[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 90 (Wednesday, June 11, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E960]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCTION OF THE ``BUSINESS SUPPLY CHAIN TRANSPARENCY ON TRAFFICKING 
                       AND SLAVERY ACT OF 2014''

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                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 11, 2014

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to 
introduce bipartisan legislation along with my colleagues on the Human 
Trafficking Caucus, Rep. Chris Smith.
  Very few Americans are aware that many of the goods they use everyday 
are tainted by human trafficking or the worst forms of child labor. 
According to the U.S. Department of Labor's 2012 List of Goods Produced 
by Child Labor or Forced Labor, 134 goods from 74 countries were made 
by forced and child labor. This bill will increase transparency in 
supply chains in order to remove slavery from business operations and 
products.
  The Business Supply Chain Transparency on Trafficking and Slavery Act 
doesn't tell businesses what to do, but rather to tell consumers what 
they are doing to end human slavery.
  This bill will give consumers the tools they need to know where and 
how their goods are being made. While there are good actors, there are 
businesses operating in parts of the world that rely on enslaved humans 
to produce their products. We believe American consumers have a right 
to know who these companies are.
  This legislation creates a market-based solution rather than relying 
on prescriptive action by the federal government. Large global 
companies already reporting to the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(SEC) simply need to include what they are doing to rid their supply 
chains of human slavery. This information will then be posted on the 
company, SEC, and Department of Labor (DOL) websites for easy public 
access. Consumers will be able to research a company and determine 
their purchasing decisions based on the information provided. Very 
simply, this bill creates competition to improve practices to end 
slavery by providing the public with information about what companies 
are doing to address slavery.
  Human trafficking is the 21st century slavery. It is estimated that 
over 20 million people are working in some form of forced labor 
worldwide. We must use every tool available to help men, women, and 
children around the world who fall victim to the scourge of human 
trafficking, forced labor, and the worst forms of child labor.

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