On September 14, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing, “The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act: Renewing the Commitment to Victims of Human Trafficking.”
Chair Patrick Leahy (D-VT) noted the broad support for anti-trafficking efforts, saying, “The bipartisan support for this bill in the Senate reflects the widespread focus on combating human trafficking in diverse communities across the country. Organizations from across the political and social spectrum, including faith-based groups and groups dedicated to human rights and women’s rights, have taken up this cause. They have worked to raise awareness and to provide essential services to survivors of trafficking. State and local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors have stepped up human trafficking enforcement. They have initiated local investigations and have worked in collaboration with federal agencies in regional task forces to share information and resources and to conduct joint investigations of these complex, multi-faceted crimes. The National Association of Attorneys General has launched a major campaign to combat human trafficking in all 50 states. More than 40 state legislatures have followed the federal government’s lead and enacted anti-trafficking statutes.”
Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-IA) said, “I believe that federal resources should be provided to programs that combat trafficking. There is, however, an unfortunate reality that we must face. We live in dramatically different times today than we did in 2003, 2005, and 2008, when the Trafficking Victims Protection Act [P.L. 110-457] was previously reauthorized…During these difficult economic times, we simply can’t continue to allocate as many resources as we have in the past. And we certainly can’t continue to allocate resources without verifying that taxpayers’ dollars are being used as effectively and efficiently as possible. Now, that doesn’t mean we do away with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. Instead, it means that as we in this committee look to reauthorize this legislation, we need to take a hard look at every single taxpayer dollar expended, determine how those dollars are being used, and determine if the stated purpose of each program is being met…The American taxpayers expect us to scrutinize funding in every law we are reauthorizing and this hearing affords us that opportunity.”
In detailing federal efforts to provide trafficking victims with comprehensive support services, Mary Lou Leary, principal deputy assistant attorney general in the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) at the Department of Justice (DOJ), said, “OJP’s emphasis has always been comprehensive, or what we call ‘wrap-around’ services for trafficking victims. This means that the services meet victims where they are and support them in making informed decisions about the support they need to work through the impact of the crime. It means support and advocacy for victims, during their interaction with law enforcement and after the prosecution has been concluded. ‘Wrap-around’ also entails providing both short-term and long-term assistance (in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services [HHS]) and culturally competent services that treat victims with dignity and respect. Another key element in assisting trafficking victims is a multidisciplinary response to human trafficking that encourages close partnerships among state and local law enforcement, victim service providers, and federal law enforcement officials, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Department of Labor, and federal prosecutors. Due to the complex nature of these victims’ needs, most agencies cannot solely provide every service needed by minor and adult trafficking victims; so cross-agency collaboration is essential for a successful rescue. Victim service providers, law enforcement, and other key community partners must work closely with one another to ensure that all victim service needs – from emergency medical assessment and treatment and long-term mental health care to appropriate housing – are met.”
Luis CdeBaca, ambassador-at-large for the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (G/TIP) at the State Department, outlined the process by which G/TIP awards grants to anti-trafficking programs abroad: “Our foreign assistance and programming priorities are strategically linked to the country-specific tier rankings and diagnostic assessments included in the annual TIP Report. To maximize our limited funding, we identify priority countries for funding each year…In addition to targeting Tier 3, Tier 2 Watch List, and selected Tier 2 countries, we also consider a country’s financial resources and need for technical support, political will to address trafficking in persons, and other funding that may be already used to address trafficking in the country…Grant proposals that are submitted to G/TIP in response to solicitations for bilateral or regional projects are reviewed for technical requirements. Proposals that meet the minimum technical standards (English language, figures in U.S. dollars, and published page limits) are forwarded to U.S. embassies for review by the TIP country team, which may include the political officer, USAID [United States Agency for International Development], and other relevant offices. The country team reviews applications and provides feedback to the department on proposals for bilateral projects that are submitted to G/TIP. Proposals are then subjected to a competitive interagency regional review panel that provides an opportunity for input from representatives of G/TIP; the relevant regional bureau; other offices within the department that fund anti-trafficking programs; the USAID regional representative; and, as appropriate, other U.S. government agencies. G/TIP anti-trafficking projects are primarily funded as grants, cooperative agreements, or interagency agreements and managed by the G/TIP grants officer and international programs officers. However, some projects are awarded at State Department posts abroad if G/TIP and the post determine that this would facilitate more effective management of the project.”
Kelly Ryan, acting deputy assistant secretary in the Office of Immigration and Border Security at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), discussed the department’s Blue Campaign, which launched in July 2010. She said, “The Blue Campaign is comprised of the collaborative initiatives spanning the ‘Three Ps’ of the U.S. government’s anti-human trafficking efforts: Prevention, Protection, and Prosecution, as well as a ‘fourth P’: Partnership, which DHS recognizes is also critical to the success of our anti-trafficking efforts. DHS helps prevent human trafficking by conducting domestic and international public awareness campaigns and disseminating informational materials to vulnerable populations and to people likely to encounter potential victims…DHS provides rescue and emergency assistance; offers immigration benefits in the form of Continued Presence and T and U visas; employs victim assistance specialists, victim assistance coordinators, and a forensic interviewer who work together with law enforcement and non-governmental service providers throughout the country; and actively distributes a number of victim assistance materials informing potential victims of their rights and how to seek help…DHS is active in conducting human trafficking investigations and supporting prosecutions, both domestically and abroad. As part of our efforts, we conduct training and outreach to international, federal, state, and local law enforcement officers and prosecutors. USCIS also issues public guidance and memoranda outlining the provisions and rights of trafficking victims under the most recent reauthorization of the law, the TVPRA 2008. Recognizing that no single entity can effectively combat human trafficking, DHS collaborates with more than 90 federal, state, and local entities, including non-governmental, private sector, law enforcement, community, faith-based, and international organizations.”
