[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 106 (Thursday, August 3, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8806-S8808]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SANTORUM (for himself, Mr. Pryor and Mrs. Dole):
  S. 3787. A bill to establish a congressional Commission on the 
Abolition of Modern-Day Slavery; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
  Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I am joined today by Senator Pryor and 
Senator Dole to address an important issue that is all too often hidden 
from public view--the practice of modern day slavery.
  One of my political heroes is the 18th century British statesman, 
William Wilberforce. Wilberforce was one of the leaders of the moral 
crusade to rid the British empire of slavery. He devoted 20 years to 
abolishing the British slave trade and another 26 years to abolishing 
slavery altogether. He and his fellow abolitionists had a profound 
affect on the American abolitionist movement, and their dedication 
fueled some of our greatest leaders, including John Quincy Adams, 
Benjamin Franklin, James Monroe, and John Jay. His influence reached 
William Wells Brown, Paul Cuffe, Benjamin Hughes, Frederick Douglass, 
and Abraham Lincoln, and he helped pave the way for abolitionists like 
Thaddeus Stevens and Richard Allen.
  These great men opened the eyes of the United Kingdom and the United 
States to see the injustice that marked our countries. Thankfully, 
their work helped end the U.S. and U.K. slave trade. Later, our country 
constitutionally abolished slavery and took a significant step to 
effectuate the vision of the Declaration of Independence, that all 
people are created equal.
  We, as a country, often rush to divorce ourselves from our historic 
malfeasance. We want to forget the stories of human beings--women and 
children--suffocating on slave ships, tied to whipping posts and bound 
with bruising fetters. We want to forget the blatant oppression, our 
country's inhumane drive for profit and obvious disregard for the 
value, worth and freedom inherent in every life. The slavery of our 
past offends every modern sensibility we have; yet, we cannot bury 
these stories as just part of the distant past.
  Slavery exists today. Despite the heroic work of liberators centuries 
before us, and despite the fact that almost every country in this world 
has constitutionally outlawed slavery, as many as 27 million people are 
in bondage according to the 2006 Trafficking in Persons Report. This 
slavery, although in many ways different from the slavery in centuries 
past, is equally horrifying and brutal. Among other practices, it 
includes sexual exploitation, bonded labor, forced labor, forced 
marriage, chattel slavery and child labor.
  An estimated 800,000 persons are trafficked across international 
borders each year, and an estimated 18,000 to 20,000 victims are 
trafficked into the United States each year. Approximately 80 percent 
of the victims are female and an estimated 40 to 50 percent are 
children. Unfortunately, unlike the slavery of our past, modern-day 
slavery takes on myriad, subtler forms, making it more difficult to 
identify and eradicate. Within countries where the trade originates, a 
seemingly endless supply of victims remains available for exploitation, 
and within the destination countries there seems to be an endless 
demand for the ``services'' of victims. Organized criminal networks--
some large and some small--have taken control of this economic supply 
and demand situation, establishing an appalling, but often invisible 
trade of humans in the 21 century.
  This modern-day slavery is notable for the variety and complexity of 
the trafficking networks that operate and sustain it. The forms of 
slavery, such as sex-trafficking, are incredibly adaptive: these 
networks extend to every region and virtually every country in the 
world--representing a truly global industry. Slavery of all forms is 
extremely profitable for the exploiters, and they capitalize on the 
weak and vulnerable, the desperate and unstable. They are most 
successful in areas of conflict and postconflict, transitioning states, 
sudden political change, economic collapse, widespread poverty, and 
natural disasters. Weak legal infrastructure, corrupt law enforcement 
officials, globalization and the lack of equal employment opportunity 
have fed this iniquitous multibillion-dollar criminal industry.

  Women are often lured by promises of employment as shopkeepers, 
maids, seamstresses, nannies, or waitresses but then find themselves 
forced into prostitution upon arrival to their destination. Their 
traffickers seize travel documents, create enormous and unsubstantiated 
debt demands, and subject the women to brutal beatings if their 
earnings are unsatisfactory.
  Girls, as young as five, are often kidnapped or even sold by trusted 
relatives into the transatlantic sex trade. They are often raped, 
beaten, and forced to sleep with 10 to 15 men per night. These young 
children are manipulated, coerced, and held in bondage. Victims are 
often isolated, unable to speak the language of the land they are 
transported to, and are often unfamiliar with the culture. Without the 
support network of their family and friends, they are incredibly 
vulnerable to their oppressors' demands.
  The victims of modern-day slavery often face torture, violence, poor 
nutrition, and drug and alcohol addiction. They contract HIV/AIDS, 
suffer from severe trauma and depression, and are stripped of dignity 
and hope for their future. As I have continued to work on legislation 
that reaches the populations most deeply affected by the HIV/AIDS 
epidemic, violence against women, and child exploitation, I am offended 
by the complete disrespect for life that binds these horrors together.
  We, as a nation, cannot stand idle. As William Wilberforce said, ``it 
is we who are now truly on trial before the moral sense of [this 
world], and if we shrink from it, deeply shall we hereafter repent our 
conduct.'' As a Congress, we have come together to call our country and 
others to action in the fight against human trafficking; I commend the 
work of this administration, the NGOs, and the freedom-fighters 
throughout the world who have been working to address this nefarious 
issue.
  Yet despite our hard work, we have an obligation to do more. Today I 
am submitting a resolution and introducing a bill that call for a 
deeper commitment to the cause of abolishing

[[Page S8807]]

modern-day slavery. The resolution calls us to make modern-day slavery 
a priority in our foreign and domestic policy. This resolution resolves 
that the abolition of modern-day slavery should be prioritized at the 
2007 G8 Summit and calls for the trade policy of the United States to 
reflect our commitment to freedom for all people.
  I am also introducing a bill for the formation of a bipartisan 
congressional commission that will conduct a thorough and thoughtful 
study of all matters relating to modern-day slavery, working alongside 
the programs we have implemented so far. This commission will make 
recommendations for our country and for abolitionists worldwide 
including identifying the countries which provide the greatest 
opportunity for abolition of modern-day slavery specific to U.S. 
involvement. Currently, many of the very qualified groups that work to 
free slaves are scattered. Some of these groups are better at 
extraction, while others are better at rehabilitation; the commission 
will make recommendations that seek to bring these incredible groups 
together to provide the most sustainable options for rescued victims.
  The commission will examine the economic impact on communities and 
countries that have demonstrated measured success in fighting modern-
day slavery. I recently learned of a small village in South Asia where 
over 70 emancipated slaves have now been elected to positions of 
leadership in their community. They have built their first well to 
serve the community and are representing others who are vulnerable to 
oppression.
  Additionally, this commission will make recommendations which work to 
increase education and awareness about modern-day slavery throughout 
the United States with the purpose of fighting modern-day slavery.
  The potential exists for real and systemic change. Together, this 
commission and this resolution will work to support a full and rich 
circle demonstrating the power of emancipation. We have a tremendous 
opportunity to reaffirm our commitment as a nation to spreading freedom 
for all people by eradicating the horrendous scourge of modern-day 
slavery. I look forward to following the example of the abolitionists 
before us to end this worldwide evil.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a copy of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 3787

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Congressional Commission on 
     the Abolition of Modern-Day Slavery Act''.

     SEC. 2. MODERN-DAY SLAVERY.

       In this Act, the term ``modern-day slavery'' means the 
     recruitment, harboring, transportation, receipt, procurement, 
     or control of persons through the use of force, fraud, 
     coercion, abduction, deception, abuse of power, or of a 
     position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of 
     payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person 
     having control over another person, for the purpose of 
     subjection to debt bondage, serfdom, involuntary servitude, 
     forced labor, chattel, forced marriage, peonage, sexual 
     exploitation, or trafficking.

     SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The Declaration of Independence recognizes the inherent 
     dignity and worth of all people and states that all people 
     are created equal and are endowed by their Creator with 
     certain unalienable rights, and the right to be free from 
     slavery and involuntary servitude is among those unalienable 
     rights.
       (2) Despite international laws outlawing modern-day 
     slavery, modern-day slavery affects virtually every country 
     in the world, and as many as 27,000,000 people are victims. 
     Modern-day slavery is one of the fastest growing areas of 
     international criminal activity and is an increasing concern 
     to the United States Administration, Congress, and the 
     international community; the Federal Bureau of Investigation 
     estimated that modern-day slavery generates over 
     $9,000,000,000 every year.
       (3) Traffickers use threats, intimidation manipulation, 
     coercion, fraud, shame, and violence to force victims into 
     modern-day slavery. Traffickers capitalize on areas of 
     conflict and post-conflict, transitioning states, sudden 
     political change, economic collapse, civil unrest, internal 
     armed conflict, chronic unemployment, widespread poverty, 
     personal disaster, lack of economic opportunity, and natural 
     disasters.
       (4) Modern-day slavery: contributes to the breakdown of 
     societies due to the loss of family support networks; has a 
     negative impact on the labor market in countries; brutalizes 
     men, women, and children and exposes them to rape, torture, 
     HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, violence, 
     dangerous working conditions, poor nutrition, drug and 
     alcohol addiction, severe psychological trauma from 
     separation, coercion, sexual abuse, and depression; and 
     strips human beings of dignity, respect, and hope for their 
     future.
       (5) The United States has given priority to combating human 
     trafficking through the Victims of Trafficking and Violence 
     Protection Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-386) and the 
     Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 
     (Public Law 109-164).
       (6) The State Department issued its sixth congressionally 
     mandated Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP) in June, 2006, 
     which categorizes countries into tiered groups according to 
     the efforts they are making to combat trafficking. The 
     countries that do not cooperate in the fight against 
     trafficking (Tier 3 Countries) have been made subject to 
     United States sanctions since 2003, under the President's 
     direction.

     SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established a congressional 
     Commission on the Abolition of Modern-Day Slavery (referred 
     to in this Act as the ``Commission'').
       (b) Membership.--
       (1) Composition.--The Commission shall be composed of 12 
     members, of whom--
       (A) 3 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives;
       (B) 3 shall be appointed by the majority leader of the 
     Senate;
       (C) 3 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the 
     House of Representatives; and
       (D) 3 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the 
     Senate.
       (2) Qualifications.--Members of the Commission shall be 
     appointed from among individuals with demonstrated expertise 
     and experience in combating modern-day slavery and 
     trafficking of persons.
       (3) Date.--The appointments of the members of the 
     Commission shall be made not later than 30 days after the 
     date of enactment of this Act.
       (c) Period of Appointment; Vacancies.--Members shall be 
     appointed for the life of the Commission. Any vacancy in the 
     Commission shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled 
     in the same manner as the original appointment.
       (d) Cochairpersons.--The Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives shall designate 1 of the members appointed 
     under subsection (b)(1)(A) as a cochairperson of the 
     Commission. The majority leader of the Senate shall designate 
     1 of the members appointed under subsection (b)(1)(B) as a 
     cochairperson of the Commission.
       (e) Initial Meeting.--Not later than 60 days after the date 
     of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall hold its first 
     meeting.
       (f) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of 
     either cochairperson.
       (g) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission 
     shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may 
     hold hearings.

     SEC. 5. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.

       (a) Study.--
       (1) In general.--The Commission shall--
       (A) conduct a thorough and thoughtful study of all matters 
     relating to modern-day slavery, including vulnerabilities of 
     commonly affected populations, such as populations in areas 
     of conflict and post conflict, transitioning states, states 
     undergoing sudden political change, economic collapse, civil 
     unrest, internal armed conflict, chronic unemployment, 
     widespread poverty, lack of opportunity, and national 
     disasters;
       (B) study the roles of the rule of law, lack of 
     enforcement, and corruption within international law 
     enforcement institutions that allow the proliferation of 
     modern-day slavery;
       (C) review all relevant Governmental programs in existence 
     on the date of the beginning of the study, including the 
     United States Agency for International Development, the 
     Department of State, the Department of Defense, the 
     Department of Labor, the Department of Health and Human 
     Services, the Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat 
     Trafficking, and the Human Smuggling and Trafficking Center; 
     and
       (D) convene additional experts from relevant 
     nongovernmental organizations as part of the Commission's 
     thorough review.
       (2) Goals.--In making determinations under paragraph (1), 
     the Commission shall seek to promote goals of--
       (A) providing a comprehensive and fully integrated 
     evaluation of best practices, to prevent modern-day slavery;
       (B) providing a comprehensive and fully integrated 
     evaluation of the best practices to rescue and rehabilitate 
     victims of modern-day slavery;
       (C) providing a comprehensive and fully integrated 
     evaluation of the best practices for prosecution of 
     traffickers and increasing accountability within countries;
       (D) providing a comprehensive and fully integrated 
     evaluation of exportable models to prevent modern-day 
     slavery, rescue and rehabilitate victims of modern-day 
     slavery, prosecute offenders, and increase education and 
     accountability about modern-day slavery, which could 
     contribute governments, nongovernmental organizations, and 
     institutions;

[[Page S8808]]

       (E) identifying countries which provide the greatest 
     opportunity for abolition of modern-day slavery specific to 
     United States involvement;
       (F) connecting various organizations to facilitate 
     integration of information regarding identifying, extracting, 
     and rehabilitating victims;
       (G) examining the economic impact on communities and 
     countries that demonstrate measured success in fighting 
     modern-day slavery;
       (H) increasing education and awareness about modern-day 
     slavery throughout the United States to decrease modern-day 
     slavery within the United States and abroad; and
       (I) providing a comprehensive evaluation of best practices 
     to educate high-risk populations.
       (b) Recommendations.--The Commission shall develop 
     recommendations on how to best combat modern-day slavery, 
     including an economic, social, and judicial evaluation.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 11 months after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit a report 
     to the Speaker and minority leader of the House of 
     Representatives and the majority leader and minority leader 
     of the Senate, which shall contain a detailed statement of 
     the legislation and administrative actions as it considers 
     appropriate.

     SEC. 6. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.

       (a) Hearings.--The Commission may hold such hearings, sit 
     and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and 
     receive such evidence as the Commission considers necessary 
     to carry out this Act.
       (b) Information From Governmental Agencies.--The Commission 
     may secure directly from any department or agency such 
     information as the Commission considers necessary to carry 
     out this Act. Upon request of either cochairperson of the 
     Commission, the head of such department or agency shall 
     furnish such information to the Commission.

     SEC. 7. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.

       (a) Compensation of Members.--Each member of the Commission 
     who is not an officer or employee of the Federal Government 
     shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent 
     of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of 
     the Executive Schedule under section 5313 of title 5, United 
     States Code, for each day (including travel time) during 
     which such member is engaged in the performance of the duties 
     of the Commission. All members of the Commission who are 
     officers or employees of the United States shall serve 
     without compensation in addition to that received for their 
     services as officers or employees of the United States.
       (b) Travel Expenses.--The members of the Commission shall 
     be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
     subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies 
     under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States 
     Code, while away from their homes or regular places of 
     business in the performance of services for the Commission.
       (c) Staff.--
       (1) In general.--The cochairpersons of the Commission, 
     acting jointly, may, without regard to the civil service laws 
     and regulations, appoint and terminate an executive director 
     and such other additional personnel as may be necessary to 
     enable the Commission to perform its duties. The employment 
     of an executive director shall be subject to confirmation by 
     the Commission.
       (2) Compensation.--The cochairpersons of the Commission, 
     acting jointly, may fix the compensation of the executive 
     director and other personnel without regard to chapter 51 and 
     subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United Sates Code, 
     relating to classification of positions and General Schedule 
     pay rates, except that the rate of pay for the executive 
     director and other personnel may not exceed the rate payable 
     for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of 
     such title.
       (d) Detail of Government Employees.--Federal Government 
     employees may be detailed to the Commission without 
     reimbursement, and such detail shall be without interruption 
     or loss of civil service status or privilege.
       (e) Procurement of Temporary and Intermittent Services.--
     The cochairpersons of the Commission, acting jointly, may 
     procure temporary and intermittent services under section 
     3109 (b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates for 
     individuals which do not exceed the daily equivalent of the 
     annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level V of the 
     Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title.

     SEC. 8. TERMINATION OF THE COMMISSION.

       The Commission shall terminate 90 days after the date on 
     which the Commission submits its report under section 5.

     SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
     the Commission for fiscal year 2007 such sums as may be 
     necessary to carry out this Act.
       (b) Availability.--Any sums appropriated under the 
     authorization contained in this section shall remain 
     available, without fiscal year limitation, until expensed.
                                 ______