[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 13 (Tuesday, January 27, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H607-H611]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HUMAN TRAFFICKING DETECTION ACT OF 2015

  Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 460) to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to train 
Department of Homeland Security personnel how to effectively deter, 
detect, disrupt, and prevent human trafficking during the course of 
their primary roles and responsibilities, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 460

       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 ``Human Trafficking Detection 
     Act of 2015''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the 
     Department of Homeland Security.
       (2) Human trafficking.--The term ``human trafficking'' 
     means an act or practice described in paragraph (9) or (10) 
     of section 103 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 
     2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102).
       (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Homeland Security.

     SEC. 3. TRAINING FOR DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL TO IDENTIFY HUMAN 
                   TRAFFICKING.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall implement a 
     program to--
       (1) train and periodically retrain relevant Transportation 
     Security Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 
     and other Department personnel that the Secretary considers 
     appropriate, how to effectively deter, detect, and disrupt 
     human trafficking, and, where appropriate, interdict a 
     suspected perpetrator of human trafficking, during the course 
     of their primary roles and responsibilities; and
       (2) ensure that the personnel referred to in paragraph (1) 
     regularly receive current information on matters related to 
     the detection of human trafficking, including information 
     that becomes available outside of the Department's initial or 
     periodic retraining schedule, to the extent relevant to their 
     official duties and consistent with applicable information 
     and privacy laws.
       (b) Training Described.--The training referred to in 
     subsection (a) may be conducted through in-class or virtual 
     learning capabilities, and shall include--
       (1) methods for identifying suspected victims of human 
     trafficking and, where appropriate, perpetrators of human 
     trafficking;
       (2) for appropriate personnel, methods to approach a 
     suspected victim of human trafficking, where appropriate, in 
     a manner that is sensitive to the suspected victim and is not 
     likely to alert a suspected perpetrator of human trafficking;
       (3) training that is most appropriate for a particular 
     location or environment in which the personnel receiving such 
     training perform their official duties;
       (4) other topics determined by the Secretary to be 
     appropriate; and
       (5) a post-training evaluation for personnel receiving the 
     training.
       (c) Training Curriculum Review.--The Secretary shall 
     annually reassess the training program established under 
     subsection (a) to ensure it is consistent with current 
     techniques, patterns, and trends associated with human 
     trafficking.

     SEC. 4. CERTIFICATION AND REPORT TO CONGRESS.

       (a) Certification.--Not later than one year after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall certify to 
     the appropriate congressional committees that all personnel 
     referred to in section 3(a) have successfully completed the 
     training required under that section.
       (b) Report to Congress.--Not later than one year after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, 
     the Secretary shall report to the appropriate congressional 
     committees the overall effectiveness of the program required 
     by this Act, the number of cases reported by Department 
     personnel in which human trafficking was suspected and, of 
     those cases, the number of cases that were confirmed cases of 
     such trafficking.

     SEC. 5. ASSISTANCE TO NON-FEDERAL ENTITIES.

       The Secretary may provide training curricula to any State, 
     local, or tribal government or private organization to assist 
     such entity in establishing its program of training to 
     identify human trafficking, upon request from such entity.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Walker) and the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson 
Lee) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Speaker recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina.


                             General Leave

  Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 
include extraneous material on H.R. 460, the bill now under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from North Carolina?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 460, the Human 
Trafficking Detection Act of 2015, the first bill I have introduced as 
a Member of Congress.
  A few weeks ago, we took an oath promising to protect the people of 
this great country. I am convinced that part of this high calling is 
protecting those who are victims of human trafficking.
  North Carolina is often ranked as a top State for labor and sex 
trafficking. This insidious industry is in our own backyard and, 
unfortunately, it is growing. Just last week, in my own district, local 
officials announced the formation of the Alamance County Anti-Human 
Trafficking Advocacy Council to respond to the growing human 
trafficking problem throughout Alamance County. However, they cannot do 
it alone, and we must come together to stop this unconscionable 
industry.
  As a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, I feel 
strongly that the men and the women of the Department of Homeland 
Security have a crucial role in preventing human trafficking. Up to an 
estimated 17,500 people are trafficked each year into the United 
States, and many of these victims will pass by either Border Patrol or 
TSA. We must make certain that these agents are properly trained in the 
current trends and practices to end human trafficking.
  This bipartisan legislation requires the Department of Homeland 
Security to train Transportation Security Administration, Customs and 
Border Protection, and other relevant DHS personnel to counter human 
trafficking in a manner specific to their professional roles and 
responsibilities.
  The bill also ensures that such training will be assessed by the 
Secretary of Homeland Security on an annual basis so that it is based 
on the most current human trafficking trends and intelligence and 
directs the Secretary to report to Congress on the number of suspected 
cases reported by the DHS officials.
  Lastly, this legislation recognizes the critical role that State and 
local authorities play in preventing human trafficking by authorizing 
the Department of Homeland Security to make training curricula 
available to State, local, tribal, and private sector partners.
  According to the Department of Homeland Security, human trafficking 
is one of the most profitable forms of transnational crime in the 
world, second only to drug trafficking. It is incumbent upon Congress 
to take action

[[Page H608]]

and ensure that DHS personnel are better equipped to prevent this 
serious threat and this modern-day form of slavery.
  The Human Trafficking Detection Act of 2015 builds on the good work 
already under way at DHS by mandating position-specific, relevant 
training to enable effective trafficking countermeasures at points of 
entry, transit hubs, and other high-risk locations across the country.
  I would like to thank Congressman Meadows for developing and 
championing this legislation in the 113th Congress and for working with 
me to reintroduce the measure in this Congress.
  Additionally, I would like to thank the chairman of the Committee on 
Homeland Security, Mr. McCaul, for his work on this important issue and 
for his support of this bill, as well as the chairman of the 
Subcommittee on Transportation Security, Mr. Katko, for cosponsoring 
this legislation.
  Finally, I would like to thank each of the bill's cosponsors, 
including North Carolina's own Alma Adams, Robert Pittenger, Richard 
Hudson, Patrick McHenry, and the aforementioned Mark Meadows for their 
great support of this important legislation.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance 
of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I indicated this afternoon was an important afternoon. I 
thank the gentleman for his legislation and his leadership, and I add 
my appreciation of the ranking member of the Homeland Security 
Committee, Mr. Thompson, and, as well, the ranking member of the 
Judiciary Committee, who previously did four bills, Mr. Conyers. It 
seems that we are having bipartisan support on a very important crisis 
in our Nation and around the world.
  In 2014, President Obama said:

       At home, we are leading by example. My administration is 
     cracking down on traffickers, charging a record number of 
     perpetrators. We are deploying new technology in the fight 
     against human trafficking, developing the Federal 
     Government's first-ever strategic action plan to strengthen 
     victim services and strengthening protections against human 
     trafficking in Federal contracts. During the past year, the 
     White House has hosted events on combating human trafficking, 
     bringing together leaders from every sector of society. 
     Together, we came up with new ideas to fight trafficking at 
     the national and grassroots levels.

  The present legislation before us, as I rise to strongly support it, 
H.R. 460, is the Human Trafficking Detection Act of 2015. This is a 
great partnership between Homeland Security, the committee which I am a 
senior member on, and Judiciary to fight against human trafficking. In 
particular, this bill has a very important purpose because our Homeland 
Security personnel are in our airports and ports, they are along our 
borders, they are the eyes and ears, they are the first responders. It 
is crucial that this bill is effectively working with personnel to 
train, to deter, detect, disrupt, and prevent human trafficking during 
the course of their primary roles and responsibilities and for other 
work.
  This is a very good idea. Human trafficking is not only a crime but 
also a horrible violation of human rights. Human trafficking is often a 
hidden crime. Victims of human trafficking may be afraid to come 
forward and get help because they may be forced or coerced. They may 
fear retribution or they might not have control over their documents.
  According to the most recent estimate from the Department of State, 
approximately 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across global 
borders each year.
  According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Houston, Texas, is one 
of the Nation's largest hubs in human trafficking. There are over 200 
active brothels in Houston and more strip clubs and illicit spas than 
Las Vegas. These businesses serve as fronts for sex trafficking.
  Let me be very clear. This is not a condemnation of my city. This is 
a recognition that every single elected person; local, county, and 
State government; and our law enforcement are working every day and we 
are being successful, in essence, in shutting down strip clubs, illicit 
spas, and others.
  The main factors that contribute to high levels of trafficking 
throughout the Nation and in Texas are proximity, demographics, and a 
large migrant labor population. Houston's proximity to the Mexican 
border, I-10, a highway running cross-country through Houston, and the 
port make it a popular point. But that is not solely the site of human 
trafficking. As my colleague has mentioned, it is everywhere. It is a 
national problem. Therefore, our Homeland Security personnel, thank 
goodness, will now have the opportunity to have special training so 
that in the capacity of their work, their eyes and ears will be extra 
trained to detect those trying to move past the law.
  Houston's huge geographic size and large ethnic and culturally 
diverse population is seen in and around the Nation, which creates 
optimal conditions. It is not the only city with that.
  To combat human trafficking, the Department of Homeland Security, 
recognizing there needs to be a national campaign, launched the Blue 
Campaign in 2010. Through the Blue Campaign, DHS works in collaboration 
with law enforcement, government, nongovernment, and private 
organizations to protect the basic right of freedom and to bring those 
who exploit human lives to justice.
  This legislation will begin to institutionalize the training. Last 
year, this training--the Blue training--was credited when two men were 
arrested at Miami International Airport. TSA personnel who had received 
training to detect trafficking observed the interaction between the 
young men and young woman and noticed the signs.
  What we want to do today, again, is to institutionalize and codify 
this effort so that no human trafficker, no child being held by an 
adult but being trafficked can escape the eye of our trained Homeland 
Security personnel, and they can break that hand away from that adult 
that is trying to do that child harm because they will know that is not 
the friendly parent or wonderful grandparent or best aunt or uncle. 
They will know it is a dastardly act.
  I support the underlying bill, ask my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. Speaker, Human trafficking is not only a crime, but also a 
horrible violation of human rights.
  Human trafficking is often a hidden crime.
  Victims of human trafficking may be afraid to come forward and get 
help because they may be forced or coerced, they may fear retribution, 
or they might not have control over their documents.
  According to the most recent estimate from the Department of State, 
approximately 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across global 
borders each year.
  According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Houston, Texas is one of 
the nation's largest hubs for human trafficking.
  There are over 200 active brothels in Houston and more strip clubs 
and illicit spas than Las Vegas; these businesses serve as fronts for 
sex trafficking.
  The main factors that contribute to high levels of trafficking 
through Houston and the rest of Texas are proximity, demographics, and 
a large migrant labor force.
  Houston's proximity to the Mexican border, I-10, a highway running 
across country through Houston, and the port of Houston make it a 
popular point of entry for international trafficking.
  Additionally, the presence of two large airports provides ways in and 
out of the city.
  Houston's huge geographic size and large ethnic and culturally 
diverse population create optimal conditions for trafficking because of 
the ability to blend in with the community.
  To combat human trafficking, the Department of Homeland Security 
launched the ``Blue Campaign'' in 2010.
  Through the ``Blue Campaign,'' DHS works in collaboration with law 
enforcement, government, non-government and private organizations to 
protect the basic right of freedom and to bring those who exploit human 
lives to justice.
  In part, DHS does so by increasing awareness and training for its 
front line employees such as Transportation Security Officers, Customs 
and Border Protection Officers, and others.
  Last year, this training was credited when two men were arrested at 
Miami International Airport.
  TSA personnel, who received training to detect trafficking, observed 
the interaction between the men and a young woman and noticed the 
signs.
  The bill before us today seeks to codify in law the training of DHS 
personnel on how to

[[Page H609]]

deter, detect, and disrupt human trafficking and, where appropriate, 
interdict a suspected trafficker during the course of their primary 
roles and responsibilities.
  For CBP, this means Officers at our ports of entry will be trained on 
how to identify potential victims of trafficking.
  For TSA, it means that screening personnel, who screen approximately 
1.8 million passengers a day, will be knowledgeable about signs of 
trafficking.
  Importantly, the bill requires that the training received be 
appropriate for a particular location or environment in which the 
personnel receiving the training perform their official duties.
  This will help tailor the training received so that it is relevant to 
the specific personnel receiving the training.
  Mr. Speaker, with this bill, we have the opportunity to call 
attention to the human rights crisis that is human trafficking.
  January is ``National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention 
Month.''
  To ensure that continued attention be paid to this often hidden 
crime, I urge passage of H.R. 460.
  Though the bill before us today will not eliminate human trafficking, 
it may help prevent it by ensuring that DHS' frontline workforce is 
properly trained to fight it.

                   President's Interagency Task Force


   Progress in Combating Trafficking in Persons: The U.S. Government 
                       Response to Modern Slavery

       Trafficking in persons, or human trafficking, is the act of 
     recruiting, enticing, harboring, transporting, providing, 
     obtaining, or maintaining a person for compelled labor or 
     commercial sex acts through the use of force, fraud, or 
     coercion. Sex trafficking of a minor under the age of 18 does 
     not require the use of force, threats of force, fraud, or 
     coercion. The Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 
     2000 (Pub. L. 106-386), as amended, describes this compelled 
     service using a number of different terms, including 
     involuntary servitude, slavery, debt bondage, and forced 
     labor.
       Human trafficking can include, but does not require, 
     movement. Under the TVPA, people may be considered 
     trafficking victims regardless of whether they were 
     transported to the exploitative situation, previously 
     consented to work for a trafficker, or participated in a 
     crime as a direct result of being trafficked. At the heart of 
     this phenomenon are the traffickers' aim to exploit and 
     enslave their victims and the myriad of coercive and 
     deceptive practices they use.
       Human trafficking is an opportunistic crime. Traffickers 
     target all types of people: adults and children, women, men, 
     and transgender individuals, citizens and noncitizens alike. 
     No socioeconomic group is immune; new immigrants, Native 
     Americans, runaways, the homeless, and lesbian, gay, 
     bisexual, and transgender youth are particularly vulnerable. 
     One of the most common assumptions about ``average'' 
     trafficking victims is that they are vulnerable simply 
     because they come from the poorest, most isolated 
     communities, whether overseas or in the United States. 
     Indeed, many do. Yet some victims, from a variety of 
     backgrounds, have reported that their suffering began with 
     their aspirations for a better life and a lack of options to 
     fulfill them.
       That's where the traffickers come in. Exploiting these 
     realities, traffickers appear to offer a solution--a good 
     job, a brighter future, a safe home, or a sense of belonging, 
     even love. They prey on their victims' hope and exploit their 
     trust and confidence, coercing them into using themselves as 
     collateral for that chance.
       In the United States, the President's Interagency Task 
     Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (PITF) and 
     its operational arm, the Senior Policy Operating Group 
     (SPOG), bring together federal departments and agencies to 
     ensure a whole-of-government approach that addresses all 
     aspects of human trafficking--enforcement of criminal and 
     labor law, development of victim identification and 
     protection measures, support for innovations in data 
     gathering and research, education and public awareness, 
     enhanced partnerships and research opportunities, and 
     strategically linked foreign assistance and diplomatic 
     engagement. The agencies of the PITF are the Departments of 
     State (DOS), Defense (DOD), Justice (DOJ), the Interior 
     (DOI), Agriculture (USDA), Labor (DOL), Health and Human 
     Services (HHS), Transportation (DOT), Education (ED), and 
     Homeland Security (DHS), as well as the Domestic Policy 
     Council (DPC), the National Security Council (NSC), the 
     Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the Office of the 
     Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the Federal Bureau 
     of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Agency for International 
     Development (USAID), and the U.S. Equal Employment 
     Opportunity Commission (EEOC). As part of the PITF, these 
     agencies convene routinely to coordinate both federal 
     policies to combat trafficking in persons and implementation 
     of the TVPA.
       Agencies of the PITF have brought together leaders from 
     government, the private sector, advocates and survivors, 
     faith leaders, law enforcement and academia, and have made 
     significant progress following President Obama's March 2012 
     call to strengthen federal efforts to combat human 
     trafficking, his September 2012 speech announcing a number of 
     new and strengthened initiatives, and the first-ever White 
     House Forum to Combat Human Trafficking in April 2013, where 
     the first recipients of the Presidential Award for 
     Extraordinary Efforts to Combat Trafficking in Persons--
     survivor advocate Florrie Burke and hospitality and travel 
     company Carlson--were honored.
       The pages that follow reflect the work these agencies have 
     accomplished over the past year, as well as their commitment 
     to continue their efforts in the year to come. From 
     strengthening the SPOG and its four Committees to 
     implementing the nation's first-ever Services for Trafficking 
     Victims in the United States, to implementing an Executive 
     Order that strengthens protections against human trafficking 
     in government contracting, PITF agencies are enabling law 
     enforcement and service providers to deploy resources more 
     effectively and raising public awareness both at home and 
     abroad.
       Federal agencies also worked to expand partnerships with 
     civil society and the private sector in order to bring more 
     resources to bear in fighting this horrific injustice. 
     Although the primary responsibility, for fighting this crime 
     and protecting its survivors lies with governments, 
     governments alone cannot solve this problem. Everyone has a 
     role--from local law enforcement and first responders to the 
     heads of major corporations and everyday citizens. Effective 
     anti-trafficking strategies require partnerships that 
     integrate the experiences and guidance of survivors and reach 
     industries, local communities, schools, religious 
     congregations, and multilateral partners. The U.S. 
     government, for example, funds the National Human Trafficking 
     Resource Center (NHTRC), a national hotline (1-888-373-7888) 
     operated by a nongovernmental organization that provides 
     emergency assistance every day of the year, as well as anti-
     trafficking task forces in which law enforcement and victim 
     service providers combine efforts to respond to this crime in 
     their communities. Significant partnerships and support for 
     non-governmental efforts have also taken root, including the 
     Partnership for Freedom, where Humanity United and DOJ, HHS, 
     and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) 
     launched the first of three challenge award contests, 
     Reimagine: Opportunity, to develop innovative solutions to 
     address human trafficking; twelve finalists will compete to 
     expand access to housing, social services, and economic 
     empowerment for trafficking victims. In addition, DOS has 
     teamed up with Veritee, an NGO leader in supply chain 
     management, to implement a project in consultation with 
     federal agencies and other stakeholders to help gather data 
     on the risks of trafficking in the production of goods and 
     provision of services. Working with partners the Aspen 
     Institute and Made in a Free World, Veritee will also convene 
     stakeholders and develop a tool for federal contractors and 
     businesses to analyze supply chain risks and adopt ethical 
     sourcing guidelines and compliance plans that align with 
     Executive Order 13627. Finally, partnering with survivors of 
     human trafficking, federal anti-trafficking experts from DOJ, 
     with partners from DHS, DOS, HHS, and the White House, hosted 
     a day-long Survivor Forum and Listening Session to gain 
     insight from a diverse group of survivors in developing more 
     effective programs and strategies.
       The Task Force has drawn strength and direction from these 
     partnerships, which have brought procurement officers and 
     CEOs, professors and human resources professional together 
     with law enforcement and victim advocates in the service of 
     freedom. Such effective collaboration has led to concrete 
     results in the United States' efforts to advance government 
     priorities and combat modern slavery both domestically and 
     globally. This compilation of the Obama Administration's 
     accomplishments represents merely a snapshot, as of February 
     2014, of the work made possible by the multifaceted approach 
     the United States has adopted to combat trafficking in 
     persons. Each day, the Obama Administration strives to 
     improve its strategy and to enhance its partnerships in order 
     to fulfill not only the mandates of the TVPA, but also the 
     promise of the Emancipation Proclamation and the Thirteenth 
     Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Indiana (Mrs. Brooks).
  Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support 
of the Human Trafficking Detection Act of 2015, and I commend my 
colleague from North Carolina and the gentlewoman from Texas for their 
advocacy on this really important issue.
  Many of my colleagues that I have heard speak today said they learned 
about this when they came to Congress. I learned about this devastating 
modern-day slavery when I was a United States attorney in the Southern 
District of Indiana between 2001 and 2007. We started one of the first 
task forces in the country, and there are task forces across the 
country that have been focused on human trafficking now for quite some 
time, but we must do more because even now an estimated 17,500 people 
are trafficked throughout the U.S. each year. Sadly, this problem 
disproportionately affects

[[Page H610]]

young girls between the ages of 12 and 14 who are lured by these crime 
networks.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today because I learned during that time with 
that task force and with my time in the U.S. Attorney's Office these 
are very difficult crimes to prosecute. The reason they are so 
difficult to prosecute is because they are difficult to detect, it is 
difficult to lure victims out of these crime networks, and so we have 
to do more. We have to educate our law enforcement, we have to educate 
those who are standing at our ports of entry, those who are standing at 
our airports and our mass transit areas, and teach them about the 
warning signs, what they need to be looking for, so we can stop 
trafficking at the source, prosecute those who are responsible, and 
save the victims.
  That is why I support this bill, which requires the Department of 
Homeland Security to implement comprehensive training programs on 
deterring, detecting, and disrupting this human trafficking. Our law 
enforcement personnel are standing on the front lines. They have to be 
equipped with the best-practice methods for identifying the victims and 
the perpetrators so they can bring these perpetrators to justice.
  Criminals change their methods all the time, and I am pleased that 
this bill also requires an annual reassessment of training programs. 
They have to continue to train. It is time for Congress to act 
decisively to eradicate human trafficking. We need to do more.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  In closing, let me emphasize what I just said earlier. Two people 
were caught at Miami International Airport. They were caught by 
officers of TSA who had received training to detect trafficking and 
observed the interaction between the two men and a young woman. It was 
the exact description that I gave--holding a little girl's hand, 
holding a teenager's hand, looking innocent--but our DHS personnel 
could be the savers of the day.

                              {time}  1445

  Just a few years ago, in our own airport, a number of Chinese 
nationals--young women--were brought in, ultimately, to be held against 
their will. It was astute personnel who knew that even though girls 
traveled together that something was wrong.
  That is why this legislation is so important. The bill before us 
today seeks to codify in law the training of DHS personnel on how to 
deter, detect, and disrupt human trafficking and, where appropriate, to 
interdict a suspected trafficker during the course of their primary 
roles and responsibilities. Our front liners from the Department of 
Homeland Security are everywhere. There is not a place you can travel 
when entering this country--through our airports or through our ports--
that our agents in some capacity, in some roles, are not there.
  For the CBP, this means officers at our ports of entry will be 
trained on how to identify potential victims of trafficking--smuggling, 
human slavery. For the TSA, it means that screening personnel, who 
screen approximately 1.8 million passengers a day, will be 
knowledgeable about signs of trafficking. Importantly, the bill 
requires that the training received be appropriate for a particular 
location or environment in which the personnel receiving the training 
perform their official duties, streamlining it to make it work. This 
will help tailor the training received so that it is relevant to the 
specific personnel receiving the training.
  Mr. Speaker, with this bill, we have the opportunity to call 
attention to the human rights crisis that is human trafficking. I am 
glad that this bill has been generated out of the Homeland Security 
Committee, which emphasizes the security of this Nation but, as well, 
the important act of making sure America stands against human 
trafficking. January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking 
Prevention Month. To ensure that continued attention be paid to this 
often hidden crime, I urge the passage of H.R. 460. The bill before us 
today will not eliminate human trafficking, but it may help prevent it 
by ensuring that DHS' frontline workforce is properly trained to fight 
it.
  In conclusion, let me say that we are all committed. Again, I refer 
to all of us. To report suspected human trafficking, dial 1-866-347-
2423. If you are a victim, to get help, call the National Human 
Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-373-7888.
  I thank the gentleman from North Carolina for his leadership, and I 
thank our committee chairman and ranking member for their leadership.
  I ask for support of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Thank you, Congresswoman Jackson Lee, for your eloquence on such an 
important issue.
  Mr. Speaker, there are millions of victims who are trapped in the 
United States and around the world who are suffering in silence. In 
many cases, the men and women of the Department of Homeland Security, 
who are on the front lines of the fight, are trying to end this heinous 
crime and help these victims.
  This legislation codifies some of the good work already being done to 
train DHS personnel to detect and prevent human trafficking while also 
ensuring that such training is specific to the professional roles of 
the personnel who will utilize it. Moreover, this bill will enable the 
DHS to equip its non-Federal partners to better counter the devastating 
effects of human trafficking. In closing, I urge my colleagues to 
support this critically important, bipartisan bill.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support H.R. 460, The Human 
Trafficking Detection Act of 2015.
  I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this important, bipartisan 
legislation, which will ensure that DHS personnel continue to receive 
the training they need to detect and disrupt human trafficking.
  As Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, I convened a field 
hearing in Houston during the last Congress to examine the issue of 
human trafficking. At the hearing, the Committee heard compelling and 
disturbing testimony on how human trafficking is destroying the lives 
of vulnerable populations across the globe, including here in the 
United States.
  Simply put, human trafficking is a despicable crime, and it must be 
stopped. I believe this bill is an excellent step towards that goal.
  The Human Trafficking Detection Act of 2015 would ensure that U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection, Transportation Security Administration, 
and other Department of Homeland Security personnel are trained to 
effectively detect, and to the extent appropriate, intercept and 
disrupt trafficking in persons, during the course of their normal roles 
and responsibilities. Not only would this legislation require effective 
training, it would also ensure that these employees are regularly 
provided with the most current trends and information on human 
trafficking and are adequately equipped to counter this growing 
problem.
  While the men and women at DHS carry out their everyday work, many of 
them are well-positioned to spot traffickers who may try to exploit our 
nation's transportation systems to move their victims, both from 
overseas and within our borders.
  H.R. 460 also ensures that Congress has insight into the level of 
success of the training being provided, and that the Department's State 
and local partners have full access to training curricula to establish 
their own trafficking awareness programs.
  I applaud Mr. Walker for introducing this legislation, and I urge all 
of my colleagues to vote yes on this common-sense measure.
  Mr. MEADOWS. Mr. Speaker, just last summer, Delta launched The Blue 
Lightning Initiative with the help of the U.S. Department of Homeland 
Security.
  The Blue Lighting Initiative is a computer based training program 
that provides airlines with the added tools to help ID and report 
suspected instances of human trafficking.
  According to Delta, it is among some of the first airlines to adopt 
this expansive type of human trafficking detection training.
  Delta and others taking on similar initiatives should be applauded 
for taking the initiative to end Human Trafficking, one of the greatest 
challenges we face.
  As horrific as Human Trafficking is, it is even more troubling that 
the United States Government is not taking the steps necessary to 
properly train DHS employees, such as TSA officers, who have the 
potential to identify cases of trafficking and help save lives.
  This type of training is what Rep. Mark Walker's bill H.R. 460, the 
Human Trafficking Detection Act, aims to achieve. Awareness is

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key and it is essential to ending the human trafficking epidemic that 
is stealing the freedom of nearly 27 million people worldwide.
  Requires DHS to establish a human trafficking training program to be 
given in classroom or virtually, and to ensure DHS personnel receive 
this training within 180 days.
  This training must include:
  Methods to effectively deter, detect, and disrupt human trafficking, 
and be relevant for each federal employee's particular location or 
professional environment.
  This will help to ensure that DHS doesn't simply establish a generic, 
one-size-fits-all approach for all employees, and is able to provide 
thorough training specific to each employee's particular job setting.
  Other topics determined to be appropriate by the Secretary.
  A post-training evaluation for personnel receiving such training.
  H.R. 460 also allows DHS to provide the human trafficking training 
curricula to State, local or tribal government, or private organization 
at the entity's request. This will help these government and private 
entities establish their own training programs.
  CBO: Does not expect H.R. 460 to increase federal spending.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Walker) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 460.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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