Senate Committee Approves Wildlife Trafficking Bill
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has unanimously approved the “Eliminate, Neutralize, and Disrupt (END) Wildlife Trafficking Act,” which would authorize top U.S. officials to engage in anti-poaching and anti-trafficking activities, direct reviews to examine the progress made on curtailment of trafficking in relevant countries, and require interagency involvement with pertinent governments. The bill would require the U.S. government to make recommendations for how to address wildlife trafficking threats, and would also instruct yearly reporting on how all appropriations to combat the illicit practice are being spent, according to the bill text (here).
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“Demand for wildlife products has spiked in recent years, causing illegal wildlife trafficking to grow at an alarming rate,” committee member Chris Coons, D-Del., who introduced the bill in December, said in a statement (here). “Wildlife trafficking is not just an environmental challenge, but a multi-billion dollar industry that fuels well-organized criminal networks. It is a growing crisis that demands action now, and I’m pleased this committee came together to pass our legislation that will use an interagency approach to address this problem from all sides. We cannot wait any longer to use every tool at our disposal to curb this global crisis.” Committee member Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., said the bill would address poaching and trafficking threats on a “country-by-country” basis, sending a “clear message” to bad actors and potential consumers that the U.S. Congress takes “these horrific acts” seriously.