Global Anti-Human Trafficking Enhancement Act

Floor Speech

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Mrs. RADEWAGEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7089) to authorize the Diplomatic Security Services of the Department of State to investigate allegations of violations of conduct constituting offenses under chapter 77 of title 18, United States Code, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 7089

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 ``Global Anti-Human Trafficking Enhancement Act''. SEC. 2. EXPANDING PROTECTION AND PROSECUTION EFFORTS AT THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

(a) Investigation Authority.--The Secretary of State is authorized to investigate transnational violations of chapter 77 of title 18, United States Code, in which part of the offense conduct occurred outside the United States or involved 1 or more foreign nationals.

(b) Authorities.--Section 37(a)(1) of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2709(a)(1)) is amended--

(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``; or'' and inserting a semicolon;

(2) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D); and

(3) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following new subparagraph:

``(C) transnational violations of chapter 77 of title 18, United States Code, in which any part of the offense conduct occurred outside the United States or involved one or more foreign nationals; or''. SEC. 3. REPORT.

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for six years, the Secretary of State shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report that includes each of the following:

(1) The number of relevant cases opened and investigated by the Diplomatic Security Service as a result of the additional authorities granted by the amendments made by this Act.

(2) The percentage of the cases opened and investigated by the Diplomatic Security Service as a result of the additional authorities granted by the amendments made by this Act that were referred for further action, including prosecution.

(3) An assessment of the efficacy of the authorities granted by the amendments made by this Act and whether such authorities are sufficient to meaningfully contribute to Department of State and broader United States Government efforts to prosecute and prevent, where applicable, human trafficking and transnational violations of chapter 77 of title 18, United States Code.

(4) An assessment of whether the resources of the Diplomatic Security Service are sufficient to effectively carry out the objectives of this Act. SEC. 4. SUNSET.

This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall terminate on the date that is 7 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, and the provisions of law amended by such amendments shall be restored as if such amendments had not been enacted.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support for H.R. 7089, the Global Anti- Human Trafficking Enhancement Act, introduced by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. James).

We all believe that people have inherent dignity and possess equal human rights. Unfortunately, not everyone in the world respects that dignity and those rights.

Each year, millions of individuals are exploited through human trafficking. They are forced to work in dangerous, brutal jobs for little or no pay. They are forced to engage in commercial sex. They are forced to marry people they don't know or to join the Armed Forces before the age of consent.

All of us here believe that human traffickers must be caught, prosecuted, and punished to the full extent of the law. That is why the Global Anti-Human Trafficking Enhancement Act is so necessary.

This bill authorizes the State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security to investigate criminal violations of U.S. Federal antitrafficking statutes that occur overseas or involve foreign persons.

Most people are not aware that Diplomatic Security is the most widely represented U.S. law enforcement agency overseas, with agents operating in over 270 foreign posts.

This new authority will serve as a force multiplier for the FBI and foreign country law enforcement, who are on the front lines of pursuing traffickers and protecting victims.

With this authority, Diplomatic Security agents would be able to investigate the dozens of Federal antitrafficking cases every year that currently are not pursued because of time and resource constraints at FBI and other Federal law enforcement agencies that do not have people in the far corners of the world.

This proposal has been lauded by the Department of Justice, advocacy groups, and others. It responds to the National Action Plan's mandate to increase trafficking prosecutions and fight modern slavery.

It was adopted in the Foreign Affairs Committee by a unanimous bipartisan vote of 46-0.

Let's empower our diplomatic security agents to assist in the mission of investigating violations of U.S. anti-trafficking laws that have overseas elements by passing H.R. 7089, the Global Anti-Human Trafficking Enhancement Act.

We need to unlock the investigative potential at the U.S. State Department. We need to give our Diplomatic Security agents the authority to assist in the mission of catching criminals who violate our anti-trafficking statutes.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support H.R. 7089, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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