Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Wildlife Conservation and Anti-Trafficking Act of 2018”.
Wildlife Conservation and Anti-Trafficking Act of 2018
A BILL
To support wildlife conservation, improve anti-trafficking enforcement, provide dedicated funding for wildlife conservation at no expense to taxpayers, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Purposes
The purposes of this Act are—
to direct Federal agencies to implement authorities under existing law to reward whistleblowers who furnish information that leads to an arrest, criminal conviction, civil penalty assessment, or forfeiture of property for any wildlife trafficking violation;
to provide a standardized process for determining and adjudicating awards to whistleblowers under authorities under existing law;
to amend the Marine Turtle Conservation Act of 2004 (16 U.S.C. 6601 et seq.)—
to make United States territories eligible for Federal funding and assistance;
to support the conservation of freshwater turtles and tortoises; and
to provide dedicated funding at no cost to taxpayers under that Act;
to direct any fines, penalties, and forfeitures of property from violations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) to support marine mammal conservation;
to direct any fines, penalties, and forfeitures of property from shark finning violations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) to support shark conservation;
to authorize the International Wildlife Conservation Program to be administered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service;
to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to station United States Fish and Wildlife Service officials in high-intensity wildlife trafficking areas abroad;
to make wildlife trafficking a predicate offense under section 1952 of title 18, United States Code (commonly known as the “Travel Act”), and the racketeering prohibitions of chapter 96 of title 18, United States Code (commonly known as the “Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act”);
to direct any civil penalties, fines, forfeitures, and restitution from wildlife trafficking violations under section 1952 of title 18, United States Code (commonly known as the “Travel Act”), and the racketeering prohibitions of chapter 96 of title 18, United States Code (commonly known as the “Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act”), to support wildlife conservation;
to make violations for illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) a predicate offense under section 1956 of title 18, United States Code;
to direct any civil penalties, fines, forfeitures, and restitution from wildlife trafficking violations of money laundering statutes (including section 1956 of title 18, United States Code) to support wildlife conservation; and
to direct any civil penalties, fines, forfeitures, and restitution for illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing violations of money laundering statutes (including section 1956 of title 18, United States Code) to support fisheries enforcement, including to carry out amendments made by the Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing Enforcement Act of 2015 (Public Law 114–81; 129 Stat. 649).
Sec. 3 Definitions
In this Act:
CITES— The term CITES has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Marine Turtle Conservation Act of 2004 (16 U.S.C. 6602).
Focus country; wildlife trafficking— The terms focus country and “wildlife trafficking” have the meanings given those terms in section 2 of the Eliminate, Neutralize, and Disrupt Wildlife Trafficking Act of 2016 (16 U.S.C. 7601).
Shark— The term shark means any species of the orders Hexanchiformes, Pristiophoriformes, Squaliformes, Squatiniformes, Heterodontiformes, Orectolobiformes, Lamniformes, and Carchariniformes.
Species; take— The terms species and “take” have the meanings given those terms in section 3 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1532).
Wildlife— The term wildlife has the meaning given the term fish or wildlife in section 3 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1532).
Sec. 4 Wildlife trafficking whistleblowers
Definition of Secretary concerned— In this section, the term Secretary concerned means, as applicable—
the Attorney General;
the Secretary of the Interior;
the Secretary of Commerce;
the Secretary of State; and
the Secretary of the Treasury.
Plan of action—
In general— In coordination with other Federal agencies as appropriate, not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries concerned shall develop a plan of action to fully carry out existing authorities for rewards to whistleblowers of violations of anti-wildlife-trafficking laws.
Requirements— The plan of action under paragraph (1) shall—
include a strategy to raise public awareness in the United States and abroad for reward opportunities for whistleblowers provided under—
section 6(d) of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 (16 U.S.C. 3375(d));
section 11(d) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1540(d));
section 106(c) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1376(c));
section 3 of the Fish and Wildlife Improvement Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 742l);
section 7(f) of the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 (16 U.S.C. 5305a(f)); and
other applicable anti-wildlife-trafficking laws;
delineate short-term and long-term goals for increasing anti-wildlife-trafficking enforcement, including recruitment of whistleblowers, as appropriate;
describe specific actions to be taken to achieve the goals under subparagraph (B) and the means necessary to do so, including—
formal partnerships with nongovernmental organizations; and
the establishment of Whistleblower Offices—
to coordinate the receipt of whistleblower disclosures;
to ensure referrals to the appropriate law enforcement offices; and
to communicate with whistleblowers regarding the status of the respective cases referred by the whistleblowers and potential rewards;
be published in the Federal Register for public comment for a period of not less than 60 days; and
not later than 90 days after the end of the period described in subparagraph (D), be finalized and made readily available on a public Federal Government internet website.
Updates to plan of action— In coordination with other Federal agencies as appropriate, not less frequently than once every 5 years, the Secretaries concerned shall review the plan of action under subsection (b) and, as necessary, revise the plan of action following public notice and comment.
Awards to whistleblowers—
Award—
In general— Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), if a Secretary concerned proceeds with any administrative or judicial action under any of the laws described in subsection (b)(2)(A) based on information brought to the attention of the Secretary concerned by a person qualified to receive an award under this subsection, the Secretary concerned shall pay that person an award.
Award amount—
In general— Subject to clause (ii), the Secretary concerned shall determine the amount of the award under subparagraph (A) based on the extent to which the person substantially contributed to the action.
Requirement— The award under subparagraph (A) shall be not less than 15 percent, and not more than 50 percent, of the amounts received by the United States as penalties, interest, fines, forfeitures, community service payments, restitution payments, and additional amounts in the action (including any related civil or criminal actions) or any under settlement or plea agreement in response to that action.
Timeline— The amount of the award under subparagraph (A) shall be—
determined not later than 90 days after the date of the applicable plea agreement, judgment, or settlement in that action; and
paid from the amounts so received by the United States.
Application— A Secretary concerned may make an award under this paragraph only in a case in which the total sanction from all penalties, fines, community service payments, restitution, interest, forfeitures, or civil or criminal recoveries (including in related actions) exceeds $100,000.
Reduction in or denial of award—
Reduction of award— If the applicable Secretary concerned determines that the claim for an award under paragraph (1) is brought by a person who planned and initiated the actions that led to the violation, the Secretary concerned may appropriately reduce the amount of the award.
Denial of award— If the person described in subparagraph (A) is convicted of criminal conduct arising from the role described in that subparagraph, the applicable Secretary concerned shall deny any award under this subsection.
Appeal of award determination— Any determination with respect to an award under paragraph (1) may be appealed to the appropriate court of appeals of the United States pursuant to section 706 of title 5, United States Code, not later than 30 days after the date of the determination.
Submission of information— The Secretaries concerned shall permit the submission of confidential and anonymous reports under this subsection consistent with the procedures set forth in subsections (d)(2) and (h) of section 21F of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78u–6).
Limitation on application— This subsection shall apply only with respect to amounts received by the United States described in paragraph (1) on or after the date of enactment of this Act.
Annual report—
In general— The Secretaries concerned shall each year conduct a study on, and submit to Congress a report describing the use of, authorities, claims filed, awards paid, and outreach conducted under this section.
Incorporation allowed— The requirement under subparagraph (A) may be satisfied by incorporating the report into the plan of action required under subsection (b) or a revision under subsection (c).
Sec. 5 Authorization of International Wildlife Conservation Program
Definitions— In this section:
Program— The term Program means the International Wildlife Conservation Program established under subsection (b).
Range state— The term range state means a foreign country, a freely associated state (pursuant to the Compact of Free Association authorized by Public Law 99–239 (99 Stat. 1770)), or any territory or possession of the United States, any portion of which is within the natural range of distribution of a wildlife species.
Secretary— The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.
Authorization of program— The Secretary shall carry out the International Wildlife Conservation Program in the United States Fish and Wildlife Service—
to implement global habitat and conservation initiatives under the jurisdiction of the Secretary;
to address global conservation threats;
to combat wildlife trafficking, poaching, and trade in illegal wildlife products;
to provide financial, scientific, and other technical assistance;
to facilitate implementation of treaties, conventions, accords, or similar international agreements entered into by the United States to promote fish, wildlife, plant, or habitat conservation; and
to carry out other international wildlife conservation and habitat activities authorized by Federal law, as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
Program components— The Program shall include the following:
Regional component— A regional component that shall—
address grassroots conservation problems through capacity building within regions of range states to achieve comprehensive landscape or ecosystem-level fish or wildlife conservation; and
develop and implement a plan—
to expand existing regional wildlife conservation programs as the Secretary determines to be appropriate; and
to establish new regional conservation programs in other critical landscapes and wildlife habitat globally, including the Asia-Pacific Region.
Species component— A species component that shall consist of administration of the programs authorized under—
the African Elephant Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 4201 et seq.);
the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 (16 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.);
the Asian Elephant Conservation Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 4261 et seq.);
the Great Ape Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.);
the Marine Turtle Conservation Act of 2004 (16 U.S.C. 6601 et seq.);
the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 6101 et seq.);
the Wild Bird Conservation Act of 1992 (16 U.S.C. 4901 et seq.);
the Critically Endangered Animals Conservation Fund established by the Secretary and administered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; and
any similar authority provided to the Secretary relating to international wildlife conservation.
Anti-trafficking component— An anti-trafficking component that shall consist of administration of the programs authorized under—
the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.);
the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 (16 U.S.C. 3371 et seq.);
subsections (a) and (d) of section 8 of the Fishermen’s Protective Act of 1967 (22 U.S.C. 1978);
the Eliminate, Neutralize, and Disrupt Wildlife Trafficking Act of 2016 (16 U.S.C. 7601 et seq.);
other anti-wildlife-trafficking laws, as determined by the Secretary; and
activities authorized under section 6.
Convention component— A convention component that shall consist of the Division of Management Authority and the Division of Scientific Authority of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to implement CITES and carry out other related duties, as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
Additional components— The Secretary may include additional components in the Program as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
Relationship to other law— Nothing in this section alters the responsibilities of the Secretary under section 8 of the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742g) and the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Acceptance and use of donations— In carrying out the Program, the Secretary may—
accept donations of funds, gifts, and in-kind contributions; and
use those donations, without further appropriation, for capacity building, grants, and other on-the-ground uses under the program components described in subsection (c).
Sec. 6 United States Fish and Wildlife Service officers abroad
Definitions— In this section:
Host country— The term host country means a country that is hosting a United States Fish and Wildlife officer under this section.
Secretary— The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.
Placement of officers— The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of State, may station not less than 1 United States Fish and Wildlife Service officer in the primary diplomatic or consular post of the United States in—
a focus country;
a country that has a national who has been certified by the Secretary under section 8(a)(2) of the Fishermen’s Protective Act of 1967 (22 U.S.C. 1978(a)(2)) as engaging in trade or taking which diminishes the effectiveness of any international program for endangered or threatened species; or
other countries identified by the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of State.
Duties— A United States Fish and Wildlife Service officer stationed under subsection (b) shall—
assist local agencies or officials responsible for the protection of wildlife in the protection of wildlife and on-the-ground conservation;
facilitate apprehension of individuals who illegally kill or take, or assist in the illegal killing or taking of, wildlife;
support local agencies or officials responsible for the protection of wildlife in the host country and regional partners of the United States in wildlife trafficking investigations;
support wildlife trafficking investigations based in the United States with a nexus to a host country or region;
provide technical assistance and support to build capacity in the host country for wildlife conservation and anti-trafficking enforcement by agencies that partner with the host country;
advise on leveraging the assets of the United States Government to combat wildlife trafficking;
support effective implementation of CITES and other international agreements relating to wildlife conservation, in coordination with the Secretary of State;
work to reduce global demand for illegally traded wildlife products and illegally taken wildlife; and
conduct other duties as the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of State, determines to be appropriate to combat wildlife trafficking and promote conservation of at-risk species.
Sec. 7 Marine Turtle Conservation Act of 2004
Findings and purpose— Section 2 of the Marine Turtle Conservation Act of 2004 (16 U.S.C. 6601) is amended—
in subsection (a)—
in paragraphs (5), (6), (7), and (9), by striking “marine turtles” each place it appears and inserting “marine turtles, freshwater turtles, and tortoises”; and
in paragraphs (4), (5), (8), and (9), by striking “marine turtle” each place it appears and inserting “marine turtle, freshwater turtle, and tortoise”; and
by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
“(b) Purposes—The purposes of this Act are to assist in the conservation of marine turtles, freshwater turtles, and tortoises and the nesting habitats of marine turtles, freshwater turtles, and tortoises in foreign countries and territories of the United States by supporting and providing financial resources for projects—
“(1) to conserve those nesting habitats;
“(2) to conserve marine turtles, freshwater turtles, and tortoises in those habitats; and
“(3) to address other threats to the survival of marine turtles, freshwater turtles, and tortoises.”
in paragraph (2)—
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)—
by striking “marine turtles” each place it appears and inserting “marine turtles, freshwater turtles, or tortoises”; and
by inserting “and territories of the United States” after “foreign countries”; and
in subparagraph (C), by striking “national and regional” and inserting “national, regional, and territorial”;
in paragraph (3), by striking “Marine Turtle Conservation Fund” and inserting “Turtle and Tortoise Conservation Fund”;
by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (6) as paragraphs (4) through (7), respectively;
by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
“(3) Freshwater turtle
“(A) In general—The term freshwater turtle means any member of the family Carettochelyidae, Chelidae, Chelydridae, Dermatemydidae, Emydidae, Geoemydidae, Kinosternidae, Pelomedusidae, Platysternidae, Podocnemididae, or Trionychidae.
“(B) Inclusions—The term freshwater turtle includes—
“(i) any part, product, egg, or offspring of a turtle described in subparagraph (A); and
“(ii) a carcass of such a turtle.”
by adding at the end the following:
“(8) Territory of the United States—The term territory of the United States means each of American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, and any other territory or possession of the United States.
“(9) Tortoise
“(A) In general—The term tortoise means any member of the family Testudinidae.
“(B) Inclusions—The term tortoise includes—
“(i) any part, product, egg, or offspring of a tortoise described in subparagraph (A); and
“(ii) a carcass of such a tortoise.”
Marine turtle conservation assistance— Section 4 of the Marine Turtle Conservation Act of 2004 (16 U.S.C. 6603) is amended—
in the section heading, by striking “Marine turtle” and inserting “Turtle and tortoise”;
in subsection (a), by striking “marine turtles” and inserting “marine turtles, freshwater turtles, and tortoises”;
in subsections (b), (d), and (e), by striking “marine turtles” each place it appears and inserting “marine turtles, freshwater turtles, or tortoises”;
in subsection (b)(1)(A)—
by inserting “or territory of the United States” after “foreign country”; and
by striking “marine turtle” each place it appears and inserting “marine turtle, freshwater turtle, or tortoise”; and
in subsection (d)—
by inserting “or territories of the United States” after “foreign countries”; and
by striking “marine turtle” and inserting “marine turtle, freshwater turtle, or tortoise”.
Marine turtle conservation fund— Section 5 of the Marine Turtle Conservation Act of 2004 (16 U.S.C. 6604) is amended—
in the section heading, by striking “Marine turtle” and inserting “Turtle and tortoise”; and
in subsection (a)—
in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking “Marine Turtle” and inserting “Turtle and Tortoise”;
in paragraph (2), by striking “and” at the end;
in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(4) any amounts received by the United States for any violation of law pertaining to marine turtles, freshwater turtles, or tortoises under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 (16 U.S.C. 3371 et seq.), or regulations implementing those Acts, including any of those amounts received as—
“(A) fines or penalties;
“(B) proceeds from sales of forfeited property, assets, or cargo; or
“(C) restitution to the Federal Government.”
Advisory group— Section 6(a) of the Marine Turtle Conservation Act of 2004 (16 U.S.C. 6605(a)) is amended by striking “marine turtles” and inserting “marine turtles, freshwater turtles, or tortoises”.
Authorization of appropriations— Section 7 of the Marine Turtle Conservation Act of 2004 (16 U.S.C. 6606) is amended—
by striking “There is” and inserting the following:
“(a) In general—There is”
by adding at the end following:
“(b) Allocation—Of the amount authorized by subsection (a) for each fiscal year—
“(1) not more than $1,510,000 is authorized only for use by the Secretary for marine turtle conservation purposes under this Act; and
“(2) of the amount appropriated in excess of $1,510,000, not less than 40 percent is authorized only for use by the Secretary for freshwater turtle and tortoise conservation purposes under this Act.”
Sec. 8 Funding for marine mammal conservation
All amounts collected by the Secretary of Commerce, including fines, penalties, and proceeds from sales of forfeited assets or cargo, for violations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) or regulations implementing that Act shall be used by the Secretary of Commerce for—
the benefit of the marine mammal species impacted by the applicable violation, to the extent practicable;
marine mammal conservation purposes, as determined by the Secretary of Commerce;
responding to marine mammal strandings, entanglements, or unusual mortality events, including activities under the John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program under section 408 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1421f–1);
payment of awards to whistleblowers on an applicable violation under section 4(d); or
enforcement of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and regulations implementing that Act.
Sec. 9 Funding for shark conservation
All amounts available to the Secretary of Commerce that are attributable to fines, penalties, and forfeitures of property (or proceeds from the sale of that forfeited property) imposed for violations under section 307(1)(P) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1857(1)(P)) or violations of any fishery management plan for sharks prepared under title III of that Act (16 U.S.C. 1851 et seq.) shall be used by the Secretary of Commerce for—
the benefit of the shark species impacted by the applicable violation, to the extent practicable;
shark conservation purposes, including to carry out amendments made by the Shark Conservation Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–348; 124 Stat. 3668);
payment of awards to whistleblowers on an applicable violation under section 4(d); or
enforcement of section 307(1)(P) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1857(1)(P)) or any fishery management plan for sharks under that Act.
Sec. 10 Funding for illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing enforcement
All amounts available to the Secretary of Commerce that are attributable to fines, penalties, and forfeitures of property (or proceeds from the sale of that forfeited property) imposed for violations under section 307(1)(Q) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1857(1)(Q)) shall be used by the Secretary of Commerce for fisheries enforcement, including to carry out amendments made by the Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing Enforcement Act of 2015 (Public Law 114–81; 129 Stat. 649).
Sec. 11 Wildlife trafficking violations as predicate offenses under Travel Act and racketeering statute
Travel Act— Section 1952 of title 18, United States Code, is amended—
in subsection (b)—
by striking “or (3)” and inserting “(3)”; and
by striking “of this title and (ii)” and inserting the following: “of this title, or (4) any act that is a criminal violation of subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (D), (E), or (F) of section 9(a)(1) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1538(a)(1)), section 2203 of the African Elephant Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 4223), or section 7(a) of the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 (16 U.S.C. 5305a(a)), if the endangered or threatened species of fish or wildlife, products, items, or substances involved in the violation and relevant conduct, as applicable, have a total value of more than $10,000 and (ii)”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(f) The Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer to the Secretary of the Interior any amounts received by the United States as civil penalties, fines, forfeitures of property or assets, or restitution to the Federal Government for any violation under this section that involves an unlawful activity described in subsection (b)(i)(4).”
RICO— Chapter 96 of title 18, United States Code, is amended—
in section 1961(1)—
by striking “or (G)” and inserting “(G)”; and
by inserting before the semicolon at the end the following: “, or (H) any act that is a criminal violation of subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (D), (E), or (F) of section 9(a)(1) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1538(a)(1)), section 2203 of the African Elephant Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 4223), or section 7(a) of the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 (16 U.S.C. 5305a(a)), if the endangered or threatened species of fish or wildlife, products, items, or substances involved in the violation and relevant conduct, as applicable, have a total value of more than $10,000”; and
in section 1963, by adding at the end the following:
“(n) The Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer to the Secretary of the Interior any amounts received by the United States as civil penalties, fines, forfeitures of property or assets, or restitution to the Federal Government for any violation of section 1962 that is based on racketeering activity described in section 1961(1)(H).”
Sport-Hunted trophies— Nothing in this section or the amendments made by this section—
nullifies or supersedes any other provision of Federal law or any regulation pertaining to the import of sport-hunted wildlife trophies;
prohibits any citizen, national, or legal resident of the United States, or an agent of such an individual, from importing a lawfully taken sport-hunted trophy for personal or similar noncommercial use if the importation is in compliance with sections 4(d) and 10 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(d), 1539), section 3(a) of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 (16 U.S.C. 3372(a)), and regulations implementing those sections; or
may be used to prosecute any citizen, national, or legal resident of the United States, or an agent of such an individual, for importing a lawfully taken sport-hunted trophy for personal or similar noncommercial use if the importation is in compliance with sections 4(d) and 10 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(d), 1539), section 3(a) of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 (16 U.S.C. 3372(a)), and regulations implementing those sections.
Sec. 12 Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing as predicate offenses under money laundering statute
Section 1956(c)(7) of title 18, United States Code, is amended—
in subparagraph (F), by striking “; or” and inserting a semicolon;
in subparagraph (G), by striking the semicolon and inserting “; or”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(H) any act that is a violation of section 307(1)(Q) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1857(1)(Q)), if the fish involved in the violation and relevant conduct, as applicable, have a total value of more than $10,000;”
Sec. 13 Funds from wildlife trafficking and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing violations of money laundering statute
Section 1956 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(j) The Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer to the Secretary of the Interior any amounts received by the United States as civil penalties, fines, forfeitures of property or assets, or restitution to the Federal Government for any violation under this section that involves an unlawful activity described in subsection (c)(7)(G).
“(k) The Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer to the Secretary of Commerce any amounts received by the United States as civil penalties, fines, forfeitures of property or assets, or restitution to the Federal Government for any violation under this section that involves an unlawful activity described in subsection (c)(7)(H).”
Sec. 14 Uses of transferred funds for conservation
Department of the Interior— All amounts made available to the Secretary of the Interior under the amendments made by sections 11 and 13 shall be used—
for the benefit of the species impacted by the applicable violation, to the extent practicable;
for payment of rewards under section 4(d) on the applicable violation; or
to carry out—
the African Elephant Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 4201 et seq.);
the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 (16 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.);
the Asian Elephant Conservation Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 4261 et seq.);
the Great Ape Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.);
the Marine Turtle Conservation Act of 2004 (16 U.S.C. 6601 et seq.);
the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 6101 et seq.);
the Wild Bird Conservation Act of 1992 (16 U.S.C. 4901 et seq.);
the Critically Endangered Animals Conservation Fund established by the Secretary and administered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; or
any other wildlife conservation programs or activities authorized by Federal law, as considered appropriate by the Secretary, including activities pursuant to sections 5 and 6 of this Act.
Department of Commerce— All amounts made available to the Secretary of Commerce under the amendments made by sections 12 and 13 shall be used for fisheries enforcement purposes, including to carry out the Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing Enforcement Act of 2015 (Public Law 114–81; 129 Stat. 649).
Sec. 15 Technical and conforming amendments
Use of amounts from fines— Section 1402(b)(1)(A) of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (34 U.S.C. 20101(b)(1)(A)) is amended—
in clause (i), by striking “and” at the end; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(iii) section 1952(f), subsections (j) and (k) of section 1956, and section 1963(n) of title 18, United States Code; and”
Use of amounts from forfeitures— Section 524(c)(4)(A) of title 28, United States Code, is amended by inserting “the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to section 1952(f), subsection (j) or (k) of section 1956, or section 1963(n) of title 18,” before “or the Postmaster General”.