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1/ On January 1st, the US finally outlawed #AnonymousCompanies—following a more than decade-long campaign by the @FACTCoalition and our members. I personally devoted 12 years to this effort, but there are so many people to thank for advancing this landmark #anticorruption reform.
2/ It'll be hard to name everyone, and I'm sure I'll forget folks (so forgive me). That said, it's not hard to know where to begin...
3/ My mentor, Gary Kalman, who served as the head of @FACTCoalition from 2016-2019 and now leads @transparencyUSA, had the vision and initiative to recruit @bankpolicy to support reform in 2016. That upended the political dynamics on this issue which eventually led to enactment.
4/ Additionally, the mighty @FACTCoalition would never have existed if it weren't for the leadership, vision, and organizing prowess of @DorothySixx, FACT's 1st and founding executive director.
5/ FACT's 2nd ED, @WilkinsRebeccaJ (who was taken from us too soon) hired me at FACT in 2015. Rebecca made transparency a tax justice issue in her time at @iteptweets & @taxjustice. Her expertise/tenacity laid the foundation for bringing #AnonymousCompanies out of the shadows.
6/ @elisejosanbean wrote the initial version of the legislation back in 2008 when she worked for @SenCarlLevin. She's been a tireless advocate for reform both on and off the Hill, and her policy expertise and legislative analysis was a lynchpin of this campaign.
7/ @Miercoles_Hays and @ar_robins produced critical research at @Global_Witness that laid the groundwork for our campaign, chaired our coalition's work on this issue, and simultaneously served as dogged advocates with me on and off the Hill over many years.
8/ GW's @sostfeld's thought leadership & policy expertise was critical over the years in the building of FACT & advancement of the issue. @ekschornick also produced critical research highlighting how #AnonymousCompanies undermine our security. https://www.globalwitness.org/en/reports/hidden-menace/
9/ The thought leadership from @IllicitFlows's @Raymond_Baker put the issue of illicit financial flows on the global agenda. Raymond & @TCardamoneJrGFI's research and focus were instrumental in advancing this issue. They also roped me into this space when they hired me in 2009.
10/ The policy expertise of GFI's @HeatherLoweGFI and, later, @LaksKumar_GFI, were instrumental. The "Library Card" report might have been the most widely cited study in our efforts to end #AnonymousCompanies over the past couple of years. https://gfintegrity.org/report/the-library-card-project/
11/ The only other report that could give it a run for its money was written by @mgfindley, Daniel Nielson & Jason Sharman. Mike also wrote a number of key op-eds and held several briefings w/ policymakers in DC & TX highlighting the importance of reform.
http://www.globalshellgames.com/
http://www.globalshellgames.com/
12/ My former deputy at @IllicitFlows, @ejfagan, was a critical sounding board, friend, and advocate throughout this campaign—especially during his tenure at @UTAustin. For example, he coauthored this @statesman op-ed with @mgfindley. https://www.statesman.com/news/opinion/commentary-shell-companies-undermine-sanctions-against-north-korea/HcRuZhxGnvjQ7zcwsnrXdN/
13/ @hurrayforfacts and @kylematous at the @ONECampaign and @DidierPJacobs, @BenGroCo, and @NikoLusiani at @OxfamAmerica championed transparency in the international development community. https://thefactcoalition.org/major-ingos-send-letter-in-support-of-the-anti-money-laundering-act-of-2020-s-amdt-2198-to-s-4049/
14/ @nProctor at @fairsharetweets and @uspirg connected the fight against the opioid epidemic to reform with fantastic reports highlighting the widespread use of #AnonymousCompanies by opioid traffickers, and helped recruit state AGs to endorse reform. https://www.fairshareonline.org/content/anonymity-overdose-how-our-opioid-crisis-and-shell-companies-are-linked
15/ Over the past year, the tenacious advocacy efforts, skilled policy analysis, and creative problem solving of @transparencyUSA's @ScottGreytak and FACT's @EHanichak provided a critical boost to our campaign efforts—ensuring we actually made it across the finish line.
16/ The amazing research/policy/advocacy efforts of @zoe_reiter, Tim Stretton & @SAmeyJD at @POGOBlog unveiled numerous examples of #AnonymousCompanies facilitating fraud & ensured that the NDAA included a strong provision requiring public disclosure of BOs for federal contracts.
17/ @Eric_LeCompte and (formerly) @AndrewHanauer of @JubileeUSA recruited hundreds of religious institutions to support transparency over the years and mobilized key faith leaders to speak out in support of reform at critical moments.
18/ @Chuck99to1 and @SarahDAnderson1 at @IPS_DC and @inequalityorg connected transparency to economic inequality and produced excellent exposés on shell companies in the real estate sectors of various cities. https://ips-dc.org/celebrating-the-passage-of-the-corporate-transparency-act/
19/ @SteveWamhoff & (formerly) @taxjusticewonk of @iteptweets as well as @clemente_frank and @mrickling of @4TaxFairness and @Susan_Citizen of @Public_Citizen connected #AnonymousCompanies to tax justice and rallied progressives in support of reform.
20/ @sarah_saadoun at @hrw, @AnnieBoyajian at @freedomhouse, @RobBerschinski at @humanrights1st, and (formerly) @amolmehra of @theICAR rallied the human rights community in support for transparency and pushed Congress to act. https://thefactcoalition.org/letter-to-senate-from-10-human-rights-groups-supporting-illicit-cash-act-s-2563/
21/ @NateSibley of the @HudsonInstitute's @KleptocracyIntv is the person who is most responsible for framing beneficial ownership transparency as a national security imperative, and recruiting scholars from across the political spectrum to support reform. https://www.hudson.org/research/15573-countering-chinese-communist-party-threats-with-corporate-transparency
22/ @Ty_D_Stapleton at @FDD was a dogged advocate for reform as well, tirelessly working the Hill while recruiting various scholars to endorse reform in testimonies and briefings before the House and Senate.
23/ @HRBrocato at @natsecaction pounded the Hill over many years, keeping this issue high on the list of priorities for national security staff in Congress.
24/ @RosenbergEliz of @CNASdc connected #AnonymousCompanies to WMD proliferation financing and spoke at numerous events and briefings about the national security importance of transparency. https://www.cnas.org/publications/reports/financial-networks-of-mass-destruction
25/ @j_vittori, @mikercarpenter, @anders_aslund, Michael Dziedzic, @JoshRudes, @katebatemandc, @mbgoodman, Chip Poncy, & Heather Conley all wrote numerous reports/articles & spoke at countless briefings/events about the national security imperative of transparency over the years.
26/ John Cassara, a former @USTreasury special agent, helped make the original law enforcement case for reform in op-eds, books, reports, and Hill meetings over many years. https://thefactcoalition.org/report/countering-international-money-laundering/
27/ @Frusso15 at the @ndaajustice as well as Tim Richardson, @scotty_marks and Rebecca Tyus at the @GLFOP tirelessly and tactfully made the law enforcement case for reform in countless Hill meetings, letters, and briefings over many years. @FLEOAORG was also a key ally.
28/ @thebteamhq's @Annabel917, @maykmd, and @RobinHodess were the first to recruit brand name businesses and major CEOs to support transparency.
29/ @baerheel at @bankpolicy had the foresight and courage to be the first trade group in the U.S. to break with the Chamber and endorse the bills in 2016. BPI's Cara Camacho and Mike Lee were tireless advocates for reform on and off the Hill over many years.
30/ Brad Thaler and (formerly) Mike Emancipator at @NAFCU were the 2nd trade group to endorse reform in 2016, and the first set of credit union advocates—broadening the support in the financial services sector.
31/ @Davidmlunausa1 fleshed out the biz case for transparency, notably highlighting how transnational crime networks abuse #AnonymousCompanies to sell counterfeit/pirated goods—harming legitimate biz. And he recruited @USCIB & @SafeProof to support reform. https://thefactcoalition.org/report/anonymous-companies-help-finance-illicit-commerce-and-harm-american-businesses-and-citizens/
32/ @NFTC, through Richard Sawaya, became the first major, cross-industry trade group of corporations to endorse reform in 2018, and Richard was a tireless advocate for the bill.
33/ @SmlBizMajority, @mainstreetweets, and @ASBCouncil championed transparency in the small business community. SBM and MSA also commissioned critical polls of small business owners demonstrating widespread support for reform.
https://smallbusinessmajority.org/our-research/government-accountability/small-business-owners-support-legislation-requiring-transparency-business-formation https://www.mainstreetalliance.org/new_poll_overwhelming_majority_of_small_business_owners_support_corporate_transparency_to_protect_against_fraud
https://smallbusinessmajority.org/our-research/government-accountability/small-business-owners-support-legislation-requiring-transparency-business-formation https://www.mainstreetalliance.org/new_poll_overwhelming_majority_of_small_business_owners_support_corporate_transparency_to_protect_against_fraud
34/ In early 2018, @nardotrealtor became the first trade group to flip from opposition to support—generating a major momentum boost. @ALTAonline signed on around the same time, and became a tireless advocate for reform.
35/ The folks at @Polaris_Project were the first to connect #AnonymousCompanies to human trafficking networks, producing critical research in 2018 that laid the foundation for the rest of our outreach to the anti-human trafficking community. https://polarisproject.org/press-releases/corporate-secrecy-fuels-human-trafficking-in-united-states/
36/ Bob Rogers at @StreetGrace and @_nateking & Holly Burkhalter at @IJM were critical allies in the advocacy push for reform— eloquently making the anti-human trafficking case for transparency.
37/ @vanessa_bouche of @TCU also produced key research that highlighted the connections between human trafficking & #AnonymousCompanies. She wrote a number of influential op-eds and held key briefings w/ policymakers in Texas on the need for reform. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/23322705.2017.1374080?journalCode=uhmt20
38/ We also benefitted from countless allies around the world. @alvinmosioma and @Lustarnde accompanied me to a number of meetings on the Hill. @toveryding, @eurodad, and @TI_EU helped organize letters to Congress from MEPs in support of transparency.
39/ Of course, the @TaxJusticeNet's @FinclSecrecyInd was a critical tool in our advocacy efforts — with special thanks due to Andres Knobel, @markusmeinzer, and @alexcobham. https://fsi.taxjustice.net/en/
40/ Our Canadian friends at @endsnowwashing ( @TI_Canada, @FairTaxCanada, @PwypCanada) were great partners. And our global partners at @GA4TJ, @FinTrCo, and @PWYPtweets and @PWYPUSA were critical allies along the way.
41/ @EdKitt of @UKinUSA wins the award for the most engaged diplomat. He was smart, tenacious, and tactful in leveraging data and diplomacy to realize this transatlantic win for transparency.
42/ Closer to home, @JacobCWills held down the fort at the FACT office, ensuring that the trains ran on time.
43/ Meanwhile, Brad Brooks-Rubin, Ian Schwab, and their colleagues at @TheSentry_Org & @EnoughProject churned out great reports demonstrating the importance of transparency in the fight against genocide while organizing fly-ins to DC that secured new cosponsors for reform.
44/ Shruti Shah at @unite4integrity continued to speak out in op-eds, blogs, and letters to Congress about the anti-corruption risks posed by #AnonymousCompanies.
45/ And none of this would have been possible without the tremendous journalists like @nickshaxson, @OliverBullough, @cjcmichel, @tomburgis, and @srubenfeld who've devoted their careers to exposing corrupt financial practices like these in articles, books, and other media.
46/ Matthew Valencia at @TheEconomist was ahead of the curve with his 14-page special report on the problems with offshore finance and #AnonymousCompanies in 2013. https://www.economist.com/special-report/2013/02/14/storm-survivors
47/ @louisestory and @stefsaul raised the profile of the issue with their "Towers of Secrecy" series in 2015, which highlighted suspect money flows through #AnonymousCompanies into US real estate — which spurred FinCEN's GTOs. https://www.nytimes.com/news-event/shell-company-towers-of-secrecy-real-estate
48/ Of course, it's impossible to complete this thread without noting the critical import of the @ICIJorg and their various investigations into offshore finance.
49/ @ICIJ's #PanamaPapers, in particular, made front-page headlines around the world and provided countless anecdotes to advocates like me. Without which, we never would have convinced policymakers to act. https://www.icij.org/investigations/panama-papers/
50/ Special appreciation is due to the ICIJ's @WillFitzgibbon, @MarinaWalkerG, @RyleGerard, @sashachavkin, @michaelwhudson, and @spencerwoodman as well as @McClatchyDC / @MiamiHerald's @KevinGHall & @NickNehamas.
51/ None of this would have been possible without vision & leadership by policymakers in Congress. As I already mentioned, @SenCarlLevin & @elisejosanbean deserve tremendous credit for crafting and introducing the original bill w/ @normcoleman & @BarackObama back in 2008.
52/ In the House, @RepMaloney introduced the first version of this bill in 2010 and later recruited @RepPeteKing to sign on. My @FACTCoalition colleagues & I later met w/ Maloney's aide, Ben Harney, every week for 3+ years to coordinate our efforts to advance this bill into law.
53/ Maloney recruited powerful cosponsors—including @RepMaxineWaters, while @RepStephenLynch (& aides Jaclyn Cahan & Kevin George) and @Malinowski (& aide Phil McDaniel) used their perches to highlight the national security threats of opacity.
54/ @RepBlaine and ex-Rep. @Pearce4NM deserve a ton of credit for broadening the base of support on HFSC, and attempting to move forward a BOT proposal in 2017/18. While the attempt failed, it laid the groundwork for the victory in the 116th Congress.
55/ In the Senate, @SenWhitehouse & @ChuckGrassley became the leading champions on the issue for a number of years (after Sen. Levin retired) with staffers like Ches Garrison, Rich DiZinno, and Rachel Wright tenaciously and selflessly pushing the issue alongside their bosses.
56/ Meanwhile, as the House approach began to pick up steam, @RonWyden and his aide Dan Goshorn worked w/ @marcorubio & his aide Sam Roberts to introduce the Corporate Transparency Act to the Senate.
57/ The @HelsinkiComm, thanks to @apmassaro3, held a critical hearing in the fall of 2017 which highlighted the national security/foreign policy arguments for reform; and after a few hearings in @senjudiciary in 2018, @LindseyGrahamSC became a champion of reform too.
58/ One of the most consequential developments came with the formation of the "Group of Four" (Senators @MarkWarner, @SenTomCotton, @SenDougJones, & @SenatorRounds) who did a lot of the heavy lifting to hash-out a true joint BOT/ #AML reform bill (the ILLICIT CASH Act).
59/ Major kudos in particular to Jared Roscoe and Craig Radcliffe on @MarkWarner's staff and Mike Berman w/ @SenDougJones for their patience, creativity, tact, and determination.
60/ The final deal never would have happened w/o the leadership of @SenSherrodBrown (and his staffer Colin McGinnis) and @MikeCrapo (and his aides John O'Hara & Jimmy Guiliano) who were deliberate and thoughtful in ensuring that the final bill had integrity.
61/ Also critical were the leadership of @MaxineWaters (and aide @DCLindholm) and @RepMaloney pushing the bill through HFSC, attaching it to the NDAA, and negotiating the final deal with the Senate.
62/ And @senatemajldr, @SenSchumer, @SpeakerPelosi, @GOPLeader, @LeaderHoyer, @RepAdamSmith, @MacThornberry, @JimInhofe, & @SenJackReed deserve a ton of credit for prioritizing the Corporate Transparency Act's inclusion in the final NDAA.
