Marco Rubio, Bill Nelson Push for Info on IS Killing Americans

On Wednesday, Floridas two U.S. senators -- Democrat Bill Nelson and Republican Marco Rubio -- joined together with eight other senators to introduce a bill updating the U.S. State Departments Rewards for Justice Program offering up to $5 million for information on the murder of four Americans by Islamic State (IS) terrorists.

Nelson and Rubio were joined in introducing the measure by the two senators from Arizona: Republicans Jeff Flake and John McCain; the two senators from Indiana, Republican Dan Coats and Democrat Joe Donnelly; and the two senators from New Hampshire, Republican Kelly Ayotte and Democrat Jeanne Shaheen. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is also sponsoring the measure as the government looks for information on IS terrorists who killed James Foley, Steven Sotloff, Abdul-Rahman (Peter) Kassig and Kayla Mueller. The bill also includes other Americans killed by IS terrorists and would ensure members of IS or other terrorist groups cannot collect the money.

The fight against ISIL hit home for Floridians when Steven Sotloff, an American journalist from Florida, was brutally murdered at the hands of these radical Islamic extremists, said Rubio. We must ensure that the barbaric murders of Steven, James Foley, Abdul-Rahman Peter Kassig and Kayla Mueller do not go unanswered. This bill is a clear message to ISIL and terrorists everywhere that America will not rest until justice is served.

This is a truly barbaric group that must be stopped, said Nelson. And offering rewards for information leading to the capture of those responsible for these heinous crimes against Americans will ultimately help bring them to justice.

U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., is backing a similar bill in the House.