The Current

I am very glad to report that Congress has at last begun to move on the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA).  IJM staff and friends have been eagerly anticipating this bill for months, and were thrilled when the Senate’s version was introduced on June 29. 

The Senate bill, S.1301, includes most of IJM’s top legislative priorities, including key elements of the Child Protection Compact Act (CPCA).  The CPCA, which authorizes the State Department’s Trafficking in Persons Office (TIP) to enter into ‘Compacts’ with designated focus countries to actually eradicate trafficking in children, is loosely modeled on IJM’s work in Cebu, the Philippines.  IJM/Cebu mentored and trained a regional anti-trafficking unit of the Philippines police, which rescued over 300 minor girls from the sex industry and arrested over 100 suspected trafficking perpetrators.  Thanks to the increase in law enforcement, the availability of minor girls for sale plummeted 79%.

The Senate bill also includes a provision to give the TIP Office additional authority to address trafficking issues in cases of humanitarian emergency, where women and children are particularly at risk of exploitation.

Domestic anti-trafficking activists also gained some important policy gains in S.1301 but their top priority-- a provision to regulate foreign labor recruiters so as to prevent debt bondage and exploitation of foreign workers who are in this country legally-- was not included.  IJM and our friends in the anti-trafficking coalition ATEST (Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking) are hoping that this provision will be added by amendment when the bill is taken up for consideration in the Senate Judiciary Committee in September.

Things are moving more slowly in the House of Representatives.  The TVPRA’s principle sponsor, Rep. Chris Smith, a long-time leader in the anti-slavery movement, has circulated a draft bill but is not likely to introduce the measure until after the House comes back from recess in early September.  The draft legislation contains many of ATEST’s recommendations, but IJM was disappointed that the Child Protection Compact Act provision was not included in the early version.  We are hoping and expecting that it will be included when the final bill is introduced this fall.

I am happy to tell you that the TVPRA drafting process has been encouraging for those of us pounding the pavement on Capitol Hill.  Both Republicans and Democrats have met repeatedly with anti-slavery activists, including IJM’s Washington staff and our supporters.  They have taken our recommendations seriously, even if they haven’t included every one, and they are working hard to craft legislation that will be acceptable across the political spectrum.  That’s a tall order when the budget deficit has driven Congress into bunkers, trenches, and foxholes.  Thank goodness this issue has strong support among the most liberal and the most conservative Members and Senators in Congress.  I’m grateful to all of them, and especially grateful to all of you who have committed to meet with your Members during the August recess to secure their support on this critical legislation. We couldn’t do it without you!