The Current

Every September, Congress returns to Washington after a month-long recess, spent with constituents at town halls and in-district meetings hearing about the issues important to the people in their states and districts. This August, Members of Congress heard a message loud and clear: Americans care about modern-day slavery.  IJM’s friends around the country held 100 meetings with Members, Senators or their staff in 24 states and let them know that ending slavery – and supporting foreign assistance programs that end slavery – is their top priority.

Let me tell you a little about one of those meetings.  Kate Snow, one of IJM’s Advocacy Leaders in Ohio, had a meeting with Representative Tiberi’s staff in Columbus.  Kate was joined by Mussa Farah, Founder and Director of the Horn of Africa Rescue Committee, which helps support the Dadaab Refugee Camp. Mussa was elected by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office to serve on the state Human Trafficking Commission.  They were joined by Sue Wismar, Education and Prevention Coordinator for the Sexual Assault Response Network of Central Ohio, and Wendy McCusker, who has been working to mobilize faith communities in Columbus around this issue.

Kate wrote to us, “Mussa's mother lived in Dadaab and passed away this morning, and he still showed up to the lobby meeting at 12:30.” Despite his personal grief, Mussa was convicted by the importance of his speaking up for victims of slavery. The Legislative Aide knew about the death and gave his and the Congressman's condolences right away.   We were deeply saddened here at IJM headquarters as well when we read that report—Mussa and his family are in our prayers.

Back in Washington, things are moving on the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act.  They’re moving slowly, but they’re moving.  On August 30^th the TVPRA was introduced in the House of Representatives by Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Howard Berman (D-CA). The TVPRA (HR 2830) extends the original 2000 Act that created the State Department Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons and adds some important policy improvements.  

So here’s where we stand right now. Both House and Senate are now poised to take up the two bills in their respective Committees.  The Senate bill will be considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee and then sent to the full Senate floor for a vote.  The House bill has a more complicated journey, having been referred to several Committees.  Both the House Judiciary Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee will consider the measure before it is sent to the House floor for a full vote.

All of these arcane and complicated legislative processes may not seem relevant to the savage reality of modern day slavery, but believe me, they are.  This legislation—the centerpiece of the United States’ anti-slavery policies—contains the tools and resources to provide rescue and restoration for victims of trafficking at home and around the world. 

The effort to gain support in Congress for the TVPRA got a welcome boost earlier on September 8, our National Call-in Day to Pass the TVPRA.  Over 1300 calls were made that day, and we received reports that 94 Senators were called in 47 states.  You can still make a call, too!

A closing thought - Kate finished her report about her in-district meeting with these words:  “I like lobbying with real live heroes like Wendy, Mussa, and Sue.”  Back at you, Kate.  All of our friends around the U.S. who have collected postcards, called your Congressional office, scheduled meetings with legislators, passed around IJM updates on your cell phones and posted them on Facebook – all of you are wind under our wings here at IJM. Thank you! 

Holly Burkhalter is the Vice President of Government Relations at International Justice Mission. IJM's Justice Campaigns mobilizes people around the country in support of U.S. policies that will lead to the abolition of human trafficking and modern-day slavery.