Dhs Blue Campaign Enhancement Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5804) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to enhance the Blue Campaign of the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 5804

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 ``DHS Blue Campaign Enhancement Act''. SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY BLUE CAMPAIGN ENHANCEMENT.

Section 434 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 242) is amended--

(1) in subsection (e)(6), by striking ``utilizing resources,'' and inserting ``developing and utilizing, in consultation with the Advisory Board established pursuant to subsection (g), resources''; and

(2) by adding at the end the following new subsections:

``(f) Web-Based Training Programs.--To enhance training opportunities, the Director of the Blue Campaign shall develop web-based interactive training videos that utilize a learning management system to provide online training opportunities that shall be made available to the following individuals:

``(1) Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement officers.

``(2) Non-Federal correction system personnel.

``(3) Such other individuals as the Director determines appropriate.

``(g) Blue Campaign Advisory Board.--

``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish within the Department a Blue Campaign Advisory Board and shall assign to such Board a representative from each of the following components:

``(A) The Transportation Security Administration.

``(B) U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

``(C) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

``(D) The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.

``(E) The United States Secret Service.

``(F) Any other components or offices the Secretary determines appropriate.

``(2) Consultation.--The Director shall consult the Board established pursuant to paragraph (1) regarding the following:

``(A) Recruitment tactics used by human traffickers to inform the development of training and materials by the Blue Campaign.

``(B) The development of effective awareness tools for distribution to Federal and non-Federal officials to identify and prevent instances of human trafficking.

``(C) Identification of additional persons or entities that may be uniquely positioned to recognize signs of human trafficking and the development of materials for such persons.

``(3) Applicability.--The Federal Advisor Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) does not apply to--

``(A) the Board; or

``(B) consultations under paragraph (2).

``(h) Consultation.--With regard to the development of programs under the Blue Campaign and the implementation of such programs, the Director is authorized to consult with State, local, Tribal, and territorial agencies, non- governmental organizations, private sector organizations, and experts. Such consultation shall be exempt from the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).''.

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Homeland Security's Blue Campaign is dedicated to raising awareness about how to identify and prevent human trafficking.

Last year, over 4,000 self-reported victims and survivors from all over the country contacted the U.S. national hotline for help with a human trafficking situation, an increase of almost 20 percent over the previous year.

Traffickers subject their victims to forced labor, debt bondage, or sexual exploitation using violence, manipulation, and false promises.

This DHS campaign works to combat trafficking by educating law enforcement and the public on how to recognize the signs of human trafficking. To effectively identify trafficking victims and keep their community safe, local and State law enforcement need to have timely information about the tactics and techniques these criminals use.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5804, the Blue Campaign Enhancement Act, seeks to do just that by, among other things, expanding human trafficking prevention training opportunities. Importantly, it would also create new, web-based training programs for State and local partners to ensure these education tools can reach the widest possible audience. H.R. 5804 has bipartisan support and was reported out of committee by unanimous consent.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary, Washington, DC, September 4, 2020. Hon. Bennie G. Thompson, Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Thompson: This is to advise you that the Committee on the Judiciary has now had an opportunity to review the provisions in H.R. 5804, the ``DHS Blue Campaign Enhancement Act,'' that fall within our Rule X jurisdiction. I appreciate your consulting with us on those provisions. 5804, with the understanding that we do not thereby waive any future jurisdictional claim over those provisions or their subject matters.

In the event a House-Senate conference on this or similar legislation is convened, the Judiciary Committee reserves the right to request an appropriate number of conferees to address any concerns with these or similar provisions that may arise in conference.

Please place this letter into the Congressional Record during consideration of the measure on the House floor. Thank you for the cooperative spirit in which you have worked regarding this matter and others between our committees. Sincerely, Jerrold Nadler, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Homeland Security, Washington, DC, September 16, 2020. Hon. Jerrold Nadler, Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Nadler: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 5804, the ``DHS Blue Campaign Act.'' The Committee on Homeland Security recognizes that the Committee on the Judiciary has a jurisdictional interest in H.R. 5804, and I appreciate your effort to allow this bill to be considered on the House floor.

I concur with you that forgoing action on the bill does not in any way prejudice the Committee on the Judiciary with respect to its jurisdictional prerogatives on this bill or similar legislation in the future, and I would support your effort to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees to any House--Senate conference involving this legislation.

I will include our letters on H.R. 5804 in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of this bill. I look forward to working with you on this legislation and other matters of great importance to this nation. Sincerely, Bennie G. Thompson, Chairman.

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Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5804, which seeks to build upon the success of the DHS Blue Campaign's human trafficking awareness campaign to make it more accessible and effective.

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