What I Learned: A Leap Forward in the Fight to End Slavery

By Tim Gehring, IJM Legislative Director

This week, Congress authorized the End Modern Slavery Initiative, which was embedded in the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act—legislation that sets annual national security policy and funding levels for the Department of Defense. IJM was intimately involved in the idea of the End Modern Slavery Initiative and our advocates have been deeply invested in urging Congress to pass and fund this legislation over the past two years.

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Holly's News From Washington: Our Thankful List

by Holly Burkhalter / Topic: #EndSlaveryAct, #JusticeinKenya, End Modern Slavery Initiative Act of 2015 November 10, 2016
thankful

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It reminds me to be thankful for the avalanche of blessings I’ve received. This year was no exception. 

Though there was much that was wrong and cheap and ignorant in our national conversation this past year, there was so much more that wasn’t.

Here is a list of things I’m overwhelmingly thankful for today.I am thankful for our sturdy American democracy.

For the freedom to speak our minds, print our letters and editorials, disagree passionately and vote for whom we want as our president, senators, representatives, state legislators, governors, mayors and city councilmen and women. 

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This abolition advocate has something to ask *YOU.* Meet Rusty.

On May 5, 2016, Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana became the 39th cosponsor of the End Modern Slavery Initiative Act (EMSI; S.553). This bill will bring together private and public funding to replicate successful anti-slavery models. In other words, the EMSI is a real game-changer in the fight to end modern-day slavery around the world.

That’s why IJM and our friends have been working so hard to make sure this bill becomes a law. As you’ll know since the first time you watched Schoolhouse Rock: I’m Just a Bill, there’s a lot that can happen to a bill on its way from its sponsor’s desk to the president’s pen. It’s incredibly important that a bill have strong support behind it for it to stand a chance.

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Holly's News From Washington: May 2016

by Holly Burkhalter / Topic: End Modern Slavery Initiative Act of 2015, #EndSlaveryAct, Advocacy, Lobby Day May 25, 2016

Last month, over 80 anti-slavery activists visited 78 Senate and House offices to support the End Modern Slavery Initiative, EMSI. The group included pastors and advocacy leaders who were in Washington (with 1,600 others) for International Justice Mission’s annual Global Prayer Gathering. The advocates spent an extra day and night in DC to let their members of Congress and senators know that they supported the End Modern Slavery Initiative and urge their support.

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My day on the Hill with Tony Hale

Actor Tony Hale advocates with International Justice Mission for the End Modern Slavery Initiative.

Top photo: Tony Hale and some of the IJM crew at the beginning of our day.

True confession: I’ve never watched “Arrested Development.” (Huge pop culture FAIL, I know.) I'm not caught up on "Veep." So when I found out I was going to be accompanying Tony Hale around Capitol Hill for a day, I was worried the whole casual conversation thing was going to be a little awkward.

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'Til Death Do Us Part: How A Bill Becomes A Law

Wondering how a bill becomes a law? Our intern wrote this to help explain, with the use of a marriage analogy.

By Jessica Harkins

Can I be honest with you? I’ve learned pretty much everything I know about politics and Capitol Hill from watching The West Wing, VEEP, and House of Cards. Sorry, Dad. By now, most of us, at least my fellow interns at IJM, have binge-watched our way through season 4 of House of Cards. We’ve watched Frank Underwood whip the votes with fear and terror for four horrifying seasons, and we’ve thanked God we’re not under President Underwood’s jurisdiction.

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Holly's News From Washington: time to act!

Students support the #EndSlaveryAct

We at IJM have been working around the clock over the past week to help our anti-slavery champion, Senator Bob Corker, bring the End Modern Slavery Initiative (EMSI) to the Senate floor for a vote. It is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, March 8. EMSI, if enacted, would create a public-private foundation to fund slavery eradication in heavily-burdened countries. EMSI’s approach prioritizes actually freeing slaves and bringing perpetrators to justice. Senator Corker was inspired to develop this legislation by IJM’s anti-slavery casework around the world.

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What Nashville, an Ashton Kutcher movie, and YOU have to do with the end of slavery

"I believe in Nashville" sign.

THE CITY OF NASHVILLE runs along the winding Cumberland River. To the east lie mountain ranges with names that have stories in them, like Great Smoky and Unicoi. Go west on the road to Jackson and Memphis, and you’ll come to the Mississippi Delta and the Gulf Coastal Plain.

Nashville’s flag has a true blue background, said to represent the courage and conviction of the city’s leaders throughout history, and its gold stripe stands for the richness of the city’s land and resources. Named for a general in the American Revolutionary War, there’s no doubt about it: Nashville is indeed wealthy in history, land, and resources.

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Utah, we need your help: make a phone call for freedom today!

Make a call for freedom and ask your senator to let the EMSI come to a vote.

The fight to end slavery needs your help: will you make one phone call for freedom today?

Senator Mike Lee is preventing the End Modern Slavery Initiative (EMSI) from coming to a vote. The EMSI is a game-changer. This bill will bring freedom to millions of people living in slavery today—but ONLY if it passes.

THAT’S WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP:Please ask Senator Lee to allow the EMSI to come to a vote.DIAL:

1 (866) 720-FREE (3733).

Ask to be connected to Senator Mike Lee’s office.

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Oklahoma, we need your help: make a phone call for freedom today!

Make a call for freedom and ask your senator to let the EMSI come to a vote.

The fight to end slavery needs your help: will you make one phone call for freedom today?

Senator Lankford is preventing the End Modern Slavery Initiative (EMSI) from coming to a vote. The EMSI is a game-changer. This bill will bring freedom to millions of people living in slavery today—but ONLY if it passes.

THAT’S WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP:Please ask Senator Lankford to allow the EMSI to come to a vote.DIAL:

1 (866) 720-FREE (3733).

Ask to be connected to Senator Lankford’s office.

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