[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 106 (Friday, July 29, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1733-E1734]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LANDMARK EL MONTE GARMENT 
                              SLAVERY CASE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. HILDA L. SOLIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 29, 2005

  Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 10th 
Anniversary of the landmark El Monte garment worker slavery case.
  In 1995, I was shocked to learn one of the worst sweatshops in recent 
U.S. history was operating in the city of El Monte, California--in my 
congressional district. Seventy-two Thai workers lived and worked in 
substandard conditions. Sixty-seven of them were women. Most of these 
workers had been held in slavery for up to 17 years at an apartment 
complex and were made to sew clothes for some of the Nation's top 
manufacturers and retailers. The workers labored over 18 hours a day in 
a compound enclosed by barbed wire and armed guards. They had left 
their homes in Thailand in search of a better life and wound up 
enslaved just outside Los Angeles.
  While the El Monte sweatshop is a terrible example of substandard 
working conditions and human trafficking, it is not uncommon. 
Approximately 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across 
international borders each year for forced labor, domestic servitude, 
or sexual exploitation. When including the number of victims who are 
trafficked within borders, the total number rises to between 2 and 4 
million.
  Approximately 50,000 people are trafficked to the United States each 
year. Los Angeles is one of three major ports of entry for human 
trafficking. Most come from Southeast Asia and the former Soviet Union. 
About half of those are forced into sweatshop labor and domestic 
servitude similar to the El Monte sweatshop. The rest are forced into 
prostitution and the sex industry, or in the case of young children, 
kidnapped and sold for adoption. While many victims come willingly, 
they are not aware of the untenable terms and inhumane conditions they 
will face.
  I have worked very hard--in the California state legislature and now 
in Congress--to support efforts to eliminate this inhumane and criminal 
activity. Beginning with the Victims of Trafficking and Violence 
Protection Act passed in 2000, the United States began a concerted 
effort to combat human trafficking into the United States and around 
the world.
  Established under this law, the ``T'' visa has been critical to 
combating trafficking in the U.S. These visas allow victims of 
trafficking, who would face retribution if they were sent back to their 
home country, to remain in the U.S. for 3 years, and then apply for 
permanent residency. The ``T'' visa has allowed many victims of 
trafficking realize their dream of living in the U.S.
  In 2003, Congress renewed the Trafficking Victims Protection Act and 
increased funding for anti-trafficking programs by more than $100 
million for each fiscal year. The act also refined and expanded on the 
minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking that governments 
must meet. The legislation created a yearly ``special watch list'' of 
countries that the Secretary of State determined were not taking action 
to combat human trafficking.
  In 2005, Congress will again renew the Trafficking Victims Protection 
Act. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this important legislation, which 
will close loopholes and increase assistance to victims of trafficking. 
The bill also addresses the needs of child victims of trafficking and 
directs relevant government agencies to develop anti-trafficking 
strategies for post-conflict situations and humanitarian emergencies 
abroad.
  We have made progress since 1995 when the El Monte slavery case 
thrust the issue of human trafficking into the national spotlight. We 
must continue our work to eliminate trafficking within the United 
States. We must also work with foreign governments and non-governmental 
organizations abroad to end human trafficking and eliminate the 
conditions that foster trafficking, such as widespread poverty, crisis 
and warfare.
  I am proud to join the Thai Community Development Center to recognize 
the 10th Anniversary of the Landmark El Monte Garment Slavery Case. 
This organization has been an amazing force working to raise awareness 
and efforts in eliminating slavery and trafficking. It is my privilege 
to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the Thai community and to 
honor the Thai workers.

[[Page E1734]]



                          ____________________