#aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #biej ,,an ,,act ,to require the ,secretary of ,state and relevant executive branch agencies to address international scam compounds defrauding people in the ,united ,states1 to hold significant transnational criminal organizations accountable1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,scam ,compound ,accountability and ,mobilization ,act4 #b4 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 transnational cyber-enabled fraud1 particularly perpetrated from scam compounds in ,southeast ,asia1 is a growing threat to citizens of the ,united ,states1 national security1 and economic interests globally1 with the ,federal ,bureau of ,investigation reporting #ac1gjj1jjj1jjj in losses in the ,united ,states due to cyber-enabled fraud in #bjbd1 including schemes commonly perpetrated by significant transnational criminal organizations operating scam compounds2 7#b7 significant transnational criminal organizations responsible for a large proportion of these scam compounds are affiliated with the ,people's ,republic of ,china 7,,prc71 actively spread ,,prc propaganda1 promote unification with ,taiwan1 and have brokered projects for the ,belt and ,road ,initiative2 7#c7 significant transnational criminal organizations have lured hundreds of thousands of human trafficking victims from over #dj countries to scam compounds1 primarily in ,burma1 ,cambodia1 and ,laos1 for purposes of forced criminality2 7#d7 significant transnational criminal organizations are expanding scam compounds internationally including in ,africa1 the ,middle ,east1 ,south ,asia1 and the ,pacific ,islands1 and related money laundering1 human trafficking and recruitment fraud have occurred in ,europe1 ,north ,america1 and ,south ,america2 7#e7 the ,united ,states should redouble efforts to hold the perpetrators and enablers of scam compound operations accountable1 including those involved in related money laundering1 human trafficking1 and recruitment fraud1 by employing tools1 such as targeted financial sanctions1 visa restrictions1 asset seizures1 and forfeiture2 7#f7 to effectively address cyber-enabled fraud originating from scam compounds internationally1 the ,united ,states ,government should work with partner governments1 multilateral institutions1 civil society experts1 and private sector stakeholders to improve information sharing1 strengthen preventative measures1 raise public awareness1 and increase coordination on law enforcement investigations and regulatory actions2 and 7#g7 survivors of human trafficking1 including forced criminality1 require victim-centered support to ensure they are not punished for offenses committed under duress4 #c4 ,definitions 7a7 ,in general ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,appropriate congressional committees ,the term appropriate congressional committees means-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations of the ,senate2 7,b7 the ,committee on the ,judiciary of the ,senate2 7,c7 the ,committee on ,banking1 ,housing1 and ,urban ,affairs of the ,senate2 7,d7 the ,select ,committee on ,intelligence of the ,senate2 7,e7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives2 7,f7 the ,committee on the ,judiciary of the ,house of ,representatives2 7,g7 the ,committee on ,financial ,services of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7,h7 the ,permanent ,select ,committee on ,intelligence of the ,house of ,representatives4 7#b7 ,cyber-enabled fraud ,the term cyber-enabled fraud means the use of the internet or other technology to commit fraudulent activity1 including illicitly obtaining money1 property1 data1 identification documents1 or authentication features1 or creating counterfeit goods or services4 7#c7 ,enabling country ,the term enabling country means a country where-- 7,a7 government authorities actively or implicitly permit1 enable1 or perpetuate scam compound operations2 or 7,b7 ineffective law enforcement or a failure to enact legislation intended to prevent facilitating services from reaching scam compounds or significant transnational criminal organizations enables scam compound operators to obtain facilitating services4 7#d7 ,forced criminality ,the term forced criminality means a form of forced labor for the purpose of causing the victim to engage in criminal activity1 which may include cyber-enabled fraud4 7#e7 ,forced labor ,the term forced labor has the meaning given the term severe form of trafficking in persons in section #ajc7aa77;,b7 of the ,trafficking ,victims ,protection ,act of #bjjj7bb ,u4,s4,c4 #gajb7aa77;,b774 7#f7 ,relevant foreign assistance programs and diplomatic efforts ,the term relevant foreign assistance programs and diplomatic efforts-- 7,a7 means unclassified voluntary support programs funded directly by the ,united ,states ,government that provide assistance to one or more foreign countries for the purpose of combating scam compound operations and related significant transnational criminal organizations2 and 7,b7 excludes intelligence activities1 including activities authorized by the ,president and reported to ,congress in accordance with section #ejc of the ,national ,security ,act of #aidg 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #cjic74 7#g7 ,human trafficking ,the term human trafficking has the meaning given the term severe form of trafficking in persons in section #ajc7aa7 of the ,trafficking ,victims ,protection ,act of #bjjj7bb ,u4,s4,c4 #gajb7aa774 7#h7 ,human trafficking victim ,the terms human trafficking victim and victim of human trafficking mean a person subject to an act or practice described in section #ajc7aa7 of the ,trafficking ,victims ,protection ,act of #bjjj7bb ,u4,s4,c4 #gajb7aa774 7#i7 ,impacted country ,the term impacted country means a country that is a significant-- 7,a7 transit location for victims of human trafficking to scam compounds2 7,b7 source location for victims of human trafficking for scam compounds2 or 7,c7 target of cyber-enabled fraud originating from scam compounds internationally4 7#aj7 ,scam compound ,the term scam compound means a physical installation where a significant transnational criminal organization carries out cyber-enabled fraud operations1 frequently using victims of human trafficking and forced criminality4 7#aa7 ,significant transnational criminal organization ,the term significant transnational criminal organization means a group of persons that-- 7,a7 includes one or more foreign person2 7,b7 engages in or facilitates an ongoing pattern of serious criminal activity involving the jurisdictions of at least two foreign states or one foreign state and the ,united ,states2 and 7,c7 threatens the national security1 foreign policy1 or economy of the ,united ,states4 7#ab7 ,strategy ,the term ,strategy means the strategy to counter scam compounds and hold significant transnational criminal organizations accountable required under section #d4 7b7 ,rule of construction ,the definitions under this section are exclusive to this ,act and may not be construed to affect any other provision of ,united ,states law4 #d4 ,strategy to counter scam compounds and hold significant transnational criminal organizations accountable 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,state1 in consultation with the ,attorney ,general1 the ,secretary of the ,treasury1 and the heads of other ,federal departments and agencies1 shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a comprehensive strategy that-- 7#a7 is designed to counter scam compounds and hold significant transnational criminal organizations accountable2 7#b7 is global in scope2 and 7#c7 may prioritize efforts focused on ,southeast ,asian countries where scam compound operations are most prevalent4 7b7 ,contents ,the ,strategy shall-- 7#a7 articulate a comprehensive problem statement identifying the structural vulnerabilities exploited by significant transnational criminal organizations operating scam compounds2 7#b7 develop a comprehensive list of enabling countries and impacted countries2 7#c7 identify all active executive branch relevant foreign assistance programs and diplomatic efforts underway to address scam compounds1 significant transnational criminal organizations connected to scam compounds1 and related money laundering1 human trafficking and forced criminality1 including efforts with enabling countries and impacted countries2 7#d7 identify relevant foreign assistance resources needed to fully implement the ,strategy and any obstacles to the response of the ,federal ,government to scam compounds1 including coordination with partner governments1 to address the human trafficking1 including forced criminality1 and money laundering that facilitates and sustains scam compound operations2 7#e7 include objectives1 activities1 and performance indicators regarding the response of the ,federal government to scam compounds1 including-- 7,a7 the prevention of recruitment fraud and human trafficking1 including by-- 7i7 engaging private sector entities operating internet platforms or other services that can be abused or exploited to perpetrate recruitment fraud1 human trafficking or cyber-enabled fraud2 7ii7 raising awareness among at-risk populations to identify common recruitment fraud strategies and improve due diligence and self-protection measures2 7iii7 urging governments to monitor and enforce laws against fraudulent and unlawful recruitment practices2 and 7iv7 sharing information and building awareness among foreign counterparts1 including law enforcement and border officials1 to identify potential human trafficking victims2 7,b7 the support for survivors of human trafficking and forced criminality under the direction of the ,ambassador at ,large to ,monitor and ,combat ,trafficking in ,persons2 7,c7 the enhancement of coordination and strengthening the capabilities of partner governments and law enforcement agencies2 7,d7 the use of sanctions1 visa restrictions1 and other accountability measures against enabling countries1 significant transnational criminal organizations1 and related third-party facilitators of scam compound operations2 7,e7 the support of partner governments in countering corruption and money laundering related to scam compound operations2 and 7,f7 the investigation of ,,prc connections to significant transnational criminal organizations operating scam compounds4 7c7 ,limitation ,nothing in the ,strategy may affect1 apply to1 or create obligations related to past1 present1 or future criminal or civil law enforcement or intelligence activities of the ,united ,states or the law enforcement activities of any ,state or subdivision of a ,state4 #e4 ,establishing a task force to implement the strategy 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #ij days after submitting the ,strategy pursuant to section #d7;a71 the ,secretary of ,state1 in consultation with the ,attorney ,general1 the ,secretary of the ,treasury1 and the heads of other ,federal departments and agencies1 shall establish an interagency task force 7referred to in this section as the ,task ,force7-- 7#a7 to coordinate the implementation of the ,strategy2 7#b7 to conduct regular monitoring and analysis of scam compound operations internationally2 7#c7 to track and evaluate progress toward the objectives1 activities1 and performance indicators of the ,strategy described in section #d7;b77#e72 and 7#d7 to update the ,strategy1 in consultation with the appropriate congressional committees1 as needed4 7b7 ,annual reviews and reports ,not later than one year after the establishment of the ,task ,force1 and not less frequently than annually thereafter1 the ,secretary of ,state and the ,attorney ,general1 in consultation with the ,secretary of the ,treasury and the heads of other ,federal departments and agencies1 shall-- 7#a7 conduct a status review of the ,strategy and the overall state of scam compounds operated by significant transnational criminal organizations2 7#b7 include a list of enabling countries and impacted countries2 and 7#c7 submit the results of such review in a public report to the appropriate congressional committees1 which may contain a classified annex4 7c7 ,task force termination ,the ,task ,force shall terminate on the date that is six years after the date on which it is established4 #f4 ,strengthening tools to dismantle scam compounds and hold significant transnational criminal organizations accountable 7a7 ,imposition of sanctions with respect to significant actors in scam compound operations ,beginning on and after the date that is #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,president may impose the sanctions described in subsection 7b7 with respect to any foreign person that the ,president determines-- 7#a7 has materially assisted in1 or provided significant financial or technological support to1 or provided significant goods or services in support of1 the activities of international scam compounds or enabling services1 including recruitment fraud1 human trafficking 7including forced criminality71 cyber-enabled fraud1 or money-laundering2 or 7#b7 owned1 controlled1 directed1 or acted for1 or on behalf of1 a significant scam compound operation or enabling service1 including recruitment fraud1 human trafficking 7including forced criminality71 cyber-enabled fraud1 or money-laundering4 7b7 ,sanctions described ,the ,president may exercise of all powers granted to the ,president under the ,international ,emergency ,economic ,powers ,act 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #agja et seq47 to the extent necessary to block and prohibit all transactions in all property and interests in property of a foreign person described in subsection 7a71 including1 to the extent appropriate1 the vessel of which the person is the beneficial owner1 if such property or interests in property are in the ,united ,states1 come within the ,united ,states1 or are or come within the possession or control of a ,united ,states person4 7c7 ,implementation2 penalties 7#a7 ,implementation ,the ,president may exercise all authorities provided under sections #bjc and #bje of the ,international ,emergency ,economic ,powers ,act 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #agjb and #agjd7 to carry out this section4 7#b7 ,penalties ,the penalties set forth in subsections 7b7 and 7c7 of section #bjf of the ,international ,emergency ,economic ,powers ,act 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #agje7 shall apply to any person who violates1 attempts to violate1 conspires to violate1 or causes a violation of any prohibition of this section1 or an order or regulation prescribed under this section1 to the same extent that such penalties apply to a person that commits an unlawful act described in section #bjf7;a7 of such ,act 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #agje7;a774 7d7 ,intelligence and law enforcement activities ,sanctions authorized under this section shall not apply with respect to-- 7#a7 any activity subject to the reporting requirements under title ,v of the ,national ,security ,act of #aidg 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #cjia et seq472 or 7#b7 any authorized intelligence or law enforcement activities of the ,united ,states4 7e7 ,semiannual report ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 and every #ahj days thereafter1 the ,president shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that-- 7#a7 identifies all foreign persons the ,president has sanctioned pursuant to the authorities under this section2 and 7#b7 the dates on which sanctions were imposed4 7f7 ,exception relating to importation of goods 7#a7 ,in general ,a requirement to block and prohibit all transactions in all property and interests in property pursuant to subsection 7b7 shall not include the authority or a requirement to impose sanctions on the importation of goods4 7#b7 ,defined term ,in this subsection1 the term good means any article1 natural or manmade substance1 material1 supply1 or manufactured product1 including inspection and test equipment1 and excluding technical data4 7g7 ,waiver 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,president may waive the application of sanctions under this section with respect to a foreign person or a foreign financial institution if the ,president determines that such waiver is in the national interest of the ,united ,states4 7#b7 ,report ,not later than #ae days before granting a waiver pursuant to paragraph 7#a71 the ,president shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that includes-- 7,a7 the name of the individual or institution that is benefitting from such waiver2 and 7,b7 if the beneficiary is an individual1 a detailed justification explaining how the waiver serves the national security interests of the ,united ,states4 #g4 ,redress to victims of international scam compound operations ,not later than #ij days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,attorney ,general1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,state1 the ,secretary of the ,treasury1 and the heads of other appropriate ,federal departments and agencies1 shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report containing an assessment of existing forfeiture law that-- 7#a7 outlines challenges or limitations to providing financial redress to victims of international scam compound operations2 7#b7 offers recommendations to amend existing forfeiture law to enable the ,department of ,justice to use assets forfeited as a result of law enforcement activities targeting international scam compound operations to provide financial redress to ,united ,states citizen victims of scam operations2 and 7#c7 offers recommendations for the administration of such a redress mechanism4 #h4 ,sunset ,this ,act shall cease to be effective beginning on the date that is #g years after the date of the enactment of this ,act4 ,passed the ,senate ,december #h 7legislative day1 ,december #d71 #bjbe4,secretary