[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4765 Reported in House (RH)]
<DOC>
Union Calendar No. 267
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4765
[Report No. 118-328]
To require the Secretary of the Treasury to carry out a study on
Chinese support for Afghan illicit finance, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 20, 2023
Mr. Lynch (for himself and Mr. Nunn of Iowa) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services
December 19, 2023
Additional sponsor: Mr. Molinaro
December 19, 2023
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on July
20, 2023]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of the Treasury to carry out a study on
Chinese support for Afghan illicit finance, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Exposing China's Support for the
Taliban Act''.
SEC. 2. STUDY ON CHINESE SUPPORT FOR AFGHAN ILLICIT FINANCE.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) Though China and Afghanistan share only a small land
border, when it comes to illicit financial activity between the
two countries, China has a demonstrated history of
permissiveness regarding trafficking and money laundering that
could support both the Taliban and its associates.
(2) A 2014 Financial Action Task Force report titled,
``Financial Flows Linked to the Production and Trafficking of
Afghan Opiates'' found evidence of import/export companies
registered in China that were transferring funds to
Afghanistan, likely as part of trade-based money laundering
schemes centered around illicit opium production and
trafficking, which, per the United Nations Office on Drugs and
Crime (UNODC), is one of the Taliban's main sources of income.
(3) Since the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in August
2021, China has announced its willingness to lend financial
support and legitimacy to the Taliban-led government in
Afghanistan, including Afghan Interior Minister, Sirajuddin
Haqqani, a member of the U.S.-sanctions designated Foreign
Terrorist Organization, the Haqqani Network.
(4) China's permissive policies regarding Afghan illicit
finance run counter to the strategic interests of the United
States with respect to countering trafficking and preventing
terrorist groups from accessing the international financial
system.
(5) China's role as a critical source of financial
wherewithal for the Taliban and its associates to process and
implement drug and other illicit-activity transactions warrants
further study as these actions pose a threat both to the safety
and security of the people of Afghanistan and the international
community.
(6) Congress needs to better understand how China could
leverage its relationships and resources within Afghanistan and
how these activities could directly or indirectly provide
financial support to terrorist organizations, including the
Taliban and its associates.
(b) Study.--
(1) Requirement.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury shall
provide to the Committee on Financial Services of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and
Urban Affairs of the Senate a report on the financial
activities of the Government of China and Chinese entities in
connection with the finances of Afghanistan and the Taliban.
(2) Matters included.--The report under paragraph (1) shall
include the following:
(A) An assessment of the activities undertaken by
the Government of China and Chinese-registered
companies to support illicit financial networks in
Afghanistan, particularly such networks involved in
narcotics trafficking, illicit financial transactions,
official corruption, natural resources exploitation,
and terrorist networks.
(B) An assessment of financial, commercial, and
economic activities undertaken by the Government of
China and Chinese companies in Afghanistan to support
Chinese policies counter to American strategic
interests.
(C) Any recommendations to Congress regarding
legislative or regulatory improvements necessary to
support the identification and disruption of Chinese-
supported illicit financial networks in Afghanistan.
(3) Form.--The report under paragraph (1) may include a
classified annex.
Union Calendar No. 267
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4765
[Report No. 118-328]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of the Treasury to carry out a study on
Chinese support for Afghan illicit finance, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
December 19, 2023
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed