Description:
H.R. 6197 would authorize the Department of State to make cash awards for information about wildlife trafficking. The department currently has a rewards program that uses appropriated funds to offer cash awards to deter transnational organized crime. The bill would broaden that program to explicitly include wildlife trafficking such as poaching and illegal trade in wildlife. The rewards program is currently offering a reward of up to $1 million for information that could lead to the dismantling of the Xaysavang Network, an international wildlife trafficking syndicate. It is possible that the department would increase the number or amount of rewards under the bill, thereby increasing discretionary costs. However, CBO has no basis for estimating such additional amounts because we cannot determine the number or timing of additional awards the department might offer under this authority. Enacting H.R. 6197 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 6197 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2029. H.R. 6197 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
