Gonzalez Amendment to Curb Trafficking Included in House National Defense Authorization Act

Press Release

Legislation originally introduced by U.S. Congressman Anthony Gonzalez and U.S. Congressman Ben McAdams as H.R. 7592, the Stopping Trafficking, Illicit Flows, Laundering and Exploitation (STIFLE) Act was included in the U.S. House of Representatives National Defense Authorization Act of 2020 (NDAA) today. The full passage of the House NDAA is expected tomorrow. The Gonzalez amendment works to combat human, drug, children sexual exploitation material, and weapons trafficking by targeting money laundering and the illicit financial networks used by traffickers.

"Ensuring our law enforcement officers have the tools to combat illegal trafficking is vital to protecting our children from exploitation, preventing an influx of illegal drugs, and maintaining our national security," said Congressman Gonzalez. "I am encouraged to see this legislation included in the House version of the NDAA, and will continue to push for it's inclusion in the final version of the bill to help protect our children, our communities, and our national security from the impacts of trafficking."

The STIFLE Act activates tools, partnerships, and guidance of a number of federal agencies, including the Department of the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and Federal financial regulators to help financial institutions identify techniques and patterns of transactions that may involve the proceeds of trafficking. The legislation requires the Comptroller General to report findings to Congress along with recommendations for legislative or regulatory changes needed to combat trafficking or money laundering the proceeds. Read the full text of the amendment here.

Source