Statements & Press Releases

House Approves Half Dozen Measures to Fight Foreign Corruption via Defense Bill

09/24/2021

 TI-US calls on Senate to quickly follow suit 

A statement from the U.S. office of Transparency International
September 24, 2021

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved six measures to combat corruption and kleptocracy around the world. Adopted as part of the House annual defense bill (known as the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022), the measures include the Foreign Corruption Accountability Act, the Justice for Victims of Kleptocracy Act, the Transnational Repression Accountability and Prevention Act, the Combating Global Corruption Act, the reauthorization of the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, and a measure requiring the Biden Administration to determine whether the 35 kleptocrats and government officials named by Russian political opposition leader Alexei Navalny meet the criteria for sanctioning under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. Each of the measures is supported by a coalition of civil society organizations working to promote transparency and accountability in government.  

Scott Greytak, Director of Advocacy for Transparency International’s U.S. office (TI-US), offered the following statement: 

These measures will enhance our nation’s ability to sanction corrupt actors, increase transparency, provide actionable information to victims of corruption around the world, and encourage coordinated anticorruption efforts among the United States and our allies.  

Corruption allows a small group of people to purchase power and protection. It is the lifeblood of violent extremists, drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal enterprises, and authoritarian governments in every corner of the globe. Corruption is a leading cause of violence, mass migration, environmental degradation, economic volatility, and the suppression of free speech and other human rights around the world. It is for these reasons and others that the Biden Administration recently designated the fight against foreign corruption as a core U.S. national security interest. 

The House of Representatives has recognized the threat posed by foreign corruption by approving six measures that will help expose and counteract corruption across the world.   

It is imperative that the Senate quickly follow suit by including these measures in its forthcoming version of the annual defense bill. 

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Transparency International is the world’s largest coalition against corruption. In collaboration with national chapters in more than 100 countries, the U.S. office focuses on stemming the harms caused by illicit finance, strengthening political integrity, and promoting a positive U.S. role in global anti-corruption initiatives.  

Related Resources  

  • Read a letter of support for the Counter-Kleptocracy Act—a legislative package that includes four of the six measures (the Foreign Corruption Accountability Act, the Justice for Victims of Kleptocracy Act, the Transnational Repression Accountability and Prevention Act, and the Combating Global Corruption Act)—signed by 35 civil society organizations and prominent individuals here; 

Media Contact  

Scott Greytak, Director of Advocacy, Transparency International U.S. Office 
Telephone: +1 614-668-0258
Email: sgreytak@transparency.org
Twitter: @TransparencyUSA

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