Pittenger Amendment to Boost Counterterrorism Efforts Passes U.S. House

Press Release

Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously approved an amendment introduced by Congressman Robert Pittenger, Vice Chairman of the Financial Services Committee Task Force to Investigate Terrorism Financing, to increase funding for the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) by $3 million dollars. The amendment was attached to the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act (H.R. 5485) which also passed last evening.

"As groups like ISIS become increasingly sophisticated, they often access the United States and the international financial system to transfer funds required for their global network," stated Congressman Pittenger (NC-09).

"FinCEN is on the front lines ensuring that terrorist and criminal enterprises cannot reap the benefits of normal banking operations. Congress must continue to provide support for FinCEN and adequately fund its crucial operations."

The Treasury Department's FinCEN is our government's primary agency dedicated to combatting money laundering and terrorist group financing. The increase in FinCEN funding is fully offset by cutting waste elsewhere in the budget.

Representatives Lynch (D-MA), Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Hinojosa (D-TX), Sinema (D-AZ), Sherman (D-CA), Hill (R-AR), Ellison (D-MN), and Meeks (D-NY) joined Congressman Pittenger as cosponsors of the amendment.

Both the amendment and overall bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday. This amendment is in addition to the two counterterrorism bills Congressman Pittenger introduced last week, as noted below:

The Anti-Terrorism Information Sharing Is Strength Act (H.R. 5606) increases information sharing across federal law enforcement agencies and requires the Treasury Department to report to Congress the risks and benefits of sharing information with foreign financial institutions. Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, joined as an original co-sponsor.

The Enhancing Treasury's Anti-Terror Tools Act (H.R. 5607) requires the Treasury Department to investigate ways to incorporate our Embassies into counter-terrorism financing efforts and assess ways to improve anti-terror finance monitoring of cross-border transfers. Congressman Stephen Lynch, Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee Task Force to Investigate Terrorism Financing, joined as an original co-sponsor.

Congressman Pittenger serves as Chairman of the Congressional Task Force on Terrorism and Unconventional Warfare and Vice Chairman of the Financial Services Committee Task Force to Investigate Terrorism Financing.

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