House Foreign Affairs Committee advances package of national‑security and human‑rights bills

The House Foreign Affairs Committee convened and, by voice votes, moved a collection of foreign‑policy measures to the full House on Nov. 15, advancing legislation that spans consumer‑fraud enforcement, oversight of antisemitism in Europe, sanctions coordination, accountability for the Houthis, reauthorization of child‑development aid, a sports diplomacy strategy and steps to curb illegal fishing.

The committee’s agenda opened with HR 5490, the Dismantle Foreign Scam Syndicates Act, which would establish an interagency task force chaired by the State Department to identify and shut down transnational scam operations the sponsors say have victimized Americans. Representative Shreve (Representative, sponsor of the substitute amendment) described “industrialized operations” in Cambodia, Burma and Laos that he said rely on forced labor and can run around the clock. “These are massive, massive operations,” he said, adding that U.S. law‑enforcement actions this year have seized significant cryptocurrency holdings tied to such centers.

Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (Ranking Member, Committee on Foreign Affairs) said he supported the bill but was disappointed that a circulated amendment removed a previously proposed $60 million authorization for victim‑assistance and enforcement programming. Meeks said funding is necessary “to carry out the kinds of programming the bill calls for” to counter scam centers and assist trafficking victims.

Representative Castro (Representative) offered an amendment authorizing the State Department to provide high‑resolution current and archival satellite imagery to nongovernmental organizations and research…