PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Became Public Law No: 112-283.
Congressional Research Service
Version 49 · Public Law · Jan 15, 2013
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on November 13, 2012. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
Department of State Rewards Program Update and Technical Corrections Act of 2012 - (Sec. 2) Expresses the sense of Congress that the Department of State rewards program should be expanded to: (1) address the threat to U.S. interests from transnational criminal activity, such as intellectual property rights piracy, money laundering, trafficking in persons, arms trafficking, and cyber crime; and (2) target individuals indicted by international, hybrid, or mixed tribunals for genocide, war crimes, or crimes against humanity.
(Sec. 3) Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to include in the program's purpose the prevention of acts of transnational organized crime and violations of international humanitarian law.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
Authorizes the Secretary of State to issue rewards for information leading to: (1) the arrest or conviction in any country of any individual for participating in, primarily outside the United States, transnational organized crime; (2) the arrest or conviction in any country of any individual conspiring to participate in or attempting to participate in transnational organized crime; or (3) the arrest or conviction in any country, or the transfer to or conviction by an international criminal tribunal, of any foreign national accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide.
Directs the Secretary to notify Congress at least 15 days before announcing a reward for a foreign national accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide.
(Sec. 4) Eliminates program references to the reward for the capture or death of Osama bin Laden.
(Sec. 5) States that nothing in this Act shall be construed as authorizing the use of activity precluded under the American Servicemembers' Protection Act of 2002.
(Sec. 6) States that the Secretary shall use amounts available to the Department's Emergencies in the Diplomatic and Consular Services account to pay rewards authorized pursuant to this Act and to carry out other related activities.
People & committees
Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA] · D–MA
Legislative record
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Became Public Law No: 112-283.
Became Public Law No: 112-283.
Signed by President.
Signed by President.
Presented to President.
Presented to President.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR 12/30/2012 H7461)
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR 12/30/2012 H7461)
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H7559-7560)
At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Ms. Ros-Lehtinen objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was considered as withdrawn.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2318.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7461-7462)
Ms. Ros-Lehtinen moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Received in the House.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S8230-8231; text as passed: CR S8230-8231)
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.(consideration: CR S8230-8231; text as passed: CR S8230-8231)
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 537.
Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Kerry with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 112-232.
Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Kerry with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 112-232.
Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Committee on Foreign Relations. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-602.
Committee on Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs. Hearings held.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Dec 6, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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Analyze S.2318 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
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