Description:
H.R. 1036 would authorize the Department of State to offer rewards for information about the identity or location of individuals and entities that defy sanctions imposed by the United States or the United Nations. Several existing programs provide rewards for information leading to the arrest or conviction of designated terrorists and criminals engaged in human trafficking, smuggling, and other transnational crimes. Since the mid-1980s, the department has awarded more than $250 million under those programs, with most awards ranging between $1 million and $5 million. Many of the individuals and entities designated under those programs also are subject to sanctions; therefore, a portion of the population targeted by this bill likely already would be sought out for crimes under current programs. CBO expects that the authority provided under the bill would be implemented through those programs. To the extent that the bill would result in the department paying more rewards, implementing H.R. 1036 would increase spending subject to appropriation; however, it is uncertain whether and when the department would do so. Accounting for that uncertainty and using information about past awards—averaging about $7 million each year—CBO estimates that under H.R. 1036 the department would pay less than $500,000, on average, in additional awards in any given year and a total of $1 million over the 2021-2026 period. That spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
