Last night, U.S. Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) helped pass a series of smart, targeted proposals to combat the illicit financing of terrorist groups, arms and drug trafficking, and underground nuclear proliferation. These measures will enhance the Treasury Department’s ability crack down on illegal financial activities used to finance terrorist groups or weapons trafficking.

Last week, Rep. Peters offered a proposal that would have increased funding for the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, which works with law enforcement, diplomats, and other intelligence agencies and with the private sector and foreign governments to identify and eliminate sources of financing for terrorist networks. During his remarks in support of his proposal Rep. Peters urged the House to bring up and pass HR 5594, which creates a coordinated, government-wide strategy to combat terrorist financing; it was among the bills he voted to pass last night.

“Even as our military kills their leaders, destroys their safe-havens, and takes back their territory, the threat from groups like ISIS will not be eliminated until we remove their ability to direct and finance terrorist attacks in the west,” Rep. Peters said. “These measures, including one that I urged the House to pass just last week, will make it harder for terrorists to acquire the resources to pay, train, transport, and equip foreign fighters to carry out attacks. By hitting terrorists where it hurts – their wallets – this will make Americans safer.”

The other pieces of legislation Rep. Peters helped pass were HR 5602, the No IMF Laundering Act, and the Enhancing Treasury’s Anti-Terror Tools Act.