United States. (3) Form.--The report required under paragraph (2) shall be submitted in an unclassified form, but may include a classified annex. SEC. 1279.”
“(f) Form.--The report required under subsection (e) shall be submitted in an unclassified form, but may include a classified annex. (g) Exception Relating to Importation of Goods.-- (1) In general.--A requirement to block and prohibit all transactions in all property and interests in property pursuant to subsection (b) shall not include the authority or a requirement to impose sanctions on the importation of goods. (2) Defined term.--In this subsection, the term ``good'' means any article, natural or manmade substance, material, supply, or manufactured product, including inspection and test equipment, and excluding technical data.”
“1705) shall apply to any person who violates, attempts to violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of any prohibition of this section, or an order or regulation prescribed under this section, to the same extent that such penalties apply to a person that commits an unlawful act described in section 206(a) of such Act (50 U.S.C. 1705(a)). (e) Semiannual Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter for 7 years, the President shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that identifies-- (1) all foreign persons the President has sanctioned pursuant to this section; and (2) the dates on which such sanctions were imposed.”
“(4) Exception for unwitting participation.--Sanctions described in subsection (b) shall not apply with respect to a foreign person if the President determines-- (A) the foreign person's involvement in a scam compound or a scam compound operation was without knowledge of its criminal nature; or (B) the foreign person did not knowingly or willingly participate in, or provide significant support for, such operation. (d) Implementation; Penalties.-- (1) Implementation.--The President may exercise all authorities provided under sections 203 and 205 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 and 1704) to carry out this section. (2) Penalties.--The penalties set forth in subsections (b) and (c) of section 206 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C.”
“(2) Exception to comply with intelligence activities.-- Sanctions authorized under this section shall not apply with respect to any activity subject to the reporting requirements under title V of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3091 et seq.) or any authorized intelligence activities of the United States. (3) Exception for human trafficking victims.--Sanctions described in subsection (b) shall not apply with respect to a person determined by the President to be a victim of trafficking in persons within a scam compound, consistent with section 102(b)(19) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7101(b)(19)).”
“(c) Exceptions.-- (1) Exception to comply with international obligations and law enforcement activities.--Sanctions described in subsection (b)(2) shall not apply with respect to the admission of an alien if admitting or paroling such alien into the United States is necessary-- (A) to permit the United States to comply with the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force November 21, 1947, between the United Nations and the United States, or other applicable international obligations; or (B) to carry out or assist with authorized law enforcement activities in the United States.”
“(2) Visas, admission, or parole.-- (A) In general.--An alien described in subsection (a) is-- (i) inadmissible to the United States; (ii) ineligible for a visa or other documentation to enter the United States; and (iii) otherwise ineligible to be admitted or paroled into the United States or to receive any other benefit under the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.). (B) Current visas revoked.-- (i) In general.--An alien described in subsection (a) is subject to revocation of any visa or other entry documentation regardless of when the visa or other entry documentation was issued. (ii) Immediate effect.--A revocation under clause (i) shall take effect immediately and automatically cancel any other valid visa or entry documentation that is in the alien's possession.”
“(b) Sanctions Described.-- (1) Asset blocking.--The President may exercise all powers granted to the President under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to the extent necessary to block and prohibit all transactions in all property and interests in property of a foreign person described in subsection (a), including, to the extent appropriate, the vessel of which the person is the beneficial owner, if such property or interests in property are in the United States, come within the United States, or are or come within the possession or control of a United States person.”
“(a) Imposition of Sanctions With Respect to Actors in Scam Compound Operations.--Beginning on the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President may impose the sanctions described in subsection (b) with respect to any foreign person the President determines-- (1) has knowingly provided significant financial or technological support to, or knowingly provided significant goods or services in support of, the activities of international scam compounds or enabling services, including, but not limited to, fraudulent recruitment, human trafficking (including forced criminality), cyber-enabled fraud, or money-laundering; or (2) owned, controlled, directed, or acted for, or on behalf of, a significant scam compound operation or enabling service, including, but not limited to, fraudulent recruitment, human trafficking (including forced criminality), cyber-enabled fraud, or money-laundering.”
“(f) Task Force Termination.--The Task Force shall terminate on the date that is 6 years after the date on which the Task Force is established. SEC. 1278. STRENGTHENING TOOLS TO DISMANTLE SCAM COMPOUNDS AND HOLD TRANSNATIONAL CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS ACCOUNTABLE.”
“(e) Annual Reviews and Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the establishment of the Task Force, and not less frequently than annually thereafter, the Task Force shall-- (1) conduct a status review of the Strategy and the overall state of scam compounds operated by transnational criminal organizations that includes-- (A) a list of enabling countries and impacted countries; (B) an estimate of the amount of proceeds of crimes against United States nationals through scams emanating from scam compounds; (C) an estimate of the amount of proceeds described in subparagraph (B) that was intercepted, seized, or returned as a result of United States Government action; (D) an analysis of the role that human trafficking plays in scam compounds around the world; (E) a list of known scam compounds operating across Southeast Asia; and (F) a description of if, where, and how scam compounds and operations have proliferated outside of Southeast Asia across other regions of the world; and (2) submit the results of such review in a public report to the appropriate congressional committees, which may contain a classified annex.”
“(d) Congressional Consultation.--The Task Force shall consult regularly with the appropriate congressional committees on its efforts to implement the Strategy, including potential updates to the Strategy.”
“(c) Consultation.--The Task Force, or representatives of the Task Force, should-- (1) consult with Tribal, State, territorial, and local law enforcement entities and stakeholder organizations in the United States that have firsthand expertise in reporting and combating cyber-enabled fraud and recovering proceeds of crimes; (2) consult regularly with nongovernmental organizations in the United States with expertise in countering trafficking in persons or anti-corruption, as appropriate; (3) develop partnerships with relevant private sector actors for the purpose of better disrupting the enabling infrastructure of scam compounds, operations, and syndicates; and (4) engage civil society organizations to better understand the complexity of the scam compound problem in each country and the broader economic, political, and governance challenges that are exacerbating the problem.”
“(b) Information Sharing.--To ensure proper coordination and effective interagency action, each Federal department or agency represented on the Task Force shall fully share-- (1) all relevant data with the Task Force, consistent with existing Federal law; and (2) all information regarding the department's or agency's plans, before and after final agency decisions are made, on all matters relating to actions regarding combating scam compounds to the extent that sharing of information does not violate protocols or regulations regarding sharing of law enforcement sensitive or classified information.”
“(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after submitting the Strategy pursuant to section 1276(a), the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Attorney General, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the heads of other Federal departments and agencies, shall establish or designate an interagency task force (referred to in this section as the ``Task Force'')-- (1) to coordinate the implementation of the Strategy; (2) to conduct regular monitoring and analysis of scam compound operations internationally; and (3) to track and evaluate progress toward the objectives, activities, and performance indicators of the Strategy.”
“[[Page S3771]] (d) Limitation.--Nothing in the Strategy may-- (1) affect, apply to, or create obligations related to past, present, or future criminal or civil law enforcement or intelligence activities of the United States or the law enforcement activities of any State or subdivision of a State; or (2) change existing authorities related to the sharing of personally identifiable information or the collection or sharing of information about individuals solely for constitutionally protected activities. SEC. 1277. ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE TO IMPLEMENT THE STRATEGY.”
“(c) Contents.--The Strategy shall-- (1) include a comprehensive problem statement identifying the structural vulnerabilities exploited by transnational criminal organizations operating scam compounds; (2) develop a comprehensive list of enabling countries and impacted countries; (3) identify private sector entities whose commercial services are utilized by transnational criminal organizations operating scam compounds and provide recommendations to address such use; (4) identify all active executive branch relevant foreign assistance programs as well as diplomatic efforts underway to address scam compounds, transnational criminal organizations connected to scam compounds, and related money laundering, and human trafficking, including forced criminality, including efforts with enabling countries and impacted countries; (5) identify resources needed to implement the Strategy and any obstacles to the response of the Federal Government to scam compounds, including coordination with partner governments, to address the human trafficking, including forced criminality, and money laundering that facilitates and sustains scam compound operations; and (6) include indicators that measure the success of the Strategy, including achieving the objectives described in subsection (b), which may include the number of persons sanctioned, the number of arrest warrants or indictments issued, the number of arrests made, the amount of United States losses mitigated, the number of victims of trafficking in persons identified and protected, and the reduction in the number of active scam compounds, in comparison to the previous year.”
“(11) Integrating data collection, analysis, and response mechanisms across Federal, Tribal, territorial, State, and local agencies, including by assessing if any existing relevant Fusion Centers could be leveraged to combat the operations of scam compounds. (12) Convening like-minded foreign allies and partners to combat scam compounds, including by establishing similar task forces or working groups, compiling and sharing data, and collaborating regarding the investigation and prosecution of key actors and enablers.”