AIRPORT VOICE,DECEMBER 2019 27
Wildlife trafficking legislation
Cash rewards offered for information
BY JEFF YAPALATER
Representative Dina Titus of
Nevada’s First Congressional District
celebrated the House passage
of bipartisan legislation she introduced
with Congressman Vern
Buchanan (FL-16) to combat international
wildlife trafficking. The
Rescuing Animals with Rewards
(RAWR) Act, H.R. 97, allows the
State Department to offer cash rewards
to those who provide useful
information related to international
wildlife trafficking cases. A
bipartisan version of the legislation
has already been introduced
in the Senate.
According the International
Air Transport Association( IATA)
transnational criminal gangs are
exploiting the increasingly interconnected
air transport system to
traffic illegal flora and fauna. Aviation
is committed to playing its
part in stopping this illegal trade
in wildlife, worth at least $19 billion
annually.
Although the duty for capturing
and prosecuting these criminals
rests with national enforcement authorities,
airline staff can provide
an important source of additional
intelligence.
“Congress took a major step to
put the world on notice that international
wildlife trafficking will
be treated as a serious crime,”
said Congresswoman Titus (NV-1).
“This heinous practice decimates
endangered species and generates
billions of dollars for transnational
criminal networks. Passage of this
bill is an important bipartisan victory
in the House, and I hope the
Senate will move quickly to ensure
that elephants, lions, rhinos, and
tigers will be protected for generations
to come.”
Cooperation with enforcement
authorities and international conservation
organizations such as the
Convention on International Trade
in Endangered Species (CITES) has
already begun.
AvAirPros, and AvAirPros
Services Wishes Happy
Holidays and Good Cheer,
To All Our Employees,
Clients, Business Associates,
And Friends.