Description:
The Department of State uses appropriated funds to offer cash awards of up to $5 million through its War Crimes Rewards Program for information leading to the arrest or conviction of designated individuals accused by international tribunals of committing war crimes, genocide, or crimes against humanity. H.R. 4250 would authorize the department to also offer awards for information leading to the prosecution of such crimes under the laws and statutes of the United States and other nations. To the extent that the bill would allow the department to offer and pay more rewards, implementing it would increase spending subject to appropriation; however, it is uncertain whether and when the department would do so. On the basis of information about similar reward programs, CBO estimates that under H.R. 4250 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.
