On May 9, the House passed, by voice vote, a bill (H.R. 3244) aimed at preventing international trafficking, specifically in women and children. Sponsored by Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Sam Gejdenson (D-CT), the measure was considered under suspension of the rules, an expedited procedure that prohibits amendments and requires a two-thirds majority to pass. The measure was most recently considered and amended by the House Judiciary Committee on April 4 (see The Source, 4/7/00, p. 2). It also was approved by the House International Relations Committee on November 9, 1999 (see The Source, 11/12/99, p. 3).
Calling the bill “pro-women, pro-child, pro-human rights, pro-family values and anti-crime,” Rep. Smith added: “Part of the problem is that current laws and enforcement strategies in the U.S. and other countries often punish the victims more severely than they punish the perpetrators….This legislation seeks the elimination of slavery, particularly sex slavery, by a comprehensive, balanced approach of prevention, prosecution and enforcement, and victim protection.”
Rep. Gejdenson agreed, saying, “These are clearly some of the most vulnerable people on the planet: people who are impoverished, often; people who have not had the opportunity to defend themselves. This legislation begins a process of giving them some protection.”
Overall, the bill would authorize $94.5 million over two years for efforts to combat international trafficking, including prevention activities, counseling and treatment services, food, shelter, translation and legal assistance for survivors, and monitoring efforts. Of this amount, $4.5 million would be authorized for the creation of an interagency task force within the State Department to address trafficking.
The bill would prohibit the “purchase, sale, recruitment, harboring, transportation, transfer or receipt of a person for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, or slavery-like practices which is effected by force, coercion, or deception.” H.R. 3244 would impose economic sanctions on countries failing to meet minimum standards with respect to trafficking. These minimum standards include the prohibition of trafficking, punishment for trafficking that is commensurate with other serious crimes, and a serious effort by a country to eliminate trafficking.
The Trafficking Victims’ Protection Act also would allow the Immigration and Naturalization Service to provide temporary U.S. citizenship to survivors of trafficking through the issuance of a newly created “T” visa category. Survivors of international trafficking who cooperate with U.S. law enforcement or who face extreme hardship if deported from the U.S. would qualify for the visa. Family members would be granted the visa if the Attorney General deemed “it necessary to avoid extreme hardship.” However, minor children would be exempt from the extreme hardship standard. The bill would place a cap on the number of individuals allowed to receive the “T” visa at 5,000 each year.
Noting that the development of the bill had been a “long and arduous process,” Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) expressed her support for H.R. 3244, saying, “It uses our nation’s considerable influence throughout the world to put pressure on other countries to adopt policies that will hopefully lead to an end to this abhorrent practice.”
