H.R. 4988

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To authorize the President of the United States to issue letters of marque and reprisal with respect to acts of aggression against the United States a member of a criminal enterprise or any conspirator associated with an enterprise involved in cybercrimes, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · August 15, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Schweikert · Committee: Committee on Foreign Affairs

Table of contents

• H.R. 4988
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Findings
  • SEC. 3. Issuance of letters of marque and reprisal

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as the Scam Farms Marque and Reprisal Authorization Act of 2025.

SEC. 2. Findings

• The Congress finds the following:
  • Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution grants the Congress the power to grant letters of marque and reprisal to punish, deter, and prevent the acts of aggression and depredations and other acts of war committed by scam centers.
  • Criminal enterprises that employ cybercrimes and coerced labor present an unusual and extraordinary threat to the economic and national security of the United States.

SEC. 3. Issuance of letters of marque and reprisal

• (a) Authority of President
  • The President of the United States is authorized and requested to commission, under officially issued letters of marque and reprisal, so many of privately armed and equipped persons and entities as, in the judgment of the President, the service may require, with suitable instructions to the leaders thereof, to employ all means reasonably necessary to seize outside the geographic boundaries of the United States and its territories the person and property of any individual or foreign government, as applicable, who the President determines is a member of a criminal enterprise or any conspirator associated with an enterprise involved in cybercrime who is responsible for an act of aggression against the United States.
• (b) Security bonds
  • No letter of marque and reprisal shall be issued by the President without requiring the posting of a security bond in such amount as the President shall determine is sufficient to ensure that the letter be executed according to the terms and conditions thereof.
• (c) Definitions
  • For the purposes of this section—
    • the term includes— cybercrime
    • the term includes a foreign government. criminal enterprise