Fireworks Trafficking and Money Laundering Prevention Act

Ed Case

Democrat · HI · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Jill N. Tokuda (D-HI-2)Original· 2026-05-22

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

2026-05-22

Source: Congress.gov

The proposal would make it a federal money laundering crime to transport fireworks illegally across state lines, treating such transportation the same way the law treats other serious crimes when money is involved. Currently, illegal fireworks trafficking can be prosecuted, but this change would add stricter penalties if someone tries to hide money earned from that illegal activity. This would primarily affect people involved in smuggling fireworks across state borders and those who profit from such operations.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 9013 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9013 To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide that unlawful interstate transportation of fireworks is specified unlawful activity for purposes of laundering of monetary instruments. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 22, 2026 Mr. Case (for himself and Ms. Tokuda) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide that unlawful interstate transportation of fireworks is specified unlawful activity for purposes of laundering of monetary instruments. 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 ``Fireworks Trafficking and Money Laundering Prevention Act''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress finds the following: (1) Illegal fireworks trafficking is a multifaceted criminal activity involving the transportation, distribution, and sale of explosive materials in violation of Federal and State laws. (2) Law enforcement actions across the United States have demonstrated that individuals engaged in illegal fireworks trafficking frequently participate in related financial crimes, including money laundering, and may accumulate substantial illicit proceeds and assets subject to forfeiture. (3) Investigations have revealed that illegal fireworks are often transported across state lines and sold at significant markups, creating highly profitable black-market operations that can persist over many years. (4) The use of illegal fireworks has resulted in numerous incidents causing serious injuries, mass casualty events, and fatalities, including some of the deadliest explosions and accidents in recent history. (5) Fireworks-related injuries place a significant burden on emergency response systems and healthcare infrastructure, with thousands of individuals requiring emergency medical treatment each year. (6) Illegal trafficking of fireworks poses substantial risks to public safety, as such explosives are often manufactured, transported, stored, and used without proper safety standards, increasing the likelihood of fires, explosions, injuries, and deaths. (7) Illegal fireworks trafficking is frequently linked to broader criminal activity, including drug trafficking, financial crimes, and organized criminal enterprises, which may use fireworks distribution networks to generate revenue, launder money, and evade law enforcement oversight. (8) The investigation and prosecution of illegal interstate fireworks trafficking are often constrained by the limited statutory penalties, which provide for a maximum term of imprisonment of one year, thereby reducing the prioritization of such offenses relative to more serious Federal crimes, and providing an insufficient disincentive to engage in illegal activity especially as compared to the large financial incentives to do so. (9) Designating illegal interstate fireworks trafficking as a specified unlawful activity for purposes of laundering of monetary instruments will strengthen law enforcement efforts by authorizing the application of Federal money laundering statutes to the proceeds of illegal fireworks trafficking, thereby enhancing investigative tools, disrupting criminal financial networks, and increasing the maximum term of imprisonment to up to twenty years. SEC. 3. UNLAWFUL INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION OF FIREWORKS TO BE CONSIDERED SPECIFIED UNLAWFUL ACTIVITY FOR PURPOSES OF LAUNDERING OF MONETARY INSTRUMENTS. Section 1956(c)(7)(D) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting ``section 836 (relating to interstate transportation of fireworks),'' after ``section 831 (relating to prohibited transactions involving nuclear materials),''. <all>

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