June 28, 2018

Representative Dina Titus of Nevada’s First Congressional District released the following statement on passage of H.R. 4969 and H.R. 6197 in the House Foreign Affairs Committee:

Today the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed an amendment offered by Representative Titus to H.R. 4969, the Improving Embassy Design and Security Act, to reinforce the importance of accessibility of U.S. embassies and consulates abroad for people with disabilities. 

“As markers of American ideals around the world, embassies and consulates must not only be built to meet the needs of security and functionality but also accessibility,” Titus said. “The U.S. government must continue to build infrastructure that is accessible to people with disabilities and recognize the importance of doing so to our diplomatic and international development priorities. Accessible embassies help promote the employment of Americans with disabilities in diplomatic posts and reinforce U.S. leadership in advancing the rights of people with disabilities around the world.” 

The Committee also passed H.R. 6197, the Rescuing Animals with Rewards Act, legislation Representative Titus cosponsored to combat illegal wildlife trade by authorizing rewards for information on wildlife traffickers through the State Department’s Rewards for Justice Program. 

“Illegal wildlife trafficking not only decimates endangered wildlife species but also threatens security and fuels corruption around the world,” Titus said. “This bill moves us in the same positive direction that the END Wildlife Trafficking Act did to recognize wildlife trafficking as a serious crime. It will provide another tool for the U.S. government to combat illegal wildlife trade so that we can continue to preserve our world’s treasured animals.”