WASHINGTON – USGLC President and CEO Liz Schrayer issued the following statement on passage of H.R. 2494, END Wildlife Trafficking:

Once again Congress is taking steps to advance U.S. global interests, this time by addressing the critical issue of wildlife trafficking. After a string of bipartisan international affairs bills – particularly on global development – we are seeing Republicans and Democrats across Capitol Hill come together to solve global challenges and protect our national security.

The USGLC applauds Chairman Royce, Ranking Member Engel, and Senators Flake and Coons for their leadership on this critical issue. Wildlife trafficking destabilizes regions and funds international terrorism, and this legislation will help provide an aggressive response by categorizing this crime alongside weapons and drug trafficking. By strengthening these efforts, we will crack down on the billions of dollars generated for criminal and terrorist networks through this illegal trade. We look forward to the President signing this bill into law.

The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition is a broad-based influential network of 500 businesses and NGOs; national security and foreign policy experts; and business, faith-based, academic, military, and community leaders in all 50 states who support strategic investments to elevate development and diplomacy alongside defense in order to build a better, safer world.