[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 47 (Thursday, April 13, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2767-S2768]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BROWNBACK:
  S. 2449. A bill to combat trafficking of persons, especially into the 
sex trade, slavery, and slavery-like conditions, in the United States 
and countries around the world through prevention, prosecution, and 
enforcement against traffickers, and through protection and assistance 
to victims of trafficking; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

[[Page S2768]]

             The International Anti-Trafficking Act of 2000

  Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, today, I am introducing legislation 
entitled the International Anti-Trafficking Act of 2000 which combats 
the insidious practice of trafficking of persons worldwide.
  As we begin the 21st Century, the degrading institution of slavery 
continues throughout the world. Sex trafficking is a modern day form of 
slavery, and it is the largest manifestation of slavery in the world 
today.
  Every year, approximately 1 million women and children are forced 
into the sex trade against their will, internationally. They are 
usually transported across international borders so as to ``shake'' 
local authorities, leaving the victims defenseless in a foreign 
country, virtually held hostage in a strange land. It is estimated that 
at least 50,000 women and children are brought into the United States 
annually, for this purpose. The numbers are staggering, and growing 
rapidly. Some report that over 30 million women and children have been 
enslaved in this manner since the 1970's. I believe this is one of the 
most shocking and rampant human rights abuses worldwide.
  One of two methods, fraud or force, is used to obtain victims. The 
most common method, ``fraud,'' is used with villagers in under-
developed areas. Typically the ``buyer'' promises the parents that he 
is taking their young daughter to the city to become a nanny or 
domestic servant, giving the parents a few hundred dollars as a ``down 
payment'' for the future money she will earn for the family. Then the 
girl is transported across international borders, deposited in a 
brothel and forced into the trade, until she is no longer useful 
(becoming sick with AIDS). She is held against her will under the 
rationale that she must ``work off'' her debt which was paid to the 
parents, which typically takes several years. The second method used 
for obtaining victims is ``force'' which is used in the cities, where a 
girl is physically abducted, beaten, and held against her will, 
sometimes in chains. The routes are specific and definable, and include 
Burma to Thailand, Eastern Europe to the Middle East, and Nepal to 
India, among numerous other routes, through which victims of this 
practice are channeled.
  Presently, no comprehensive legislation has been adopted, yet, which 
holistically challenges the practice of trafficking and assists the 
victims. I am introducing this legislation, the International Anti-
Trafficking Act of 2000, today as a companion to the legislation 
introduced by Congressman Chris Smith and Congressman Sam Gejdenson, 
known as the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (H.R. 3244). 
Senator Wellstone has also introduced legislation which closely mirrors 
the Smith-Gejdenson bill. Our primary difference is the methods for 
enforcement. Unless the President implements one of the broad waivers 
granted to him in this legislation, non-humanitarian, non-trade foreign 
assistance (listed under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961) to 
countries will be suspended if countries fail to meet the minimum 
standard to stop the flow of traffickers in their own countries. Please 
note that there is an extremely broad national interest waiver 
provision granted to the President which allows him to exempt any and 
all programs, as well as an additional waiver which allows the 
President to guard against any adverse effect on vulnerable victims of 
trafficking, including women and children.
  This bill presents a comprehensive scheme to ``penalize the full 
range of offenses'' involved in elaborate trafficking networks. It also 
provides a doorway of freedom for those who are presently enslaved 
throughout the world and promotes their recovery in civil society. Some 
of the provisions include: establishment of an Interagency Task Force 
to Monitor and Combat Trafficking, enhanced reporting by the State 
Department on this practice, protection and assistance for victims of 
trafficking, changes in immigration status allowing victims to stay to 
testify in prosecutions, strengthens prosecution and punishment of 
traffickers, among other provisions.
  In short, we believe it's time to challenge this evil slavery 
practice known as trafficking, and I believe this legislation is a 
first step to gaining freedom for those who are presently bound.
                                 ______