[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 76 (Monday, May 18, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H3266-H3284]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1700
JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING ACT OF 2015
Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (S. 178) to provide justice for the victims of trafficking.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 178
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Justice
for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act
is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I--JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING
Sec. 101. Domestic Trafficking Victims' Fund.
Sec. 102. Clarifying the benefits and protections offered to domestic
victims of human trafficking.
Sec. 103. Victim-centered child human trafficking deterrence block
grant program.
Sec. 104. Direct services for victims of child pornography.
Sec. 105. Increasing compensation and restitution for trafficking
victims.
Sec. 106. Streamlining human trafficking investigations.
Sec. 107. Enhancing human trafficking reporting.
Sec. 108. Reducing demand for sex trafficking.
Sec. 109. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 110. Using existing task forces and components to target offenders
who exploit children.
Sec. 111. Targeting child predators.
Sec. 112. Monitoring all human traffickers as violent criminals.
Sec. 113. Crime victims' rights.
Sec. 114. Combat Human Trafficking Act.
Sec. 115. Survivors of Human Trafficking Empowerment Act.
Sec. 116. Bringing Missing Children Home Act.
Sec. 117. Grant accountability.
Sec. 118. SAVE Act.
Sec. 119. Education and outreach to trafficking survivors.
Sec. 120. Expanded statute of limitations for civil actions by child
trafficking survivors.
Sec. 121. GAO study and report.
TITLE II--COMBATING HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Subtitle A--Enhancing Services for Runaway and Homeless Victims of
Youth Trafficking
Sec. 201. Amendments to the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act.
Subtitle B--Improving the Response to Victims of Child Sex Trafficking
Sec. 211. Response to victims of child sex trafficking.
Subtitle C--Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking
Sec. 221. Victim of trafficking defined.
Sec. 222. Interagency task force report on child trafficking primary
prevention.
Sec. 223. GAO Report on intervention.
Sec. 224. Provision of housing permitted to protect and assist in the
recovery of victims of trafficking.
Subtitle D--Expanded Training
Sec. 231. Expanded training relating to trafficking in persons.
TITLE III--HERO ACT
Sec. 301. Short title.
Sec. 302. HERO Act.
Sec. 303. Transportation for illegal sexual activity and related
crimes.
TITLE IV--RAPE SURVIVOR CHILD CUSTODY
Sec. 401. Short title.
Sec. 402. Definitions.
Sec. 403. Findings.
Sec. 404. Increased funding for formula grants authorized.
Sec. 405. Application.
Sec. 406. Grant increase.
Sec. 407. Period of increase.
Sec. 408. Allocation of increased formula grant funds.
Sec. 409. Authorization of appropriations.
TITLE V--MILITARY SEX OFFENDER REPORTING
Sec. 501. Short title.
Sec. 502. Registration of sex offenders released from military
corrections facilities or upon conviction.
TITLE VI--STOPPING EXPLOITATION THROUGH TRAFFICKING
Sec. 601. Safe Harbor Incentives.
Sec. 602. Report on restitution paid in connection with certain
trafficking offenses.
Sec. 603. National human trafficking hotline.
Sec. 604. Job corps eligibility.
Sec. 605. Clarification of authority of the United States Marshals
Service.
Sec. 606. Establishing a national strategy to combat human trafficking.
TITLE VII--TRAFFICKING AWARENESS TRAINING FOR HEALTH CARE
Sec. 701. Short title.
Sec. 702. Development of best practices.
Sec. 703. Definitions.
Sec. 704. No additional authorization of appropriations.
TITLE VIII--BETTER RESPONSE FOR VICTIMS OF CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING
Sec. 801. Short title.
Sec. 802. CAPTA amendments.
TITLE IX--ANTI-TRAFFICKING TRAINING FOR DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
PERSONNEL
Sec. 901. Definitions.
Sec. 902. Training for Department personnel to identify human
trafficking.
Sec. 903. Certification and report to Congress.
Sec. 904. Assistance to non-Federal entities.
Sec. 905. Expanded use of Domestic Trafficking Victims' Fund.
TITLE X--HUMAN TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS RELIEF AND EMPOWERMENT ACT
Sec. 1001. Short title.
Sec. 1002. Protections for human trafficking survivors.
TITLE I--JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING
SEC. 101. DOMESTIC TRAFFICKING VICTIMS' FUND.
(a) In General.--Chapter 201 of title 18, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 3014. Additional special assessment
``(a) In General.--Beginning on the date of enactment of
the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 and ending
on September 30, 2019, in addition to the assessment imposed
under section 3013, the court shall assess an amount of
$5,000 on any non-indigent person or entity convicted of an
offense under--
``(1) chapter 77 (relating to peonage, slavery, and
trafficking in persons);
``(2) chapter 109A (relating to sexual abuse);
``(3) chapter 110 (relating to sexual exploitation and
other abuse of children);
``(4) chapter 117 (relating to transportation for illegal
sexual activity and related crimes); or
``(5) section 274 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1324) (relating to human smuggling), unless the person
induced, assisted, abetted, or aided only an individual who
at the time of such action was the alien's spouse, parent,
son, or daughter (and no other individual) to enter the
United States in violation of law.
``(b) Satisfaction of Other Court-Ordered Obligations.--An
assessment under subsection (a) shall not be payable until
the person subject to the assessment has satisfied all
outstanding court-ordered fines, orders of restitution, and
any other obligation related to victim-compensation arising
from the criminal convictions on which the special assessment
is based.
``(c) Establishment of Domestic Trafficking Victims'
Fund.--There is established in the Treasury of the United
States a fund, to be known as the `Domestic Trafficking
Victims' Fund' (referred to in this section as the `Fund'),
to be administered by the Attorney General, in consultation
with the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of
Health and Human Services.
[[Page H3267]]
``(d) Transfers.--In a manner consistent with section
3302(b) of title 31, there shall be transferred to the Fund
from the General Fund of the Treasury an amount equal to the
amount of the assessments collected under this section, which
shall remain available until expended.
``(e) Use of Funds.--
``(1) In general.--From amounts in the Fund, in addition to
any other amounts available, and without further
appropriation, the Attorney General, in coordination with the
Secretary of Health and Human Services shall, for each of
fiscal years 2016 through 2019, use amounts available in the
Fund to award grants or enhance victims' programming under--
``(A) section 204 of the Trafficking Victims Protection
Reauthorization Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 14044c);
``(B) subsections (b)(2) and (f) of section 107 of the
Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7105);
and
``(C) section 214(b) of the Victims of Child Abuse Act of
1990 (42 U.S.C. 13002(b)).
``(2) Limitation.--Except as provided in subsection (h)(2),
none of the amounts in the Fund may be used to provide health
care or medical items or services.
``(f) Collection Method.--The amount assessed under
subsection (a) shall, subject to subsection (b), be collected
in the manner that fines are collected in criminal cases.
``(g) Duration of Obligation.--Subject to section 3613(b),
the obligation to pay an assessment imposed on or after the
date of enactment of the Justice for Victims of Trafficking
Act of 2015 shall not cease until the assessment is paid in
full.
``(h) Health or Medical Services.--
``(1) Transfer of funds.--From amounts appropriated under
section 10503(b)(1)(E) of the Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 254b-2(b)(1)(E)), as amended
by section 221 of the Medicare Access and CHIP
Reauthorization Act of 2015, there shall be transferred to
the Fund an amount equal to the amount transferred under
subsection (d) for each fiscal year, except that the amount
transferred under this paragraph shall not be less than
$5,000,000 or more than $30,000,000 in each such fiscal year,
and such amounts shall remain available until expended.
``(2) Use of funds.--The Attorney General, in coordination
with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall use
amounts transferred to the Fund under paragraph (1) to award
grants that may be used for the provision of health care or
medical items or services to victims of trafficking under--
``(A) sections 202, 203, and 204 of the Trafficking Victims
Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 14044a,
14044b, and 14044c);
``(B) subsections (b)(2) and (f) of section 107 of the
Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7105);
and
``(C) section 214(b) of the Victims of Child Abuse Act of
1990 (42 U.S.C. 13002(b)).
``(3) Grants.--Of the amounts in the Fund used under
paragraph (1), not less than $2,000,000, if such amounts are
available in the Fund during the relevant fiscal year, shall
be used for grants to provide services for child pornography
victims under section 214(b) of the Victims of Child Abuse
Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 13002(b)).
``(4) Application of provision.--The application of the
provisions of section 221(c) of the Medicare Access and CHIP
Reauthorization Act of 2015 shall continue to apply to the
amounts transferred pursuant to paragraph (1).''.
(b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of
sections for chapter 201 of title 18, United States Code, is
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 3013
the following:
``3014. Additional special assessment.''.
SEC. 102. CLARIFYING THE BENEFITS AND PROTECTIONS OFFERED TO
DOMESTIC VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
Section 107(b)(1) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act
of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7105(b)(1)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (F) and (G) as
subparagraphs (G) and (H), respectively;
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following:
``(F) No requirement of official certification for united
states citizens and lawful permanent residents.--Nothing in
this section may be construed to require United States
citizens or lawful permanent residents who are victims of
severe forms of trafficking to obtain an official
certification from the Secretary of Health and Human Services
in order to access any of the specialized services described
in this subsection or any other Federal benefits and
protections to which they are otherwise entitled.''; and
(3) in subparagraph (H), as redesignated, by striking
``subparagraph (F)'' and inserting ``subparagraph (G)''.
SEC. 103. VICTIM-CENTERED CHILD HUMAN TRAFFICKING DETERRENCE
BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Section 203 of the Trafficking Victims
Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 14044b) is
amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 203. VICTIM-CENTERED CHILD HUMAN TRAFFICKING
DETERRENCE BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM.
``(a) Grants Authorized.--The Attorney General may award
block grants to an eligible entity to develop, improve, or
expand domestic child human trafficking deterrence programs
that assist law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judicial
officials, and qualified victims' services organizations in
collaborating to rescue and restore the lives of victims,
while investigating and prosecuting offenses involving child
human trafficking.
``(b) Authorized Activities.--Grants awarded under
subsection (a) may be used for--
``(1) the establishment or enhancement of specialized
training programs for law enforcement officers, first
responders, health care officials, child welfare officials,
juvenile justice personnel, prosecutors, and judicial
personnel to--
``(A) identify victims and acts of child human trafficking;
``(B) address the unique needs of child victims of human
trafficking;
``(C) facilitate the rescue of child victims of human
trafficking;
``(D) investigate and prosecute acts of human trafficking,
including the soliciting, patronizing, or purchasing of
commercial sex acts from children, as well as training to
build cases against complex criminal networks involved in
child human trafficking; and
``(E) utilize, implement, and provide education on safe
harbor laws enacted by States, aimed at preventing the
criminalization and prosecution of child sex trafficking
victims for prostitution offenses, and other laws aimed at
the investigation and prosecution of child human trafficking;
``(2) the establishment or enhancement of dedicated anti-
trafficking law enforcement units and task forces to
investigate child human trafficking offenses and to rescue
victims, including--
``(A) funding salaries, in whole or in part, for law
enforcement officers, including patrol officers, detectives,
and investigators, except that the percentage of the salary
of the law enforcement officer paid for by funds from a grant
awarded under this section shall not be more than the
percentage of the officer's time on duty that is dedicated to
working on cases involving child human trafficking;
``(B) investigation expenses for cases involving child
human trafficking, including--
``(i) wire taps;
``(ii) consultants with expertise specific to cases
involving child human trafficking;
``(iii) travel; and
``(iv) other technical assistance expenditures;
``(C) dedicated anti-trafficking prosecution units,
including the funding of salaries for State and local
prosecutors, including assisting in paying trial expenses for
prosecution of child human trafficking offenders, except that
the percentage of the total salary of a State or local
prosecutor that is paid using an award under this section
shall be not more than the percentage of the total number of
hours worked by the prosecutor that is spent working on cases
involving child human trafficking;
``(D) the establishment of child human trafficking victim
witness safety, assistance, and relocation programs that
encourage cooperation with law enforcement investigations of
crimes of child human trafficking by leveraging existing
resources and delivering child human trafficking victims'
services through coordination with--
``(i) child advocacy centers;
``(ii) social service agencies;
``(iii) State governmental health service agencies;
``(iv) housing agencies;
``(v) legal services agencies; and
``(vi) nongovernmental organizations and shelter service
providers with substantial experience in delivering wrap-
around services to victims of child human trafficking; and
``(E) the establishment or enhancement of other necessary
victim assistance programs or personnel, such as victim or
child advocates, child-protective services, child forensic
interviews, or other necessary service providers;
``(3) activities of law enforcement agencies to find
homeless and runaway youth, including salaries and associated
expenses for retired Federal law enforcement officers
assisting the law enforcement agencies in finding homeless
and runaway youth; and
``(4) the establishment or enhancement of problem solving
court programs for trafficking victims that include--
``(A) mandatory and regular training requirements for
judicial officials involved in the administration or
operation of the court program described under this
paragraph;
``(B) continuing judicial supervision of victims of child
human trafficking, including case worker or child welfare
supervision in collaboration with judicial officers, who have
been identified by a law enforcement or judicial officer as a
potential victim of child human trafficking, regardless of
whether the victim has been charged with a crime related to
human trafficking;
``(C) the development of a specialized and individualized,
court-ordered treatment program for identified victims of
child human trafficking, including--
``(i) State-administered outpatient treatment;
``(ii) life skills training;
``(iii) housing placement;
``(iv) vocational training;
``(v) education;
``(vi) family support services; and
``(vii) job placement;
``(D) centralized case management involving the
consolidation of all of each child
[[Page H3268]]
human trafficking victim's cases and offenses, and the
coordination of all trafficking victim treatment programs and
social services;
``(E) regular and mandatory court appearances by the victim
during the duration of the treatment program for purposes of
ensuring compliance and effectiveness;
``(F) the ultimate dismissal of relevant non-violent
criminal charges against the victim, where such victim
successfully complies with the terms of the court-ordered
treatment program; and
``(G) collaborative efforts with child advocacy centers,
child welfare agencies, shelters, and nongovernmental
organizations with substantial experience in delivering wrap-
around services to victims of child human trafficking to
provide services to victims and encourage cooperation with
law enforcement.
``(c) Application.--
``(1) In general.--An eligible entity shall submit an
application to the Attorney General for a grant under this
section in such form and manner as the Attorney General may
require.
``(2) Required information.--An application submitted under
this subsection shall--
``(A) describe the activities for which assistance under
this section is sought;
``(B) include a detailed plan for the use of funds awarded
under the grant;
``(C) provide such additional information and assurances as
the Attorney General determines to be necessary to ensure
compliance with the requirements of this section; and
``(D) disclose--
``(i) any other grant funding from the Department of
Justice or from any other Federal department or agency for
purposes similar to those described in subsection (b) for
which the eligible entity has applied, and which application
is pending on the date of the submission of an application
under this section; and
``(ii) any other such grant funding that the eligible
entity has received during the 5-year period ending on the
date of the submission of an application under this section.
``(3) Preference.--In reviewing applications submitted in
accordance with paragraphs (1) and (2), the Attorney General
shall give preference to grant applications if--
``(A) the application includes a plan to use awarded funds
to engage in all activities described under paragraphs (1)
through (3) of subsection (b); or
``(B) the application includes a plan by the State or unit
of local government to continue funding of all activities
funded by the award after the expiration of the award.
``(4) Eligible entities soliciting data on child human
trafficking.--No eligible entity shall be disadvantaged in
being awarded a grant under subsection (a) on the grounds
that the eligible entity has only recently begun soliciting
data on child human trafficking.
``(d) Duration and Renewal of Award.--
``(1) In general.--A grant under this section shall expire
3 years after the date of award of the grant.
``(2) Renewal.--A grant under this section shall be
renewable not more than 2 times and for a period of not
greater than 2 years.
``(e) Evaluation.--The Attorney General shall--
``(1) enter into a contract with a nongovernmental
organization, including an academic or nonprofit
organization, that has experience with issues related to
child human trafficking and evaluation of grant programs to
conduct periodic evaluations of grants made under this
section to determine the impact and effectiveness of programs
funded with grants awarded under this section;
``(2) instruct the Inspector General of the Department of
Justice to review evaluations issued under paragraph (1) to
determine the methodological and statistical validity of the
evaluations; and
``(3) submit the results of any evaluation conducted
pursuant to paragraph (1) to--
``(A) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate; and
``(B) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of
Representatives.
``(f) Mandatory Exclusion.--An eligible entity awarded
funds under this section that is found to have used grant
funds for any unauthorized expenditure or otherwise
unallowable cost shall not be eligible for any grant funds
awarded under the block grant for 2 fiscal years following
the year in which the unauthorized expenditure or unallowable
cost is reported.
``(g) Compliance Requirement.--An eligible entity shall not
be eligible to receive a grant under this section if within
the 5 fiscal years before submitting an application for a
grant under this section, the grantee has been found to have
violated the terms or conditions of a Government grant
program by utilizing grant funds for unauthorized
expenditures or otherwise unallowable costs.
``(h) Administrative Cap.--The cost of administering the
grants authorized by this section shall not exceed 5 percent
of the total amount expended to carry out this section.
``(i) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the cost of a
program funded by a grant awarded under this section shall
be--
``(1) 70 percent in the first year;
``(2) 60 percent in the second year; and
``(3) 50 percent in the third year, and in all subsequent
years.
``(j) Authorization of Funding; Fully Offset.--For purposes
of carrying out this section, the Attorney General, in
consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services,
is authorized to award not more than $7,000,000 of the funds
available in the Domestic Trafficking Victims' Fund,
established under section 3014 of title 18, United States
Code, for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2020.
``(k) Definitions.--In this section--
``(1) the term `child' means a person under the age of 18;
``(2) the term `child advocacy center' means a center
created under subtitle A of the Victims of Child Abuse Act of
1990 (42 U.S.C. 13001 et seq.);
``(3) the term `child human trafficking' means 1 or more
severe forms of trafficking in persons (as defined in section
103 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22
U.S.C. 7102)) involving a victim who is a child; and
``(4) the term `eligible entity' means a State or unit of
local government that--
``(A) has significant criminal activity involving child
human trafficking;
``(B) has demonstrated cooperation between Federal, State,
local, and, where applicable, tribal law enforcement
agencies, prosecutors, and social service providers in
addressing child human trafficking;
``(C) has developed a workable, multi-disciplinary plan to
combat child human trafficking, including--
``(i) the establishment of a shelter for victims of child
human trafficking, through existing or new facilities;
``(ii) the provision of trauma-informed, gender-responsive
rehabilitative care to victims of child human trafficking;
``(iii) the provision of specialized training for law
enforcement officers and social service providers for all
forms of human trafficking, with a focus on domestic child
human trafficking;
``(iv) prevention, deterrence, and prosecution of offenses
involving child human trafficking, including soliciting,
patronizing, or purchasing human acts with children;
``(v) cooperation or referral agreements with organizations
providing outreach or other related services to runaway and
homeless youth;
``(vi) law enforcement protocols or procedures to screen
all individuals arrested for prostitution, whether adult or
child, for victimization by sex trafficking and by other
crimes, such as sexual assault and domestic violence; and
``(vii) cooperation or referral agreements with State child
welfare agencies and child advocacy centers; and
``(D) provides an assurance that, under the plan under
subparagraph (C), a victim of child human trafficking shall
not be required to collaborate with law enforcement officers
to have access to any shelter or services provided with a
grant under this section.
``(l) Grant Accountability; Specialized Victims' Service
Requirement.--No grant funds under this section may be
awarded or transferred to any entity unless such entity has
demonstrated substantial experience providing services to
victims of human trafficking or related populations (such as
runaway and homeless youth), or employs staff specialized in
the treatment of human trafficking victims.''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents in section
1(b) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization
Act of 2005 (22 U.S.C. 7101 note) is amended by striking the
item relating to section 203 and inserting the following:
``Sec. 203. Victim-centered child human trafficking deterrence block
grant program.''.
SEC. 104. DIRECT SERVICES FOR VICTIMS OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY.
The Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 13001 et
seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 212(5) (42 U.S.C. 13001a(5)), by inserting
``, including human trafficking and the production of child
pornography'' before the semicolon at the end; and
(2) in section 214 (42 U.S.C. 13002)--
(A) by redesignating subsections (b), (c), and (d) as
subsections (c), (d), and (e), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
``(b) Direct Services for Victims of Child Pornography.--
The Administrator, in coordination with the Director and with
the Director of the Office of Victims of Crime, may make
grants to develop and implement specialized programs to
identify and provide direct services to victims of child
pornography.''.
SEC. 105. INCREASING COMPENSATION AND RESTITUTION FOR
TRAFFICKING VICTIMS.
(a) Amendments to Title 18.--Section 1594 of title 18,
United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``that was used or'' and inserting ``that
was involved in, used, or''; and
(ii) by inserting ``, and any property traceable to such
property'' after ``such violation''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``, or any property
traceable to such property'' after ``such violation'';
(2) in subsection (e)(1)(A)--
(A) by striking ``used or'' and inserting ``involved in,
used, or''; and
(B) by inserting ``, and any property traceable to such
property'' after ``any violation of this chapter'';
(3) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g); and
[[Page H3269]]
(4) by inserting after subsection (e) the following:
``(f) Transfer of Forfeited Assets.--
``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, the Attorney General shall transfer assets forfeited
pursuant to this section, or the proceeds derived from the
sale thereof, to satisfy victim restitution orders arising
from violations of this chapter.
``(2) Priority.--Transfers pursuant to paragraph (1) shall
have priority over any other claims to the assets or their
proceeds.
``(3) Use of nonforfeited assets.--Transfers pursuant to
paragraph (1) shall not reduce or otherwise mitigate the
obligation of a person convicted of a violation of this
chapter to satisfy the full amount of a restitution order
through the use of non-forfeited assets or to reimburse the
Attorney General for the value of assets or proceeds
transferred under this subsection through the use of
nonforfeited assets.''.
(b) Amendment to Title 28.--Section 524(c)(1)(B) of title
28, United States Code, is amended by inserting ``chapter 77
of title 18,'' after ``criminal drug laws of the United
States or of''.
(c) Amendments to Title 31.--
(1) In general.--Chapter 97 of title 31, United States
Code, is amended--
(A) by redesignating section 9703 (as added by section
638(b)(1) of the Treasury, Postal Service, and General
Government Appropriations Act, 1993 (Public Law 102-393; 106
Stat. 1779)) as section 9705; and
(B) in section 9705(a), as redesignated--
(i) in paragraph (1)--
(I) in subparagraph (I)--
(aa) by striking ``payment'' and inserting ``Payment''; and
(bb) by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting a
period; and
(II) in subparagraph (J), by striking ``payment'' and
inserting ``Payment''; and
(ii) in paragraph (2)--
(I) in subparagraph (B)--
(aa) in clause (iii)--
(AA) in subclause (I), by striking ``or'' and inserting
``of''; and
(BB) in subclause (III), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(bb) in clause (iv), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(cc) by inserting after clause (iv) the following:
``(v) United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
with respect to a violation of chapter 77 of title 18
(relating to human trafficking);'';
(II) in subparagraph (G), by adding ``and'' at the end; and
(III) in subparagraph (H), by striking ``; and'' and
inserting a period.
(2) Technical and conforming amendments.--
(A) Cross references.--
(i) Title 28.--Section 524(c) of title 28, United States
Code, is amended--
(I) in paragraph (4)(C), by striking ``section
9703(g)(4)(A)(ii)'' and inserting ``section 9705(g)(4)(A)'';
(II) in paragraph (10), by striking ``section 9703(p)'' and
inserting ``section 9705(o)''; and
(III) in paragraph (11), by striking ``section 9703'' and
inserting ``section 9705''.
(ii) Title 31.--Title 31, United States Code, is amended--
(I) in section 312(d), by striking ``section 9703'' and
inserting ``section 9705''; and
(II) in section 5340(1), by striking ``section 9703(p)(1)''
and inserting ``section 9705(o)''.
(iii) Title 39.--Section 2003(e)(1) of title 39, United
States Code, is amended by striking ``section 9703(p)'' and
inserting ``section 9705(o)''.
(B) Table of sections.--The table of sections for chapter
97 of title 31, United States Code, is amended to read as
follows:
``9701. Fees and charges for Government services and things of value.
``9702. Investment of trust funds.
``9703. Managerial accountability and flexibility.
``9704. Pilot projects for managerial accountability and flexibility.
``9705. Department of the Treasury Forfeiture Fund.''.
SEC. 106. STREAMLINING HUMAN TRAFFICKING INVESTIGATIONS.
Section 2516 of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) in subparagraph (a), by inserting a comma after
``weapons)'';
(B) in subparagraph (c)--
(i) by inserting ``section 1581 (peonage), section 1584
(involuntary servitude), section 1589 (forced labor), section
1590 (trafficking with respect to peonage, slavery,
involuntary servitude, or forced labor),'' before ``section
1591'';
(ii) by inserting ``section 1592 (unlawful conduct with
respect to documents in furtherance of trafficking, peonage,
slavery, involuntary servitude, or forced labor),'' before
``section 1751'';
(iii) by inserting a comma after ``virus)'';
(iv) by striking ``,, section'' and inserting a comma;
(v) by striking ``or'' after ``misuse of passports),''; and
(vi) by inserting ``or'' before ``section 555'';
(C) in subparagraph (j), by striking ``pipeline,)'' and
inserting ``pipeline),''; and
(D) in subparagraph (p), by striking ``documents, section
1028A (relating to aggravated identity theft))'' and
inserting ``documents), section 1028A (relating to aggravated
identity theft)''; and
(2) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``human trafficking,
child sexual exploitation, child pornography production,''
after ``kidnapping''.
SEC. 107. ENHANCING HUMAN TRAFFICKING REPORTING.
Section 505 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and
Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3755) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``(i) Part 1 Violent Crimes To Include Human Trafficking.--
For purposes of this section, the term `part 1 violent
crimes' shall include severe forms of trafficking in persons
(as defined in section 103 of the Trafficking Victims
Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102)).''.
SEC. 108. REDUCING DEMAND FOR SEX TRAFFICKING.
(a) In General.--Section 1591 of title 18, United States
Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``or maintains'' and
inserting ``maintains, patronizes, or solicits'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``or obtained'' and
inserting ``obtained, patronized, or solicited''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``or obtained'' and
inserting ``obtained, patronized, or solicited''; and
(3) in subsection (c)--
(A) by striking ``or maintained'' and inserting ``,
maintained, patronized, or solicited''; and
(B) by striking ``knew that the person'' and inserting
``knew, or recklessly disregarded the fact, that the
person''.
(b) Definition Amended.--Section 103(10) of the Trafficking
Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102(10)) is
amended by striking ``or obtaining'' and inserting
``obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting''.
(c) Purpose.--The purpose of the amendments made by this
section is to clarify the range of conduct punished as sex
trafficking.
SEC. 109. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) section 1591 of title 18, United States Code, defines a
sex trafficker as a person who ``knowingly. . .recruits,
entices, harbors, transports, provides, obtains, or maintains
by any means a person. . .knowing, or in reckless disregard
of the fact, that means of force, threats of force, fraud,
coercion. . .or any combination of such means will be used to
cause the person to engage in a commercial sex act, or that
the person has not attained the age of 18 years and will be
caused to engage in a commercial sex act'';
(2) while use of the word ``obtains'' in section 1591,
United States Code, has been interpreted, prior to the date
of enactment of this Act, to encompass those who purchase
illicit sexual acts from trafficking victims, some confusion
persists;
(3) in United States vs. Jungers, 702 F.3d 1066 (8th Cir.
2013), the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth
Circuit ruled that section 1591 of title 18, United States
Code, applied to persons who purchase illicit sexual acts
with trafficking victims after the United States District
Court for the District of South Dakota erroneously granted
motions to acquit these buyers in two separate cases; and
(4) section 108 of this title amends section 1591 of title
18, United States Code, to add the words ``solicits or
patronizes'' to the sex trafficking statute making absolutely
clear for judges, juries, prosecutors, and law enforcement
officials that criminals who purchase sexual acts from human
trafficking victims may be arrested, prosecuted, and
convicted as sex trafficking offenders when this is merited
by the facts of a particular case.
SEC. 110. USING EXISTING TASK FORCES AND COMPONENTS TO TARGET
OFFENDERS WHO EXPLOIT CHILDREN.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this
Act, the Attorney General shall ensure that--
(1) all task forces and working groups within the Innocence
Lost National Initiative engage in activities, programs, or
operations to increase the investigative capabilities of
State and local law enforcement officers in the detection,
investigation, and prosecution of persons who patronize, or
solicit children for sex; and
(2) all components and task forces with jurisdiction to
detect, investigate, and prosecute cases of child labor
trafficking engage in activities, programs, or operations to
increase the capacity of such components to deter and punish
child labor trafficking.
SEC. 111. TARGETING CHILD PREDATORS.
(a) Clarifying That Child Pornography Producers Are Human
Traffickers.--Section 2423(f) of title 18, United States
Code, is amended--
(1) by striking ``means (1) a'' and inserting the
following: ``means--
``(1) a'';
(2) by striking ``United States; or (2) any'' and inserting
the following: ``United States;
``(2) any''; and
(3) by striking the period at the end and inserting the
following: ``; or
``(3) production of child pornography (as defined in
section 2256(8)).''.
(b) Holding Sex Traffickers Accountable.--Section 2423(g)
of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking ``a
preponderance of the evidence'' and inserting ``clear and
convincing evidence''.
SEC. 112. MONITORING ALL HUMAN TRAFFICKERS AS VIOLENT
CRIMINALS.
Section 3156(a)(4)(C) of title 18, United States Code, is
amended by inserting ``77,'' after ``chapter''.
[[Page H3270]]
SEC. 113. CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS.
(a) In General.--Section 3771 of title 18, United States
Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following:
``(9) The right to be informed in a timely manner of any
plea bargain or deferred prosecution agreement.
``(10) The right to be informed of the rights under this
section and the services described in section 503(c) of the
Victims' Rights and Restitution Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C.
10607(c)) and provided contact information for the Office of
the Victims' Rights Ombudsman of the Department of
Justice.'';
(2) in subsection (d)(3), in the fifth sentence, by
inserting ``, unless the litigants, with the approval of the
court, have stipulated to a different time period for
consideration'' before the period; and
(3) in subsection (e)--
(A) by striking ``this chapter, the term'' and inserting
the following: ``this chapter:
``(1) Court of appeals.--The term `court of appeals'
means--
``(A) the United States court of appeals for the judicial
district in which a defendant is being prosecuted; or
``(B) for a prosecution in the Superior Court of the
District of Columbia, the District of Columbia Court of
Appeals.
``(2) Crime victim.--
``(A) In general.--The term'';
(B) by striking ``In the case'' and inserting the
following:
``(B) Minors and certain other victims.--In the case''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) District court; court.--The terms `district court'
and `court' include the Superior Court of the District of
Columbia.''.
(b) Crime Victims Fund.--Section 1402(d)(3)(A)(i) of the
Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10601(d)(3)(A)(i)) is
amended by inserting ``section'' before ``3771''.
(c) Appellate Review of Petitions Relating to Crime
Victims' Rights.--
(1) In general.--Section 3771(d)(3) of title 18, United
States Code, as amended by subsection (a)(2) of this section,
is amended by inserting after the fifth sentence the
following: ``In deciding such application, the court of
appeals shall apply ordinary standards of appellate
review.''.
(2) Application.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall
apply with respect to any petition for a writ of mandamus
filed under section 3771(d)(3) of title 18, United States
Code, that is pending on the date of enactment of this Act.
SEC. 114. COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING ACT.
(a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Combat
Human Trafficking Act of 2015''.
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Commercial sex act; severe forms of trafficking in
persons; state; task force.--The terms ``commercial sex
act'', ``severe forms of trafficking in persons'', ``State'',
and ``Task Force'' have the meanings given those terms in
section 103 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000
(22 U.S.C. 7102).
(2) Covered offender.--The term ``covered offender'' means
an individual who obtains, patronizes, or solicits a
commercial sex act involving a person subject to severe forms
of trafficking in persons.
(3) Covered offense.--The term ``covered offense'' means
the provision, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting of a
commercial sex act involving a person subject to severe forms
of trafficking in persons.
(4) Federal law enforcement officer.--The term ``Federal
law enforcement officer'' has the meaning given the term in
section 115 of title 18, United States Code.
(5) Local law enforcement officer.--The term ``local law
enforcement officer'' means any officer, agent, or employee
of a unit of local government authorized by law or by a local
government agency to engage in or supervise the prevention,
detection, investigation, or prosecution of any violation of
criminal law.
(6) State law enforcement officer.--The term ``State law
enforcement officer'' means any officer, agent, or employee
of a State authorized by law or by a State government agency
to engage in or supervise the prevention, detection,
investigation, or prosecution of any violation of criminal
law.
(c) Department of Justice Training and Policy for Law
Enforcement Officers, Prosecutors, and Judges.--
(1) Training.--
(A) Law enforcement officers.--The Attorney General shall
ensure that each anti-human trafficking program operated by
the Department of Justice, including each anti-human
trafficking training program for Federal, State, or local law
enforcement officers, includes technical training on--
(i) effective methods for investigating and prosecuting
covered offenders; and
(ii) facilitating the provision of physical and mental
health services by health care providers to persons subject
to severe forms of trafficking in persons.
(B) Federal prosecutors.--The Attorney General shall ensure
that each anti-human trafficking program operated by the
Department of Justice for United States attorneys or other
Federal prosecutors includes training on seeking restitution
for offenses under chapter 77 of title 18, United States
Code, to ensure that each United States attorney or other
Federal prosecutor, upon obtaining a conviction for such an
offense, requests a specific amount of restitution for each
victim of the offense without regard to whether the victim
requests restitution.
(C) Judges.--The Federal Judicial Center shall provide
training to judges relating to the application of section
1593 of title 18, United States Code, with respect to
ordering restitution for victims of offenses under chapter 77
of such title.
(2) Policy for federal law enforcement officers.--The
Attorney General shall ensure that Federal law enforcement
officers are engaged in activities, programs, or operations
involving the detection, investigation, and prosecution of
covered offenders.
(d) Minimum Period of Supervised Release for Conspiracy To
Commit Commercial Child Sex Trafficking.--Section 3583(k) of
title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting
``1594(c),'' after ``1591,''.
(e) Bureau of Justice Statistics Report on State
Enforcement of Human Trafficking Prohibitions.--The Director
of the Bureau of Justice Statistics shall--
(1) prepare an annual report on--
(A) the rates of--
(i) arrest of individuals by State law enforcement officers
for a covered offense;
(ii) prosecution (including specific charges) of
individuals in State court systems for a covered offense; and
(iii) conviction of individuals in State court systems for
a covered offense; and
(B) sentences imposed on individuals convicted in State
court systems for a covered offense; and
(2) submit the annual report prepared under paragraph (1)
to--
(A) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of
Representatives;
(B) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate;
(C) the Task Force;
(D) the Senior Policy Operating Group established under
section 105(g) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of
2000 (22 U.S.C. 7103(g)); and
(E) the Attorney General.
SEC. 115. SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING EMPOWERMENT ACT.
(a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the
``Survivors of Human Trafficking Empowerment Act''.
(b) Establishment.--There is established the United States
Advisory Council on Human Trafficking (referred to in this
section as the ``Council''), which shall provide advice and
recommendations to the Senior Policy Operating Group
established under section 105(g) of the Trafficking Victims
Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7103(g)) (referred to in
this section as the ``Group'') and the President's
Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking
established under section 105(a) of such Act (referred to in
this section as the ``Task Force'').
(c) Membership.--
(1) Composition.--The Council shall be composed of not less
than 8 and not more than 14 individuals who are survivors of
human trafficking.
(2) Representation of survivors.--To the extent
practicable, members of the Council shall be survivors of
trafficking, who shall accurately reflect the diverse
backgrounds of survivors of trafficking, including--
(A) survivors of sex trafficking and survivors of labor
trafficking; and
(B) survivors who are United States citizens and survivors
who are aliens lawfully present in the United States.
(3) Appointment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the President shall appoint the
members of the Council.
(4) Term; reappointment.--Each member of the Council shall
serve for a term of 2 years and may be reappointed by the
President to serve 1 additional 2-year term.
(d) Functions.--The Council shall--
(1) be a nongovernmental advisory body to the Group;
(2) meet, at its own discretion or at the request of the
Group, not less frequently than annually to review Federal
Government policy and programs intended to combat human
trafficking, including programs relating to the provision of
services for victims and serve as a point of contact for
Federal agencies reaching out to human trafficking survivors
for input on programming and policies relating to human
trafficking in the United States;
(3) formulate assessments and recommendations to ensure
that policy and programming efforts of the Federal Government
conform, to the extent practicable, to the best practices in
the field of human trafficking prevention; and
(4) meet with the Group not less frequently than annually,
and not later than 45 days before a meeting with the Task
Force, to formally present the findings and recommendations
of the Council.
(e) Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act and each year thereafter until the date
described in subsection (h), the Council shall submit a
report that contains the findings derived from the reviews
conducted pursuant to subsection (d)(2) to--
(1) the chair of the Task Force;
(2) the members of the Group;
(3) the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security,
Appropriations, and the Judiciary of the House of
Representatives; and
(4) the Committees on Foreign Relations, Appropriations,
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and the Judiciary
of the Senate.
(f) Employee Status.--Members of the Council--
[[Page H3271]]
(1) shall not be considered employees of the Federal
Government for any purpose; and
(2) shall not receive compensation other than reimbursement
of travel expenses and per diem allowance in accordance with
section 5703 of title 5, United States Code.
(g) Nonapplicability of FACA.--The Council shall not be
subject to the requirements under the Federal Advisory
Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
(h) Sunset.--The Council shall terminate on September 30,
2020.
SEC. 116. BRINGING MISSING CHILDREN HOME ACT.
(a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the
``Bringing Missing Children Home Act''.
(b) Crime Control Act Amendments.--Section 3702 of the
Crime Control Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 5780) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (3)--
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as
subparagraphs (C) and (D), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:
``(B) a recent photograph of the child, if available;'';
and
(3) in paragraph (4)--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking
``paragraph (2)'' and inserting ``paragraph (3)'';
(B) in subparagraph (A)--
(i) by striking ``60 days'' and inserting ``30 days''; and
(ii) by inserting ``and a photograph taken during the
previous 180 days'' after ``dental records'';
(C) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(D) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D);
(E) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:
``(C) notify the National Center for Missing and Exploited
Children of each report received relating to a child reported
missing from a foster care family home or childcare
institution;'';
(F) in subparagraph (D), as redesignated--
(i) by inserting ``State and local child welfare systems
and'' before ``the National Center for Missing and Exploited
Children''; and
(ii) by striking the period at the end and inserting ``;
and''; and
(G) by adding at the end the following:
``(E) grant permission to the National Crime Information
Center Terminal Contractor for the State to update the
missing person record in the National Crime Information
Center computer networks with additional information learned
during the investigation relating to the missing person.''.
SEC. 117. GRANT ACCOUNTABILITY.
(a) Definition.--In this section, the term ``covered
grant'' means a grant awarded by the Attorney General under
section 203 of the Trafficking Victims Protection
Reauthorization Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 14044b), as amended by
section 103.
(b) Accountability.--All covered grants shall be subject to
the following accountability provisions:
(1) Audit requirement.--
(A) In general.--Beginning in the first fiscal year
beginning after the date of enactment of this Act, and in
each fiscal year thereafter, the Inspector General of the
Department of Justice shall conduct audits of recipients of a
covered grant to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse of funds by
grantees. The Inspector General shall determine the
appropriate number of grantees to be audited each year.
(B) Definition.--In this paragraph, the term ``unresolved
audit finding'' means a finding in the final audit report of
the Inspector General that the audited grantee has utilized
grant funds for an unauthorized expenditure or otherwise
unallowable cost that is not closed or resolved within 12
months from the date when the final audit report is issued.
(C) Mandatory exclusion.--A recipient of a covered grant
that is found to have an unresolved audit finding shall not
be eligible to receive a covered grant during the following 2
fiscal years.
(D) Priority.--In awarding covered grants the Attorney
General shall give priority to eligible entities that did not
have an unresolved audit finding during the 3 fiscal years
prior to submitting an application for a covered grant.
(E) Reimbursement.--If an entity is awarded a covered grant
during the 2-fiscal-year period in which the entity is barred
from receiving grants under subparagraph (C), the Attorney
General shall--
(i) deposit an amount equal to the grant funds that were
improperly awarded to the grantee into the General Fund of
the Treasury; and
(ii) seek to recoup the costs of the repayment to the fund
from the grant recipient that was erroneously awarded grant
funds.
(2) Nonprofit organization requirements.--
(A) Definition.--For purposes of this paragraph and covered
grants, the term ``nonprofit organization'' means an
organization that is described in section 501(c)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and is exempt from taxation
under section 501(a) of such Code.
(B) Prohibition.--The Attorney General may not award a
covered grant to a nonprofit organization that holds money in
offshore accounts for the purpose of avoiding paying the tax
described in section 511(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986.
(C) Disclosure.--Each nonprofit organization that is
awarded a covered grant and uses the procedures prescribed in
regulations to create a rebuttable presumption of
reasonableness for the compensation of its officers,
directors, trustees and key employees, shall disclose to the
Attorney General, in the application for the grant, the
process for determining such compensation, including the
independent persons involved in reviewing and approving such
compensation, the comparability data used, and
contemporaneous substantiation of the deliberation and
decision. Upon request, the Attorney General shall make the
information disclosed under this subsection available for
public inspection.
(3) Conference expenditures.--
(A) Limitation.--No amounts transferred to the Department
of Justice under this title, or the amendments made by this
title, may be used by the Attorney General, or by any
individual or organization awarded discretionary funds
through a cooperative agreement under this title, or the
amendments made by this title, to host or support any
expenditure for conferences that uses more than $20,000 in
Department funds, unless the Deputy Attorney General or such
Assistant Attorney Generals, Directors, or principal deputies
as the Deputy Attorney General may designate, provides prior
written authorization that the funds may be expended to host
a conference.
(B) Written approval.--Written approval under subparagraph
(A) shall include a written estimate of all costs associated
with the conference, including the cost of all food and
beverages, audiovisual equipment, honoraria for speakers, and
any entertainment.
(C) Report.--The Deputy Attorney General shall submit an
annual report to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate
and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of
Representatives on all approved conference expenditures
referenced in this paragraph.
(D) Annual certification.--Beginning in the first fiscal
year beginning after the date of enactment of this title, the
Attorney General shall submit, to the Committee on the
Judiciary and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate
and the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives, an annual
certification that--
(i) all audits issued by the Office of the Inspector
General under paragraph (1) have been completed and reviewed
by the appropriate Assistant Attorney General or Director;
(ii) all mandatory exclusions required under paragraph
(1)(C) have been issued;
(iii) all reimbursements required under paragraph (1)(E)
have been made; and
(iv) includes a list of any grant recipients excluded under
paragraph (1) from the previous year.
(4) Prohibition on lobbying activity.--
(A) In general.--Amounts awarded under this title, or any
amendments made by this title, may not be utilized by any
grant recipient to--
(i) lobby any representative of the Department of Justice
regarding the award of grant funding; or
(ii) lobby any representative of a Federal, State, local,
or tribal government regarding the award of grant funding.
(B) Penalty.--If the Attorney General determines that any
recipient of a covered grant has violated subparagraph (A),
the Attorney General shall--
(i) require the grant recipient to repay the grant in full;
and
(ii) prohibit the grant recipient from receiving another
covered grant for not less than 5 years.
SEC. 118. SAVE ACT.
(a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Stop
Advertising Victims of Exploitation Act of 2015'' or the
``SAVE Act of 2015''.
(b) Advertising That Offers Certain Commercial Acts.--
(1) In general.--Section 1591(a)(1) of title 18, United
States Code, as amended by this Act, is further amended by
inserting ``advertises,'' after ``obtains,''.
(2) Mens rea requirement.--Section 1591(a) of title 18,
United States Code, is amended in the undesignated matter
following paragraph (2), by inserting ``, except where the
act constituting the violation of paragraph (1) is
advertising,'' after ``knowing, or''.
(3) Conforming amendments.--Section 1591(b) of title 18,
United States Code, as amended by this Act, is further
amended--
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``advertised,'' after
``obtained,''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``advertised,'' after
``obtained,''.
SEC. 119. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TO TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS.
The Attorney General shall make available, on the website
of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention,
a database for trafficking victim advocates, crisis hotline
personnel, foster parents, law enforcement personnel, and
crime survivors that contains information on--
(1) counseling and hotline resources;
(2) housing resources;
(3) legal assistance; and
(4) other services for trafficking survivors.
SEC. 120. EXPANDED STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR CIVIL ACTIONS
BY CHILD TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS.
Section 1595(c) of title 18, United States Code, is amended
by striking ``not later than
[[Page H3272]]
10 years after the cause of action arose.'' and inserting
``not later than the later of--
``(1) 10 years after the cause of action arose; or
``(2) 10 years after the victim reaches 18 years of age, if
the victim was a minor at the time of the alleged offense.''.
SEC. 121. GAO STUDY AND REPORT.
(a) Study.--The Comptroller General of the United States
shall conduct a study on each program or initiative
authorized under this Act and the following statutes and
evaluate whether any program or initiative is duplicative:
(1) Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of
2005 (Public Law 109-164; 119 Stat. 3558).
(2) Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C.
7101 et seq.).
(3) Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 13001 et
seq.).
(4) Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5701 et
seq.).
(5) Missing Children's Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5771 et
seq.).
(b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United
States shall submit to the Committee on the Judiciary of the
Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of
Representatives a report on the study conducted under
subsection (a), which shall include--
(1) a description of the cost of any duplicative program or
initiative studied under subsection (a); and
(2) recommendations on how to achieve cost savings with
respect to each duplicative program or initiative studied
under subsection (a).
TITLE II--COMBATING HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Subtitle A--Enhancing Services for Runaway and Homeless Victims of
Youth Trafficking
SEC. 201. AMENDMENTS TO THE RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS YOUTH ACT.
The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5701 et seq.)
is amended--
(1) in section 343(b)(5) (42 U.S.C. 5714-23(b)(5))--
(A) in subparagraph (A) by inserting ``, severe forms of
trafficking in persons (as defined in section 103(9) of the
Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C.
7102(9))), and sex trafficking (as defined in section 103(10)
of such Act (22 U.S.C. 7102(10)))'' before the semicolon at
the end;
(B) in subparagraph (B) by inserting ``, severe forms of
trafficking in persons (as defined in section 103(9) of the
Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C.
7102(9))), or sex trafficking (as defined in section 103(10)
of such Act (22 U.S.C. 7102(10)))'' after ``assault''; and
(C) in subparagraph (C) by inserting ``, including such
youth who are victims of trafficking (as defined in section
103(15) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22
U.S.C. 7102(15)))'' before the semicolon at the end; and
(2) in section 351(a) (42 U.S.C. 5714-41(a)) by striking
``or sexual exploitation'' and inserting ``sexual
exploitation, severe forms of trafficking in persons (as
defined in section 103(9) of the Trafficking Victims
Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102(9))), or sex
trafficking (as defined in section 103(10) of such Act (22
U.S.C. 7102(10)))''.
Subtitle B--Improving the Response to Victims of Child Sex Trafficking
SEC. 211. RESPONSE TO VICTIMS OF CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING.
Section 404(b)(1)(P)(iii) of the Missing Children's
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5773(b)(1)(P)(iii)) is amended by
striking ``child prostitution'' and inserting ``child sex
trafficking, including child prostitution''.
Subtitle C--Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking
SEC. 221. VICTIM OF TRAFFICKING DEFINED.
In this subtitle, the term ``victim of trafficking'' has
the meaning given such term in section 103 of the Trafficking
Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102).
SEC. 222. INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE REPORT ON CHILD TRAFFICKING
PRIMARY PREVENTION.
(a) Review.--The Interagency Task Force to Monitor and
Combat Trafficking, established under section 105 of the
Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7103),
shall conduct a review that, with regard to trafficking in
persons in the United States--
(1) in consultation with nongovernmental organizations that
the Task Force determines appropriate, surveys and catalogs
the activities of the Federal Government and State
governments--
(A) to deter individuals from committing trafficking
offenses; and
(B) to prevent children from becoming victims of
trafficking;
(2) surveys academic literature on--
(A) deterring individuals from committing trafficking
offenses;
(B) preventing children from becoming victims of
trafficking;
(C) the commercial sexual exploitation of children; and
(D) other similar topics that the Task Force determines to
be appropriate;
(3) identifies best practices and effective strategies--
(A) to deter individuals from committing trafficking
offenses; and
(B) to prevent children from becoming victims of
trafficking; and
(4) identifies current gaps in research and data that would
be helpful in formulating effective strategies--
(A) to deter individuals from committing trafficking
offenses; and
(B) to prevent children from becoming victims of
trafficking.
(b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Interagency Task Force to Monitor
and Combat Trafficking shall provide to Congress, and make
publicly available in electronic format, a report on the
review conducted pursuant to subparagraph (a).
SEC. 223. GAO REPORT ON INTERVENTION.
On the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States
shall submit a report to Congress that includes information
on--
(1) the efforts of Federal and select State law enforcement
agencies to combat human trafficking in the United States;
and
(2) each Federal grant program, a purpose of which is to
combat human trafficking or assist victims of trafficking, as
specified in an authorizing statute or in a guidance document
issued by the agency carrying out the grant program.
SEC. 224. PROVISION OF HOUSING PERMITTED TO PROTECT AND
ASSIST IN THE RECOVERY OF VICTIMS OF
TRAFFICKING.
Section 107(b)(2)(A) of the Trafficking Victims Protection
Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7105(b)(2)(A)) is amended by inserting
``, including programs that provide housing to victims of
trafficking'' before the period at the end.
Subtitle D--Expanded Training
SEC. 231. EXPANDED TRAINING RELATING TO TRAFFICKING IN
PERSONS.
Section 105(c)(4) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act
of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7105(c)(4)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``Appropriate personnel'' and inserting the
following:
``(A) In general.--Appropriate personnel'';
(2) in subparagraph (A), as redesignated, by inserting ``,
including members of the Service (as such term is defined in
section 103 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C.
3903))'' after ``Department of State''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Training components.--Training under this paragraph
shall include--
``(i) a distance learning course on trafficking-in-persons
issues and the Department of State's obligations under this
Act, which shall be designed for embassy reporting officers,
regional bureaus' trafficking-in-persons coordinators, and
their superiors;
``(ii) specific trafficking-in-persons briefings for all
ambassadors and deputy chiefs of mission before such
individuals depart for their posts; and
``(iii) at least annual reminders to all personnel referred
to in clauses (i) and (ii), including appropriate personnel
from other Federal departments and agencies, at each
diplomatic or consular post of the Department of State
located outside the United States of--
``(I) key problems, threats, methods, and warning signs of
trafficking in persons specific to the country or
jurisdiction in which each such post is located; and
``(II) appropriate procedures to report information that
any such personnel may acquire about possible cases of
trafficking in persons.''.
TITLE III--HERO ACT
SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Human Exploitation Rescue
Operations Act of 2015'' or the ``HERO Act of 2015''.
SEC. 302. HERO ACT.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) The illegal market for the production and distribution
of child abuse imagery is a growing threat to children in the
United States. International demand for this material creates
a powerful incentive for the rape, abuse, and torture of
children within the United States.
(2) The targeting of United States children by
international criminal networks is a threat to the homeland
security of the United States. This threat must be fought
with trained personnel and highly specialized counter-child-
exploitation strategies and technologies.
(3) The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
of the Department of Homeland Security serves a critical
national security role in protecting the United States from
the growing international threat of child exploitation and
human trafficking.
(4) The Cyber Crimes Center of the United States
Immigration and Customs Enforcement is a vital national
resource in the effort to combat international child
exploitation, providing advanced expertise and assistance in
investigations, computer forensics, and victim
identification.
(5) The returning military heroes of the United States
possess unique and valuable skills that can assist law
enforcement in combating global sexual and child
exploitation, and the Department of Homeland Security should
use this national resource to the maximum extent possible.
(6) Through the Human Exploitation Rescue Operative (HERO)
Child Rescue Corps program, the returning military heroes of
the United States are trained and hired to investigate crimes
of child exploitation in order to target predators and rescue
children from sexual abuse and slavery.
(b) Cyber Crimes Center, Child Exploitation Investigations
Unit, and Computer Forensics Unit.--
(1) In general.--Subtitle H of title VIII of the Homeland
Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C.
[[Page H3273]]
451 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 890A. CYBER CRIMES CENTER, CHILD EXPLOITATION
INVESTIGATIONS UNIT, COMPUTER FORENSICS UNIT,
AND CYBER CRIMES UNIT.
``(a) Cyber Crimes Center.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall operate, within
United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a Cyber
Crimes Center (referred to in this section as the `Center').
``(2) Purpose.--The purpose of the Center shall be to
provide investigative assistance, training, and equipment to
support United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement's
domestic and international investigations of cyber-related
crimes.
``(b) Child Exploitation Investigations Unit.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall operate, within the
Center, a Child Exploitation Investigations Unit (referred to
in this subsection as the `CEIU').
``(2) Functions.--The CEIU--
``(A) shall coordinate all United States Immigration and
Customs Enforcement child exploitation initiatives, including
investigations into--
``(i) child exploitation;
``(ii) child pornography;
``(iii) child victim identification;
``(iv) traveling child sex offenders; and
``(v) forced child labor, including the sexual exploitation
of minors;
``(B) shall, among other things, focus on--
``(i) child exploitation prevention;
``(ii) investigative capacity building;
``(iii) enforcement operations; and
``(iv) training for Federal, State, local, tribal, and
foreign law enforcement agency personnel, upon request;
``(C) shall provide training, technical expertise, support,
or coordination of child exploitation investigations, as
needed, to cooperating law enforcement agencies and
personnel;
``(D) shall provide psychological support and counseling
services for United States Immigration and Customs
Enforcement personnel engaged in child exploitation
prevention initiatives, including making available other
existing services to assist employees who are exposed to
child exploitation material during investigations;
``(E) is authorized to collaborate with the Department of
Defense and the National Association to Protect Children for
the purpose of the recruiting, training, equipping and hiring
of wounded, ill, and injured veterans and transitioning
service members, through the Human Exploitation Rescue
Operative (HERO) Child Rescue Corps program; and
``(F) shall collaborate with other governmental,
nongovernmental, and nonprofit entities approved by the
Secretary for the sponsorship of, and participation in,
outreach and training activities.
``(3) Data collection.--The CEIU shall collect and maintain
data concerning--
``(A) the total number of suspects identified by United
States Immigration and Customs Enforcement;
``(B) the number of arrests by United States Immigration
and Customs Enforcement, disaggregated by type, including--
``(i) the number of victims identified through
investigations carried out by United States Immigration and
Customs Enforcement; and
``(ii) the number of suspects arrested who were in
positions of trust or authority over children;
``(C) the number of cases opened for investigation by
United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and
``(D) the number of cases resulting in a Federal, State,
foreign, or military prosecution.
``(4) Availability of data to congress.--In addition to
submitting the reports required under paragraph (7), the CEIU
shall make the data collected and maintained under paragraph
(3) available to the committees of Congress described in
paragraph (7).
``(5) Cooperative agreements.--The CEIU is authorized to
enter into cooperative agreements to accomplish the functions
set forth in paragraphs (2) and (3).
``(6) Acceptance of gifts.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to accept
monies and in-kind donations from the Virtual Global
Taskforce, national laboratories, Federal agencies, not-for-
profit organizations, and educational institutions to create
and expand public awareness campaigns in support of the
functions of the CEIU.
``(B) Exemption from federal acquisition regulation.--Gifts
authorized under subparagraph (A) shall not be subject to the
Federal Acquisition Regulation for competition when the
services provided by the entities referred to in such
subparagraph are donated or of minimal cost to the
Department.
``(7) Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of the HERO Act of 2015, and annually for the
following 4 years, the CEIU shall--
``(A) submit a report containing a summary of the data
collected pursuant to paragraph (3) during the previous year
to--
``(i) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs of the Senate;
``(ii) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate;
``(iii) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
``(iv) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of
Representatives;
``(v) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of
Representatives; and
``(vi) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives; and
``(B) make a copy of each report submitted under
subparagraph (A) publicly available on the website of the
Department.
``(c) Computer Forensics Unit.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall operate, within the
Center, a Computer Forensics Unit (referred to in this
subsection as the `CFU').
``(2) Functions.--The CFU--
``(A) shall provide training and technical support in
digital forensics to--
``(i) United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
personnel; and
``(ii) Federal, State, local, tribal, military, and foreign
law enforcement agency personnel engaged in the investigation
of crimes within their respective jurisdictions, upon request
and subject to the availability of funds;
``(B) shall provide computer hardware, software, and
forensic licenses for all computer forensics personnel within
United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement;
``(C) shall participate in research and development in the
area of digital forensics, in coordination with appropriate
components of the Department; and
``(D) is authorized to collaborate with the Department of
Defense and the National Association to Protect Children for
the purpose of recruiting, training, equipping, and hiring
wounded, ill, and injured veterans and transitioning service
members, through the Human Exploitation Rescue Operative
(HERO) Child Rescue Corps program.
``(3) Cooperative agreements.--The CFU is authorized to
enter into cooperative agreements to accomplish the functions
set forth in paragraph (2).
``(4) Acceptance of gifts.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to accept
monies and in-kind donations from the Virtual Global Task
Force, national laboratories, Federal agencies, not-for-
profit organizations, and educational institutions to create
and expand public awareness campaigns in support of the
functions of the CFU.
``(B) Exemption from federal acquisition regulation.--Gifts
authorized under subparagraph (A) shall not be subject to the
Federal Acquisition Regulation for competition when the
services provided by the entities referred to in such
subparagraph are donated or of minimal cost to the
Department.
``(d) Cyber Crimes Unit.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall operate, within the
Center, a Cyber Crimes Unit (referred to in this subsection
as the `CCU').
``(2) Functions.--The CCU--
``(A) shall oversee the cyber security strategy and cyber-
related operations and programs for United States Immigration
and Customs Enforcement;
``(B) shall enhance United States Immigration and Customs
Enforcement's ability to combat criminal enterprises
operating on or through the Internet, with specific focus in
the areas of--
``(i) cyber economic crime;
``(ii) digital theft of intellectual property;
``(iii) illicit e-commerce (including hidden marketplaces);
``(iv) Internet-facilitated proliferation of arms and
strategic technology; and
``(v) cyber-enabled smuggling and money laundering;
``(C) shall provide training and technical support in cyber
investigations to--
``(i) United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
personnel; and
``(ii) Federal, State, local, tribal, military, and foreign
law enforcement agency personnel engaged in the investigation
of crimes within their respective jurisdictions, upon request
and subject to the availability of funds;
``(D) shall participate in research and development in the
area of cyber investigations, in coordination with
appropriate components of the Department; and
``(E) is authorized to recruit participants of the Human
Exploitation Rescue Operative (HERO) Child Rescue Corps
program for investigative and forensic positions in support
of the functions of the CCU.
``(3) Cooperative agreements.--The CCU is authorized to
enter into cooperative agreements to accomplish the functions
set forth in paragraph (2).
``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums as
are necessary to carry out this section.''.
(2) Table of contents amendment.--The table of contents in
section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C.
101 note) is amended by adding after the item relating to
section 890 the following:
``Sec. 890A. Cyber crimes center, child exploitation investigations
unit, computer forensics unit, and cyber crimes unit.''.
(c) HERO Corps Hiring.--It is the sense of Congress that
Homeland Security Investigations of the United States
Immigration and Customs Enforcement should hire, recruit,
train, and equip wounded, ill, or injured military veterans
(as defined in section 101, title 38, United States Code) who
are affiliated with the HERO Child Rescue Corps program for
investigative, intelligence, analyst, and forensic positions.
(d) Investigating Child Exploitation.--Section 307(b)(3) of
the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 187(b)(3)) is
amended--
[[Page H3274]]
(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(D) conduct research and development for the purpose of
advancing technology for the investigation of child
exploitation crimes, including child victim identification,
trafficking in persons, and child pornography, and for
advanced forensics.''.
SEC. 303. TRANSPORTATION FOR ILLEGAL SEXUAL ACTIVITY AND
RELATED CRIMES.
Chapter 117 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by
striking section 2421 and inserting the following:
``Sec. 2421. Transportation generally
``(a) In General.--Whoever knowingly transports any
individual in interstate or foreign commerce, or in any
Territory or Possession of the United States, with intent
that such individual engage in prostitution, or in any sexual
activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal
offense, or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this
title or imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.
``(b) Requests To Prosecute Violations by State Attorneys
General.--
``(1) In general.--The Attorney General shall grant a
request by a State attorney general that a State or local
attorney be cross designated to prosecute a violation of this
section unless the Attorney General determines that granting
the request would undermine the administration of justice.
``(2) Reason for denial.--If the Attorney General denies a
request under paragraph (1), the Attorney General shall
submit to the State attorney general a detailed reason for
the denial not later than 60 days after the date on which a
request is received.''.
TITLE IV--RAPE SURVIVOR CHILD CUSTODY
SEC. 401. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Rape Survivor Child
Custody Act''.
SEC. 402. DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(1) Covered formula grant.--The term ``covered formula
grant'' means a grant under--
(A) part T of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe
Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796gg et seq.) (commonly
referred to as the ``STOP Violence Against Women Formula
Grant Program''); or
(B) section 41601 of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994
(42 U.S.C. 14043g) (commonly referred to as the ``Sexual
Assault Services Program'').
(2) Termination.--
(A) In general.--The term ``termination'' means, when used
with respect to parental rights, a complete and final
termination of the parent's right to custody of, guardianship
of, visitation with, access to, and inheritance from a child.
(B) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this paragraph shall
be construed to require a State, in order to receive an
increase in the amount provided to the State under the
covered formula grants under this title, to have in place a
law that terminates any obligation of a person who fathered a
child through rape to support the child.
SEC. 403. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Men who father children through rape should be
prohibited from visiting or having custody of those children.
(2) Thousands of rape-related pregnancies occur annually in
the United States.
(3) A substantial number of women choose to raise their
child conceived through rape and, as a result, may face
custody battles with their rapists.
(4) Rape is one of the most under-prosecuted serious
crimes, with estimates of criminal conviction occurring in
less than 5 percent of rapes.
(5) The clear and convincing evidence standard is the most
common standard for termination of parental rights among the
50 States, territories, and the District of Columbia.
(6) The Supreme Court established that the clear and
convincing evidence standard satisfies due process for
allegations to terminate or restrict parental rights in
Santosky v. Kramer (455 U.S. 745 (1982)).
(7) Currently only 10 States have statutes allowing rape
survivors to petition for the termination of parental rights
of the rapist based on clear and convincing evidence that the
child was conceived through rape.
(8) A rapist pursuing parental or custody rights causes the
survivor to have continued interaction with the rapist, which
can have traumatic psychological effects on the survivor, and
can make it more difficult for her to recover.
(9) These traumatic effects on the mother can severely
negatively impact her ability to raise a healthy child.
(10) Rapists may use the threat of pursuing custody or
parental rights to coerce survivors into not prosecuting
rape, or otherwise harass, intimidate, or manipulate them.
SEC. 404. INCREASED FUNDING FOR FORMULA GRANTS AUTHORIZED.
The Attorney General shall increase the amount provided to
a State under the covered formula grants in accordance with
this title if the State has in place a law that allows the
mother of any child that was conceived through rape to seek
court-ordered termination of the parental rights of her
rapist with regard to that child, which the court is
authorized to grant upon clear and convincing evidence of
rape.
SEC. 405. APPLICATION.
A State seeking an increase in the amount provided to the
State under the covered formula grants shall include in the
application of the State for each covered formula grant such
information as the Attorney General may reasonably require,
including information about the law described in section 404.
SEC. 406. GRANT INCREASE.
The amount of the increase provided to a State under the
covered formula grants under this title shall be equal to not
more than 10 percent of the average of the total amount of
funding provided to the State under the covered formula
grants under the 3 most recent awards to the State.
SEC. 407. PERIOD OF INCREASE.
(a) In General.--The Attorney General shall provide an
increase in the amount provided to a State under the covered
formula grants under this title for a 2-year period.
(b) Limit.--The Attorney General may not provide an
increase in the amount provided to a State under the covered
formula grants under this title more than 4 times.
SEC. 408. ALLOCATION OF INCREASED FORMULA GRANT FUNDS.
The Attorney General shall allocate an increase in the
amount provided to a State under the covered formula grants
under this title such that--
(1) 25 percent the amount of the increase is provided under
the program described in section 402(1)(A); and
(2) 75 percent the amount of the increase is provided under
the program described in section 402(1)(B).
SEC. 409. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this
title $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2019.
TITLE V--MILITARY SEX OFFENDER REPORTING
SEC. 501. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Military Sex Offender
Reporting Act of 2015''.
SEC. 502. REGISTRATION OF SEX OFFENDERS RELEASED FROM
MILITARY CORRECTIONS FACILITIES OR UPON
CONVICTION.
(a) In General.--The Sex Offender Registration and
Notification Act is amended by inserting after section 128
(42 U.S.C. 16928) the following:
``SEC. 128A. REGISTRATION OF SEX OFFENDERS RELEASED FROM
MILITARY CORRECTIONS FACILITIES OR UPON
CONVICTION.
``The Secretary of Defense shall provide to the Attorney
General the information described in section 114 to be
included in the National Sex Offender Registry and the Dru
Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website regarding
persons--
``(1)(A) released from military corrections facilities; or
``(B) convicted if the sentences adjudged by courts-martial
under chapter 47 of title 10, United States Code (the Uniform
Code of Military Justice), do not include confinement; and
``(2) required to register under this title.''.
(b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of
contents of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act is
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 128
the following:
``Sec. 128A. Registration of sex offenders released from military
corrections facilities or upon conviction.''.
TITLE VI--STOPPING EXPLOITATION THROUGH TRAFFICKING
SEC. 601. SAFE HARBOR INCENTIVES.
Part Q of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe
Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796dd et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 1701(c), by striking ``where feasible'' and
all that follows, and inserting the following: ``where
feasible, to an application--
``(1) for hiring and rehiring additional career law
enforcement officers that involves a non-Federal contribution
exceeding the 25 percent minimum under subsection (g); or
``(2) from an applicant in a State that has in effect a law
that--
``(A) treats a minor who has engaged in, or has attempted
to engage in, a commercial sex act as a victim of a severe
form of trafficking in persons;
``(B) discourages or prohibits the charging or prosecution
of an individual described in subparagraph (A) for a
prostitution or sex trafficking offense, based on the conduct
described in subparagraph (A); and
``(C) encourages the diversion of an individual described
in subparagraph (A) to appropriate service providers,
including child welfare services, victim treatment programs,
child advocacy centers, rape crisis centers, or other social
services.''; and
(2) in section 1709, by inserting at the end the following:
``(5) `commercial sex act' has the meaning given the term
in section 103 of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence
Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102).
``(6) `minor' means an individual who has not attained the
age of 18 years.
``(7) `severe form of trafficking in persons' has the
meaning given the term in section 103 of the Victims of
Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C.
7102).''.
[[Page H3275]]
SEC. 602. REPORT ON RESTITUTION PAID IN CONNECTION WITH
CERTAIN TRAFFICKING OFFENSES.
Section 105(d)(7)(Q) of the Victims of Trafficking and
Violence Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7103(d)(7)(Q)) is
amended--
(1) by inserting after ``1590,'' the following: ``1591,'';
(2) by striking ``and 1594'' and inserting ``1594, 2251,
2251A, 2421, 2422, and 2423'';
(3) in clause (iv), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(4) in clause (v), by striking ``and'' at the end; and
(5) by inserting after clause (v) the following:
``(vi) the number of individuals required by a court order
to pay restitution in connection with a violation of each
offense under title 18, United States Code, the amount of
restitution required to be paid under each such order, and
the amount of restitution actually paid pursuant to each such
order; and
``(vii) the age, gender, race, country of origin, country
of citizenship, and description of the role in the offense of
individuals convicted under each offense; and''.
SEC. 603. NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE.
Section 107(b)(1)(B) of the Victims of Crime Trafficking
and Violence Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7105(b)(1)(B))
is amended--
(1) by striking ``Subject'' and inserting the following:
``(i) In general.--Subject''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(ii) National human trafficking hotline.--Beginning in
fiscal year 2017, and in each fiscal year thereafter, of
amounts made available for grants under paragraph (2), the
Secretary of Health and Human Services shall make grants for
a national communication system to assist victims of severe
forms of trafficking in persons in communicating with service
providers. The Secretary shall give priority to grant
applicants that have experience in providing telephone
services to victims of severe forms of trafficking in
persons.''.
SEC. 604. JOB CORPS ELIGIBILITY.
Section 144(a)(3) of the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3194(a)(3)) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
``(F) A victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons
(as defined in section 103 of the Victims of Trafficking and
Violence Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102)).
Notwithstanding paragraph (2), an individual described in
this subparagraph shall not be required to demonstrate
eligibility under such paragraph.''.
SEC. 605. CLARIFICATION OF AUTHORITY OF THE UNITED STATES
MARSHALS SERVICE.
Section 566(e)(1) of title 28, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following:
``(D) assist State, local, and other Federal law
enforcement agencies, upon the request of such an agency, in
locating and recovering missing children.''.
SEC. 606. ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL STRATEGY TO COMBAT HUMAN
TRAFFICKING.
(a) In General.--The Attorney General shall implement and
maintain a National Strategy for Combating Human Trafficking
(referred to in this section as the ``National Strategy'') in
accordance with this section.
(b) Required Contents of National Strategy.--The National
Strategy shall include the following:
(1) Integrated Federal, State, local, and tribal efforts to
investigate and prosecute human trafficking cases,
including--
(A) the development by each United States attorney, in
consultation with State, local, and tribal government
agencies, of a district-specific strategic plan to coordinate
the identification of victims and the investigation and
prosecution of human trafficking crimes;
(B) the appointment of not fewer than 1 assistant United
States attorney in each district dedicated to the prosecution
of human trafficking cases or responsible for implementing
the National Strategy;
(C) the participation in any Federal, State, local, or
tribal human trafficking task force operating in the district
of the United States attorney; and
(D) any other efforts intended to enhance the level of
coordination and cooperation, as determined by the Attorney
General.
(2) Case coordination within the Department of Justice,
including specific integration, coordination, and
collaboration, as appropriate, on human trafficking
investigations between and among the United States attorneys,
the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit, the Child
Exploitation and Obscenity Section, and the Federal Bureau of
Investigation.
(3) Annual budget priorities and Federal efforts dedicated
to preventing and combating human trafficking, including
resources dedicated to the Human Trafficking Prosecution
Unit, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, the
Federal Bureau of Investigation, and all other entities that
receive Federal support that have a goal or mission to combat
the exploitation of adults and children.
(4) An ongoing assessment of the future trends, challenges,
and opportunities, including new investigative strategies,
techniques, and technologies, that will enhance Federal,
State, local, and tribal efforts to combat human trafficking.
(5) Encouragement of cooperation, coordination, and mutual
support between private sector and other entities and
organizations and Federal agencies to combat human
trafficking, including the involvement of State, local, and
tribal government agencies to the extent Federal programs are
involved.
TITLE VII--TRAFFICKING AWARENESS TRAINING FOR HEALTH CARE
SEC. 701. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Trafficking Awareness
Training for Health Care Act of 2015''.
SEC. 702. DEVELOPMENT OF BEST PRACTICES.
(a) Grant or Contract for Development of Best Practices.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human
Services acting through the Administrator of the Health
Resources and Services Administration, and in consultation
with the Administration on Children and Families and other
agencies with experience in serving victims of human
trafficking, shall award, on a competitive basis, a grant or
contract to an eligible entity to train health care
professionals to recognize and respond to victims of a severe
form of trafficking.
(2) Development of evidence-based best practices.--An
entity receiving a grant under paragraph (1) shall develop
evidence-based best practices for health care professionals
to recognize and respond to victims of a severe form of
trafficking, including--
(A) consultation with law enforcement officials, social
service providers, health professionals, experts in the field
of human trafficking, and other experts, as appropriate, to
inform the development of such best practices;
(B) the identification of any existing best practices or
tools for health professionals to recognize potential victims
of a severe form of trafficking; and
(C) the development of educational materials to train
health care professionals on the best practices developed
under this subsection.
(3) Requirements.--Best practices developed under this
subsection shall address--
(A) risk factors and indicators to recognize victims of a
severe form of trafficking;
(B) patient safety and security;
(C) the management of medical records of patients who are
victims of a severe form of trafficking;
(D) public and private social services available for
rescue, food, clothing, and shelter referrals;
(E) the hotlines for reporting human trafficking maintained
by the National Human Trafficking Resource Center and the
Department of Homeland Security;
(F) validated assessment tools for the identification of
victims of a severe form of trafficking; and
(G) referral options and procedures for sharing information
on human trafficking with a patient and making referrals for
legal and social services as appropriate.
(4) Pilot program.--An entity receiving a grant under
paragraph (1) shall design and implement a pilot program to
test the best practices and educational materials identified
or developed with respect to the recognition of victims of
human trafficking by health professionals at health care
sites located near an established anti-human trafficking task
force initiative in each of the 10 administrative regions of
the Department of Health and Human Services.
(5) Analysis and report.--Not later than 24 months after
the date on which an entity implements a pilot program under
paragraph (4), the entity shall--
(A) analyze the results of the pilot programs, including
through an assessment of--
(i) changes in the skills, knowledge, and attitude of
health care professionals resulting from the implementation
of the program;
(ii) the number of victims of a severe form of trafficking
who were identified under the program;
(iii) of those victims identified, the number who received
information or referrals for services offered; and
(iv) of those victims who received such information or
referrals--
(I) the number who participated in follow up services; and
(II) the type of follow up services received;
(B) determine, using the results of the analysis conducted
under subparagraph (A), the extent to which the best
practices developed under this subsection are evidence-based;
and
(C) submit to the Secretary of Health and Human Services a
report concerning the pilot program and the analysis of the
pilot program under subparagraph (A), including an
identification of the best practices that were identified as
effective and those that require further review.
(b) Dissemination.--Not later than 30 months after date on
which a grant is awarded to an eligible entity under
subsection (a), the Secretary of Health and Human Services
shall--
(1) collaborate with appropriate professional associations
and health care professional schools to disseminate best
practices identified or developed under subsection (a) for
purposes of recognizing potential victims of a severe form of
trafficking; and
(2) post on the public website of the Department of Health
and Human Services the best practices that are identified by
the as effective under subsection (a)(5).
[[Page H3276]]
SEC. 703. DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(1) The term ``eligible entity'' means an accredited school
of medicine or nursing with experience in the study or
treatment of victims of a severe form of trafficking.
(2) The term ``eligible site'' means a health center that
is receiving assistance under section 330, 399Z-1, or 1001 of
the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b, 280h-5, and
300).
(3) The term ``health care professional'' means a person
employed by a health care provider who provides to patients
information (including information not related to medical
treatment), scheduling, services, or referrals.
(4) The term ``HIPAA privacy and security law'' has the
meaning given to such term in section 3009 of the Public
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300jj-19).
(5) The term ``victim of a severe form of trafficking'' has
the meaning given to such term in section 103 of the
Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102).
SEC. 704. NO ADDITIONAL AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this title, and this title shall be carried out
using amounts otherwise available for such purpose.
TITLE VIII--BETTER RESPONSE FOR VICTIMS OF CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING
SEC. 801. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Ensuring a Better Response
for Victims of Child Sex Trafficking''.
SEC. 802. CAPTA AMENDMENTS.
(a) In General.--The amendments to the Child Abuse
Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.) made by
this section shall take effect 2 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
(b) State Plans.--Section 106 of the Child Abuse Prevention
and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106a) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(2)(B)--
(A) in clause (xxii), by striking ``and'' at the end; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(xxiv) provisions and procedures requiring identification
and assessment of all reports involving children known or
suspected to be victims of sex trafficking (as defined in
section 103(10) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of
2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102 (10)); and
``(xxv) provisions and procedures for training child
protective services workers about identifying, assessing, and
providing comprehensive services for children who are sex
trafficking victims, including efforts to coordinate with
State law enforcement, juvenile justice, and social service
agencies such as runaway and homeless youth shelters to serve
this population;''; and
(2) in subsection (d), by adding at the end the following:
``(17) The number of children determined to be victims
described in subsection (b)(2)(B)(xxiv).''.
(c) Special Rule.--
(1) In general.--Section 111 of the Child Abuse Prevention
and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106g) is amended--
(A) by striking ``For purposes'' and inserting the
following:
``(a) Definitions.--For purposes''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(b) Special Rule.--
``(1) In general.--For purposes of section 3(2) and
subsection (a)(4), a child shall be considered a victim of
`child abuse and neglect' and of `sexual abuse' if the child
is identified, by a State or local agency employee of the
State or locality involved, as being a victim of sex
trafficking (as defined in paragraph (10) of section 103 of
the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C.
7102)) or a victim of severe forms of trafficking in persons
described in paragraph (9)(A) of that section.
``(2) State option.--Notwithstanding the definition of
`child' in section 3(1), a State may elect to define that
term for purposes of the application of paragraph (1) to
section 3(2) and subsection (a)(4) as a person who has not
attained the age of 24.''.
(2) Conforming amendment.--Section 3(2) of the Child Abuse
Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5101 note) is amended
by inserting ``(including sexual abuse as determined under
section 111)'' after ``sexual abuse or exploitation''.
(3) Technical correction.--Paragraph (5)(C) of subsection
(a), as so designated, of section 111 of the Child Abuse
Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106g) is amended by
striking ``inhumane;'' and inserting ``inhumane.''.
TITLE IX--ANTI-TRAFFICKING TRAINING FOR DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
PERSONNEL
SEC. 901. DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(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. 902. TRAINING FOR DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL TO IDENTIFY HUMAN
TRAFFICKING.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the 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, with respect to 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. 903. CERTIFICATION AND REPORT TO CONGRESS.
(a) Certification.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall certify to
Congress that all personnel referred to in section 402(a)
have successfully completed the training required under that
section.
(b) Report to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after the
date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter,
the Secretary shall report to Congress with respect to the
overall effectiveness of the program required by this title,
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 human
trafficking.
SEC. 904. ASSISTANCE TO NON-FEDERAL ENTITIES.
The Secretary may provide training curricula to any State,
local, or tribal government or private organization to assist
the government or organization in establishing a program of
training to identify human trafficking, upon request from the
government or organization.
SEC. 905. EXPANDED USE OF DOMESTIC TRAFFICKING VICTIMS' FUND.
Section 3014(e)(1) of title 18, United States Code, as
added by section 101 of this Act, is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(D) section 106 of the PROTECT Our Children Act of 2008
(42 U.S.C. 17616).''.
TITLE X--HUMAN TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS RELIEF AND EMPOWERMENT ACT
SEC. 1001. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Human Trafficking
Survivors Relief and Empowerment Act of 2015''.
SEC. 1002. PROTECTIONS FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS.
Section 1701(c) of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and
Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796dd(c)) is amended by
striking ``where feasible'' and all that follows, and
inserting the following: ``where feasible, to an
application--
``(1) for hiring and rehiring additional career law
enforcement officers that involves a non-Federal contribution
exceeding the 25 percent minimum under subsection (g); or
``(2) from an applicant in a State that has in effect a
law--
``(A) that--
``(i) provides a process by which an individual who is a
human trafficking survivor can move to vacate any arrest or
conviction records for a non-violent offense committed as a
direct result of human trafficking, including prostitution or
lewdness;
``(ii) establishes a rebuttable presumption that any arrest
or conviction of an individual for an offense associated with
human trafficking is a result of being trafficked, if the
individual--
``(I) is a person granted nonimmigrant status pursuant to
section 101(a)(15)(T)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(T)(i));
``(II) is the subject of a certification by the Secretary
of Health and Human Services under section 107(b)(1)(E) of
the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C.
7105(b)(1)(E)); or
``(III) has other similar documentation of trafficking,
which has been issued by a Federal, State, or local agency;
and
[[Page H3277]]
``(iii) protects the identity of individuals who are human
trafficking survivors in public and court records; and
``(B) that does not require an individual who is a human
trafficking survivor to provide official documentation as
described in subclause (I), (II), or (III) of subparagraph
(A)(ii) in order to receive protection under the law.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte) and the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson
Lee) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.
General Leave
Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous materials on S. 178, currently under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Virginia?
There was no objection.
Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
We are here today to consider comprehensive legislation that will
help address the scourge of human trafficking, generally, and child sex
trafficking, specifically, that is occurring in every corner of the
United States as we stand here today.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, sex trafficking is
the fastest growing business of organized crime and the third largest
criminal enterprise in the world. One organization estimates that child
sex trafficking in the United States alone is a $9.8 billion industry.
Criminal organizations, including some of the most violent criminal
street gangs like MS-13, have realized that selling children can be
more profitable than selling drugs. This is because drugs are only sold
once, but minor children can be and are prostituted multiple times a
day, every day. It is time for Congress to send a clear message that we
won't stand for this.
Today marks the third time that I have stood on the House floor
urging the passage of the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act. The
House passed similar legislation in May 2014 and, again, in January of
this year.
S. 178, the bill we consider today and its predecessors, are
comprehensive legislation that, among other things, provide additional
resources to law enforcement and service providers through a victim-
centered grant program, help to facilitate investigations by providing
that child sex trafficking and other similar crimes are predicate
offenses for State wiretap applications, address the demand side by
clarifying that it is a Federal crime to solicit or patronize child
prostitutes or adult victims forced into prostitution, and strengthens
the existing Federal criminal laws against trafficking through a number
of clarifying amendments.
I am very pleased that a number of separate trafficking vehicles that
were originally passed by the House Judiciary Committee and then by the
full House are contained within S. 178, including the Stop Exploitation
Through Trafficking Act of 2015, introduced by Mr. Paulsen of
Minnesota; the SAVE Act of 2015, introduced by Mrs. Wagner of Missouri;
and the Human Trafficking Prevention, Intervention, and Recovery Act of
2015, introduced by Mrs. Noem of South Dakota. I thank all of my
colleagues for their dedication to ending this terrible crime.
I also thank Judge Poe of Texas for sponsoring the two previous House
versions of the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act.
S. 178 is not perfect legislation, and I thank both House and Senate
leadership, as well as the bill's sponsor, Senator Cornyn, for agreeing
to fix technical issues with the bill in future legislation, but it is
my belief that this legislation will do much good in the fight to end
human trafficking.
For that reason, I urge my colleagues to support the bill and thus
send it to the President to be signed into law.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Let me join my friend and colleague, the chairman of the Judiciary
Committee, and thank him for his leadership in making sure that this
bill would come to the floor. Along with the ranking member, Mr.
Conyers; subcommittee chairman, Mr. Sensenbrenner; and myself as the
ranking member, we are grateful for the leadership of our colleagues in
working through the human trafficking legislation.
I would associate myself with the words that all of us have said very
often. Tragically and heinously, sex trafficking, human trafficking,
and the trafficking of children keeps on giving in an ugly, horrible,
disastrous way that ruins the lives of innocent victims for they are
used over and over again.
I stand here recognizing that Houston ranks very high among those
cities that have the scourge of human trafficking. In fact, as I rise
to support S. 178, the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015,
I recognize that human trafficking is a scourge that impacts greatly on
my home district in Houston, Texas. Houston currently ranks number one
among the U.S. cities with the most victims of human trafficking.
On the House bill, I congratulate Congressman Poe, my neighbor in
Houston, and Carolyn Maloney, a member from New York, who worked
together to bring about this bipartisan legislation.
I want to thank my colleagues as well from the Homeland Security
Committee. Judge Poe joined us in the first human trafficking hearing
that I held in Houston, Texas, to further emphasize the coming together
of law enforcement and social service advocates for the importance of
this legislation.
In fact, as I recall this bill being written, there were so many
different groups from faith organizations putting on walks to talk
about trafficking. Houston recognized that they had a problem they need
to fix.
In the backdrop of this legislation, as it was making its way through
the House, we even had a massive human trafficking raid, if you will,
where there were 20 to 30 persons in a home just a short distance from
downtown. A couple of the individuals were minors. We know what their
end would be.
Twenty-five percent of all human trafficking victims are in my home
State of Texas. Currently, 30 percent of all human trafficking tips to
the national rescue hotline come from Texas; but this is a national
problem. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
estimates that one of every seven endangered runaways reported to the
center are likely victims of minor sex trafficking and that at least
100,000 American children are victims of sex trafficking each year.
It is our duty to rescue these children, shelter them, and help them
recover from the trauma that has been inflicted upon them. It is also
our duty to prevent those crimes before they happen and to provide law
enforcement with the tools they need to combat human traffickers.
This bill will be a significant weapon in the war against sex
trafficking which, unfortunately, is the fastest growing business of
organized crime in the United States, generating an estimated $9
billion annually. Mr. Speaker, we have said it continues to generate
income and revenue.
I am very glad that there are a number of legislative initiatives
incorporated into this final legislative document and that this will go
to the President's desk and be signed.
I am glad it includes language I submitted in the Judiciary Committee
that puts Congress squarely on the record in the sense of Congress,
that we stand together on the issue of opposing human trafficking and
viewing it as a dastardly deed.
Although not perfect, this is a comprehensive bill that includes a
variety of measures intended to strike at the problem of child sex
trafficking through prevention, law enforcement, and rehabilitation
services for victims.
What I like most of all is that it puts the United States Congress
and, ultimately, the President of the United States and the laws of the
land on the side of children and on the side of victims who have been
trafficked or victims of sex trafficking. The bill strikes at the
demand for this business by adding criminal prohibitions for those who
solicit and advertise human trafficking.
Law enforcement across the U.S. has identified online sex acts as the
number one platform for buying and selling of sex with children and
young women.
[[Page H3278]]
These men can sit idly and relaxed in their homes and victimize
individuals. This is an important step forward for law enforcement, to
have the tools to reach those predators wherever they are.
This legislation provides the tools to rebuild the lives of those
exploited by this business, and it specifically addresses the needs of
thousands of homeless children, many of whom are on the streets of
Houston. I say to them today that they will be embraced with a document
that stands on their side, many who have fled physically and sexually
abusive homes, only to be victimized again by sex traffickers.
Mr. Speaker, I am delighted that this bill is moving, and I reserve
the balance of my time.
Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, at this time, it is my pleasure to yield
5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe), a member of the
Judiciary Committee and a champion in the fight against child sex
trafficking and the author of one of the underlying pieces of
legislation that led to the bill that we are considering here today.
Mr. POE of Texas. I thank the chairman for bringing this legislation
promptly to the House floor today.
Mr. Speaker, it was 155 years ago that this Nation debated in this
Chamber several volatile issues, including slavery. After 600,000
Americans, both from the North and the South, died in war, slavery was
forever banned by the 13th Amendment to our Constitution.
Now, in our time, this ugly scourge has risen its head again one more
time. The evil enterprise has taken on the enslavement of women and
children. Traffickers--slave masters--buy and sell the young in the
marketplace of child sex exploitation.
They treat these victims as cattle to be led to the stockyards of
slavery. The traffickers even brand the victims, Mr. Speaker, on the
neck so that other traffickers will know whose property they are.
The illicit revenue from trafficking is second only to the drug
trade; and, as has been mentioned, my hometown of Houston seems to be
the hub for child sex trafficking in United States.
The average age of the minor sex traffic victim, Mr. Speaker, is 13.
Maria was an 11-year-old girl. She met a person that treated her
nicely. He was an older male. Traffickers, Mr. Speaker, do not wear
long trench coats. They are relatively young, good-looking guys.
He enticed her; he brought her some presents; he took her to his
home, and then she became a slave. At 11 years old, she was sold on the
marketplace for a long time, until she was able to escape the
traffickers. That is what is taking place in our country.
Today, unlike 155 years ago, this Congress is united in stopping this
curse of slavery. Ten bills dealing with sex trafficking overwhelmingly
passed the House of Representatives. One of those was one that I
sponsored, the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, along with
Carolyn Maloney, who is here today.
Mr. Speaker, these are all bipartisan pieces of legislation, and you
don't get much more bipartisan than Carolyn Maloney from New York and
Ted Poe from Texas agreeing. We are only separated, as Churchill said,
by a common language. I want to thank her for her hard work for years
on the issue of trafficking. The Senate combined these 10 bills, made
some positive changes, and their bill passed the Senate 99-0.
The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act goes after the
trafficker--the slave master, the slaveholder. It treats the child as a
victim and not as a criminal and not as a child prostitute. It rescues
the victim, and it targets the demand--the buyer, the child abuser--
that buys these children for pleasure.
This legislation also allows Federal judges to impose not only prison
for these criminals, but may order that fees go into a fund. That fund
can be used for victims' services and even training for peace officers.
Make these criminals pay the rent on the courthouse and pay for the
system that they have created.
I want to thank all those that have been involved in these numerous
issues. I especially want to thank the ladies of the House of
Representatives on both sides for bringing this issue to a vote today.
They are very powerful, Mr. Speaker, on this issue. They deserve
recognition.
I also want to commend Senator Cornyn for the legislation he pushed
forward--the original bill that we are voting on today--in the Senate
of the United States.
Mr. Speaker, America can no longer deny the inconvenient truth of sex
trafficking. The enslavement of children is not acceptable, and it will
not be tolerated. It will not be tolerated in this country, and it is
not going to be tolerated in other countries as well.
Mr. Speaker, I will insert into the Record a letter sent by 163
different organizations in support of this legislation.
April 29, 2015.
Hon. John Boehner,
Speaker, House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Nancy Pelosi,
Minority Leader, House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Speaker Boehner and Minority Leader Pelosi: We are an
alliance of organizations and individual advocates from
across the United States dedicated to improving the lives of
vulnerable women and children. We write to express our
support for the Senate anti-trafficking package, the Justice
for Victims of Trafficking Act, as amended, S. 178 (JVTA
package) recently voted out of the Senate unanimously. This
package, which includes nearly all of the trafficking bills
passed overwhelmingly by the House in January, would provide
much needed services to victims of human trafficking and help
ensure that child victims ensnared in the sex trade are no
longer arrested and treated as criminals.
According to the FBI, over 80 percent of all confirmed sex
trafficking cases in the U.S. involve U.S. citizens, yet
across the country, victims still lack basic necessities.
Simply stated, there are more animal shelters in our country
than programs or beds for victims of trafficking. This
critical legislation provides unprecedented support to
victims, who for too long have endured arrest, imprisonment,
and stigma for their victimization instead of support and
services. The Senate package contains critical funding for
housing and services--a crucial element the House companion
lacks. Moreover, the legislation supports training for
federal prosecutors and judges on the importance of
requesting and ordering restitution, so that victims can
receive the compensation they are rightly owed by law.
Every day in this country, thousands of women and children
are bought and sold. The unfettered demand for sex has caused
pimps and exploiters to resort to more extreme tactics in
order to meet exploding demand. The JVTA package directs the
Department of Justice to incorporate strategies for reducing
demand into anti-trafficking training programs and sting
operations, including Innocence Lost. Women and children,
especially girls, are advertised online where buyers purchase
them with ease and anonymity. This happens in every city, in
every state. The JVTA package would help fight online
exploitation and work to bring buyers of child sex to
justice. It creates a new partnership with wounded warriors,
training them to serve as online investigators of child
pornography and exploitation.
Advocates know: this is the most comprehensive and
thoughtful piece of anti-trafficking legislation in years.
The JVTA package represents a tremendous bipartisan effort to
provide necessary support and protections for our victims of
human trafficking, and at long last ends the culture of
impunity for those who purchase our most vulnerable for sex.
But these victims have waited too long. After several years
of advocacy and over a month of delay on the Senate side, we
are just one step away from providing this population with
justice and healing.
As leaders in the anti-trafficking, anti-violence, faith-
based, child welfare, law enforcement, and human rights
movements, we urge the House to take up and pass this vital
legislation without delay.
Sincerely,
Human Rights Project for Girls (Rights4Girls); National
Domestic Violence Hotline; Coalition Against Trafficking in
Women (CATW); Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN);
ECPAT-USA; Girls Inc.; Shared Hope International; Equality
Now; National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
(NCJFCJ); National Association of Police Organizations
(NAPO); National Alliance to End Sexual Violence; New York
State Coalition Against Sexual Assault; Washington Coalition
of Sexual Assault Services; Utah Coalition Against Sexual
Assault; Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic
Violence; Florida Council Against Sexual Violence; New
Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence; Ohio
Alliance to End Sexual Violence.
Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault; Connecticut
Sexual Assault Crisis Services; National Children's Alliance
(NCA); Jewish Women International (JWI); Children's Advocacy
Institute; National Association of Counsel for Children;
Courtney's House, survivor-led service provider; PROTECT;
First Focus Campaign for Children; Franciscan Action Network;
Breaking Free, survivor-led service provider; The
Organization for Prostitution Survivors; Religious Sisters of
Charity; Sanctuary for Families; Maryknoll Sisters of St.
Dominic.
[[Page H3279]]
Dominican Sisters of Peace; DC Rape Crisis Center;
Congregation of St. Joseph; Religious of the Sacred Heart;
Survivors for Solutions, survivor-led service provider;
YouthSpark; Poverty Elimination and Community Action (PEACE)
Foundation; Providence House Inc.; Freedom From Exploitation;
Society of the Holy Child Jesus, American Province; Sisters
of Mercy; Second Life of Chattanooga; Girls Inc. of the
Pacific Northwest; Advocacy for Justice and Peace Committee
of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia; Naomi Project;
YWCA National Capital Area; U.S. Fund for UNICEF.
National Center for Youth Law (NYCL); Christ United
Methodist Church; ENC Stop Human Trafficking; Sisters of St.
Joseph CA; W. Haywood Burns Institute; Sisters of the
Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary; School Sisters of
Notre Dame--CP Province Shalom--JPIC Office; WestCoast
Children's Clinic; Pan Pacific and South East Asia Women's
Association; Trinity Health; Ursuline Sisters of Tildonk,
U.S. Province; Society for Incentive Travel Excellence
(SITE).
Dominican Sisters of Hope; Wildwood United Methodist
Church; Daughters of Mary and Joseph; Presbyterian Women;
Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, Western American
Province; San Francisco Department on the Status of Women;
Enterprising and Professional Women--NYC; MPower Mentoring;
Children Now; Hollywood Business and Professional Women; Mark
P. Lagon, Former Ambassador-At-Large to Combat Trafficking in
Persons, U.S. Dept. of State.
Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center; Perhaps Kids Meeting
Kids Can Make A Difference; California Federation Business &
Professional Women; Virginia Beach Justice Initiative; Sex
Trafficking Survivors United; Burning Bush Moments; Sara
Kruzan, Survivor Advocate; Mary David, Survivor Advocate;
Mentari, New York-based trafficking provider; MISSSEY Inc.;
WITNESS; World Outreach Worship Center; Citizens Against
Trafficking; Culture Reframed; Parenting Project.
Human Trafficking Awareness; Sisters of Charity of St.
Elizabeth; Samaritan House; Regent Law Center for Global
Justice, Human Rights, and the Rule of Law; The Advisory
Council on Child Trafficking; Center for Global Justice;
Slavery Today; The Salvation Army 614 Corps; Regent Law
Center for Global Justice; Dare for More; Sisters of St.
Joseph NW PA; The Samaritan Women; Worthwhile: Go; CHI
Memorial Community Health Center; Hamilton County Health
Department.
City Church of Chattanooga; The Healing Place of Hampton
Roads; Lee University; Hope Hollow Exploitation Victim
Assistance and Consultation Services; Task Force Against
Human Trafficking for the Episcopal Diocese of New York;
Protect HER; Mary Kay Cosmetics; Community Coalition Against
Human Trafficking; Chattanooga Women's Club; Brainerd Baptist
Church; Young America Ministries.
Lions Club; United Methodist Women; Duoloyi Ministry;
Hamilton County Health Department; Gateway Christian Center;
Sisters of Charity; OLP Foundation; The Advocates for Human
Rights; Burks United Methodist Church; Sisters of Providence;
Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes; Chattanooga Coalition
Against Human Trafficking; Regent University Center for
Global Justice; Episcopal Diocese of New York.
Jewish Child Care Association; All Saints Institute for
Asian American Concerns; Therapeutic Interventions, Inc.;
Church of the Incarnation; Lutheran Family Services of
Virginia; Center for Global Justice at Regent Law; Children's
Law Center of California; Seraphim Global; Christina Oaks;
Chattanooga State Community College; Savior Arts, Inc.;
Church of the Holy Comforter; Sex Trade 101; Project Woman,
Ohio-based domestic violence and sexual assault center.
John Jay College of Criminal Justice; The Up Center; Foster
Family-based Treatment Association; Alternatives to Violence
Center; Tri County Help Center, Inc.; Alameda County Foster
Youth Alliance; Business and Professional Women (BPW); Amara
Legal Center; All Saints Episcopal Church; University of
Hawai'i at Manoa; Advancing the Ministries of the Gospel
(AMG) International; Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth; St.
Paul's Episcopal Church.
New York Presbyterian Church; First Centenary United
Methodist Church; West Virginia Foundation for Rape
Information and Services; Rape Crisis Team Trumbull County;
Cleveland Rape Crisis Center; Poverty Elimination and
Community Education (PEACE) Foundation; SHEBA USA; Hope Tree
Family Services.
Mr. POE of Texas. America's kids, Mr. Speaker, are not for sale.
And that is just the way it is.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great privilege to yield 5
minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B.
Maloney), whom I have worked with over the years on issues dealing with
women's rights and the abuse and misuse of children and certainly her
work on the issues of sexual abuse and sex trafficking of children and
women.
Congresswoman Maloney is a member of the Financial Services Committee
and an original cosponsor, along with Congressman Poe, of this
legislation in the House.
{time} 1715
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong
support of the Senate-passed Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act.
I commend the ranking member for the Subcommittee on Crime,
Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations for her hard work on
this bill and so many others and on this issue, and to Chairman
Goodlatte and the leadership for bringing this bill swiftly to the
floor.
I particularly applaud the efforts of Congressman Poe, who, as a
former judge and prosecutor, brought a keen understanding and passion
to moving this bill forward. For well over 10 years, I have worked on
trying to pass legislation that focused on the demand side of sex
trafficking. It is only by going after the demand side that you will
ever make a dent in protecting these young girls and boys. With his
leadership, he brought new life and focus to getting this passed, and I
cannot thank him enough. I truly believe that this bill will save
lives.
I am so pleased that Democrats and Republicans have come together, as
we have historically done, in efforts to combat human slavery, human
trafficking, and to bring forward a bill to help victims of this
modern-day form of slavery.
This bill cracks down on traffickers and provides resources to
trafficking survivors. There are an estimated 21 million victims around
the world today, including in all 50 States, being sold for sex and
slave labor.
Business is very good for some very bad people. Every year, sex
trafficking yields well over $9 billion in illegal profits. But unlike
guns and dope that can only be sold once, the human body can be sold
over and over again, usually until they die. This legislation starts to
put a dent in those profits by levying fines on convicted traffickers
and using the money to create the domestic trafficking victims fund.
This is appropriate justice. Traffickers are forced to pay for
rehabilitative services for the girls, boys, men, women, and children
whom they have victimized and profited from.
But we have to capture these criminals first, and perpetrators too
easily have slipped through the cracks. In fact, trafficking victims
are commonly charged with prostitution, while their pimps and johns and
traffickers are never held accountable for their terrible crimes.
This bill will flip that equation by giving law enforcement tools to
help victims, and new powers and resources to identify, arrest, and
prosecute buyers and sellers of sex with minor children, pornography,
slave labor, and other forms of sex and labor trafficking. This will
clarify, once and for all, that traffickers and johns and pimps are the
true criminals in sex trafficking because, make no mistake,
prostitution is not, and never has been, what has often been called a
victimless crime.
Patronizing a trafficked individual is not a casual act of sex; it is
a criminal act of rape. Stiffening penalties and levying fines on
perpetrators of these terrible crimes can start to decrease demand and
put the people who buy and sell children behind bars, protecting other
children from being hurt and destroyed--put them behind bars, where
they belong.
This bill also enables victims and survivors to get the help that
they deserve. Most trafficked individuals have multiple encounters with
law enforcement while enslaved, but police are not sufficiently
equipped to identify them. To that end, the bill also provides support
for law enforcement to better identify and serve trafficking victims.
These are victims who need help, not culprits to lock up while their
traffickers and pimps go free.
We cannot afford to miss opportunities to recognize a trafficked
victim when he or she walks into the police station or hospital or
local clinic. And there must be protocols, such as those called for in
this bill, in place to ensure their safety and not to treat them as the
criminals.
This bill provides a comprehensive approach to address these issues
and to banish this horrific crime from the United States of America. I
urge Congress to act right away so victims need wait no longer for
justice and the critical services and resources that they so
desperately deserve. I urge complete
[[Page H3280]]
bipartisan support for this bill. It is long overdue, and it will give
a better future for those who have survived the worst crime in the
world.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. I yield the gentlewoman an additional 15 seconds.
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. This bill is so critically
important. Of all the bills that we have passed--and this body, in a
bipartisan way, has passed a whole series of bills--this particular one
has enforcement, it has prevention, and it has help for the survivors.
I applaud everyone who worked on this important piece of legislation,
and we can't pass it fast enough.
Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I, too, would like to join the gentleman
from Texas in thanking the gentlewoman from New York for her good work
on this for a long time now, and to thank the ranking member of the
Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations Subcommittee,
Ms. Jackson Lee, for this bipartisan legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs.
Wagner), another champion in the fight against sex trafficking,
particularly on the Internet.
Mrs. WAGNER. I thank the chairman very much for his leadership on
this issue and so many others.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 178, the Justice for
Victims of Trafficking Act, and all of the House-passed human
trafficking legislation that was incorporated into this Senate bill.
Mr. Speaker, today marks the culmination of a long journey for myself
and many Members in both Chambers who have worked on this important
issue. This legislation represents a significant step forward in the
Federal Government's efforts to combat the scourge of modern-day
slavery, known as human trafficking. This bill makes enormous progress
in the fight against trafficking by providing resources to law
enforcement officials and collecting fees from sex traffickers that go
into a new fund for victims.
It also includes my signature legislation, the SAVE Act, which make
it illegal to knowingly advertise the victims of human trafficking,
especially on the Internet. I thank my friends and colleagues, Senator
Mark Kirk and Dianne Feinstein, for offering the SAVE Act as an
amendment to this very important legislation.
Beyond the multiple tools and resources it gives to law enforcement
and survivors, this legislation also serves an important symbolic
purpose. This bill symbolizes the longstanding and steadfast commitment
that Members of Congress have towards protecting the most vulnerable
members of our society.
No longer will the cruel exploitation of women and children be
allowed to continue unchecked. No longer will sexual predators be
allowed to torture, rape, and kill young Americans in the name of
financial profit. Mr. Speaker, with this legislation, we are providing
voice to the voiceless and advocating for those who cannot advocate for
themselves.
Mr. Speaker, I am so proud of all of the good, bipartisan work done
by my colleagues here in Congress on this issue of human trafficking.
Years of work by many of my colleagues, including Representatives Poe,
Smith, Noem, Paulsen, Beatty, Maloney, and many, many others, Mr.
Speaker, have laid the foundation for this long overdue action.
I am grateful that many of my colleagues have held events in their
home districts to raise awareness and educate the public about human
trafficking. Awareness, training, and education are the key to
preventing this horrible crime from happening in the first place. Young
people must be warned about the devious and manipulative strategies
employed by traffickers to ensnare them in the trap of sexual slavery.
The children at risk are not just school students. Pimps or
traffickers are known to prey on victims as young as 9 years old.
Traffickers may target minor victims through social media Web sites,
afterschool programs, shopping malls and clubs, and through friends or
acquaintances who recruit students on school campuses.
One of the best ways to combat human trafficking is through
education. Many States have successful programs that train school
personnel about how to identify the victims. We should work with
schools to develop policies and protocols and partnerships to address
and prevent the exploitation of children.
Partnership between public and private sectors is the key to
combating human trafficking. Many times, frontline employees in the
transportation and hospitality industry are the ones best suited to
identify trafficking victims or their predators. Increased awareness
and training will lead to more victims being identified, which is the
critical step in breaking the cycle of exploitation and victimization.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation and
all efforts to combat human trafficking, and I look forward to
continuing this work in the House of Representatives, and this Congress
as a whole, for years to come.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
New Jersey (Mr. Smith), a great advocate for human rights here in the
House.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S.
178, the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015, a
comprehensive bill authored by Senator Cornyn, with input from many.
This extremely important legislation includes numerous bipartisan
bills passed by the House earlier this year under the extraordinary
leadership of Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Conference Chair Cathy
McMorris Rodgers, and our own good chairman, Bob Goodlatte.
When enacted into law, S. 178 will provide powerful new tools in the
struggle to abolish modern-day slavery, including a domestic
trafficking victims fund designed to provide assistance to victims of
human trafficking and grants to States and localities funded by a
$5,000 penalty assessed on convicted offenders.
The bill seeks to protect runaways from the horror of trafficking,
strengthen the child welfare agency response, aid victims of child
pornography, and criminalize advertisement for the commercial
exploitation of children.
Each year, Mr. Speaker, as you know, there are approximately 100,000
American children, mostly runaways, trafficked in the U.S. The average
age of initial enslavement is 13.
These children, when found, are often charged with prostitution,
fined, or put in juvenile detention, where there are, or should be,
other options available. These children, mostly young girls, need to be
protected and cared for and treated with compassion and respect, not
prosecution. The pending bill moves us towards this goal.
Indeed, title VI authorizes DOJ to give preferential treatment in
awarding public safety and community-oriented police grants to an
applicant from a State that treats a minor engaged in commercial sex as
a victim.
Title VII was inspired by a groundbreaking study conducted by Laura
Lederer and funded by several foundations, including the Charlotte
Lozier Institute, that found that approximately 88 percent of domestic
trafficking victims ``had contact with a health care provider while
being trafficked, with the most common being a hospital'' or a hospital
emergency room, almost 64 percent.
Situation awareness coupled with best practices will, without a
doubt, help victims escape from this cruelty to freedom and protection.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 178--the Justice for
Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015--a comprehensive bill authored by
Senator Cornyn, with input from many.
This extremely important legislation includes numerous bipartisan
bills passed by the House earlier this year under the extraordinary
leadership of Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Conference Chair Cathy
McMorris Rodgers and Chairman Goodlatte.
When enacted into law, S. 178 will provide powerful new tools in the
struggle to abolish modern day slavery including a Domestic Trafficking
Victims Fund designed to provide assistance to victims of human
trafficking and grants to states and localities funded by a $5,000
penalty assessed on convicted offenders.
The bill seeks to protect runaways from the horror of human
trafficking, strengthen the
[[Page H3281]]
child welfare agency response, aid victims of child pornography,
criminalize advertisement for the commercial exploitation of children,
and beefs up the Departments of Homeland Security, Defense and HHS'
anti-human trafficking activities.
Each year there are approximately 100,000 American children, mostly
runaways, trafficked in the U.S. The average age of initial enslavement
is 13 years old.
These children, when found, are often charged for prostitution, fined
or put in juvenile detention, when there are--or should be--other
options available. These children, mostly young girls, need to be
protected and cared for and treated with compassion and respect--not
prosecuted. The pending bill moves us toward this goal.
Indeed, Title VI authorizes DOJ to give preferential treatment in
awarding public safety and community oriented police grants to an
applicant from a state that treats a minor engaged in commercial sex as
a victim--because that is what they are and that's already federal law
due to the TVPA of 2000.
Title VII of S. 178 was inspired by a groundbreaking study conducted
by Laura Lederer and funded by several foundations, including the
Charlotte Lozier Institute, that found approximately 88 percent of
domestic trafficking victims ``had contact with a health care provider
while being trafficked with the most common contact being a hospital/ER
(63.3%).''
Situation awareness coupled with best practices will without a doubt
help victims escape to freedom and protection.
So, in response, Title VII requires HRSA to award a competitive grant
to an eligible entity to design and implement a pilot program utilizing
evidence-based best practices to train health care professionals to
recognize trafficking victims and respond effectively.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, anti-human trafficking bills are often
difficult to pass. When I first introduced the Trafficking Victims
Protection Act, in 1998, the legislation was met with a wall of
skepticism and opposition. People both inside of government and out
thought the bold new legislation that included sheltering, asylum, and
significant protections for the victims long jail sentences and asset
confiscation for the traffickers, and tough sanctions for governments
that failed to meet minimum standards was merely a solution in search
of a problem.
So as the prime author of the landmark Trafficking Victims Protection
Act of 2000 as well as reauthorizations of that law in 2003 and 2005, I
believe the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act will further prevent
the horrific crime of human trafficking, protect and assist victims,
and aid in the prosecution of those who exploit and abuse.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, may I ask how much time is remaining on
each side?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Virginia has 5\3/4\
minutes remaining. The gentlewoman from Texas has 9\1/4\ minutes
remaining.
Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Minnesota (Mr. Paulsen), who has also contributed one of the pieces of
legislation included in this effort, and I thank the gentleman.
Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I want to first thank the chairman and the
ranking member for their leadership on combating this issue because
today is a very important moment in the fight against modern-day
slavery.
For several years, members of both parties have been working
diligently with law enforcement, with victims, with social service
providers and policy experts to end the sale and victimization of
innocent girls. This bill today is the culmination now of all the
initiatives previously passed in the House that will increase penalties
for pimps and johns, that will enhance the Federal Government's
response to trafficking, that will increase cooperation with
governments overseas, and it will go after the Web sites that aid in
the trafficking of minors.
{time} 1730
I am pleased that this package also includes my legislation, the safe
harbor legislation, that ensures that we will be treating minors who
are trafficked as victims, rather than as criminals, and improve the
services that they receive.
Mr. Speaker, the traffickers that we see today, they use every tool
they can use to keep victims silent and under their control, whether it
is by using threats, violence, drugs, or deception.
And trafficking victims all share one thing in common: it is a loss
of freedom and a loss of the ability to speak out. Today we stand with
these victims to bring them out of the shadows and say, enough is
enough, because our girls are not for sale.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I thank the Members who have spoken and highlighted a number of
points that I want to reinforce.
I want to reinforce what my good friend from New York (Mrs. Carolyn
B. Maloney) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe) have said: that we
are now looking the pimps and the johns straight in the eye and really
focusing on demand. But connected to demand are those lives, those
lives that we want to restore and give them a new opportunity in life.
We want them to not be bruised. We want them to have the ability to
restore their lives as young as under 10, 11, or 12, teenagers or young
women.
This particular legislation, which I want to highlight, promotes
rehabilitation by encouraging the development of specialized court
programs for victims of child human trafficking.
As the chair of the Children's Caucus, I realize how vulnerable our
children are all over the world. And what I am most interested in is
the outpatient treatment, life skills training, housing placement,
vocational training, education, family support services, and job
placement.
When you find a homeless teen or one who has been victimized, they
are empty. They are without any substance to know that they have
something of quality to save and to mold and to build. The
rehabilitation part of this particular legislation--and I do want to
acknowledge the gentleman from Texas, Senator Cornyn--is a very, very
important part of this legislation.
With that, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, at this time, it is my pleasure to yield
1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin).
Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the legislation
before us to combat human trafficking.
Not only would I like to thank the gentleman from Virginia, Chairman
Goodlatte, and his committee, but I would also especially like to thank
our senior Senator from the State of Texas, Mr. Cornyn, for his
leadership in getting this important legislation through the Senate.
This bipartisan bill will strengthen our laws against human
trafficking, train law enforcement to better target criminals engaged
in trafficking, and ensure that the victims of human trafficking are
cared for with compassion.
These victims are taken from their homes, enslaved, treated as
objects. Human trafficking is a terrible, heinous crime, and its
victims are usually voiceless. Today we are their voice, and we are
taking action on their behalf.
This legislation provides resources and services that help victims to
be identified, rescued, and, most importantly, to begin to heal from
these traumatic events. S. 178 takes steps that would serve as a model
for other nations to follow in combating the inhumane crime of human
trafficking.
We must do all that we can to restore dignity to its victims and
bring justice to its perpetrators, and I urge all of my colleagues to
join me in supporting this important legislation.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I have the privilege of now yielding 4
minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Beatty), the
author of H.R. 246 that protects children from being criminalized,
which is included in this bill, and I thank her for her work.
Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the
bipartisan Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, S. 178.
But first I would like to thank both Chairman Goodlatte of Virginia
and Ranking Member Conyers of Michigan of the Judiciary Committee for
bringing this important bill to the floor for consideration. I also
would like to thank the gentlewoman from Texas, Congresswoman Sheila
Jackson Lee, for her leadership and for managing the bill today for the
Democrats, and a special thank you to the original sponsors.
This comprehensive legislation is a major milestone in our efforts to
crack down on sex trafficking and to help protect vulnerable children
across America.
One of my top priorities in the 114th Congress was to pass my
trafficking
[[Page H3282]]
bill, H.R. 246, and today's bill includes it and nine other bipartisan
House bills aimed at combating the scourge of human trafficking.
I thank Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Grassley of Iowa for
offering the language of my bill as an amendment during the markup of
S. 178 to ensure its inclusion in this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, on March 2, 2015, I sat through the Senate Judiciary
Committee markup to witness and hear the committee's discussion and
vote. Today I am proud to stand on this House floor with colleagues on
both sides of the aisle, advocating for this legislation that will
provide child sex trafficking victims with greater restitution,
justice, and resources.
Mr. Speaker, human trafficking is one of the fastest-growing crimes
in the world. We have heard that, and it is worth repeating.
In fact, according to the United States State Department, human
trafficking is the world's second-largest criminal enterprise after the
illegal drug trade.
As we know, it is not just happening in faraway lands. It happens in
our own backyards.
I am proud to have participated and led discussions on preventing
child sex trafficking in my district. Last year, I joined a bipartisan
roundtable discussion to hear firsthand stories and challenges from
once child victim Theresa Flores, who is now a national spokesperson
and best-selling author of ``The Slave Across the Street.''
In the United States, some 300,000 children are at risk each year for
commercial sexual exploitation. In my home State of Ohio, each year, an
estimated 1,100 Ohio children become victims of human trafficking, and
over 3,000 more are at risk.
The average age of trafficked victims in the United States is between
12 and 13 years of age. At this early age, Mr. Speaker, children should
be in middle school, making new friends, playing sports, enjoying
afterschool programs, or just being children.
Mr. Speaker, these children deserve better, and today's legislation
is a much-needed step in that right direction.
We know that no single system can successfully combat trafficking.
Preventing, identifying, and serving victims of trafficking requires a
multicoordinated approach across all levels of government as well as
input and assistance from nongovernmental entities and the American
people.
My provision in this bill will update Federal law to include the term
``child sex trafficking'' to reinforce that children who are trafficked
should not be criminalized as prostitutes; instead, treated as victims.
We need to ensure people understand that if they report an instance of
child sex trafficking, law enforcement is not going to pursue the child
and prosecute them as a criminal. They are victims.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. I yield the gentlewoman an additional 15 seconds.
Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, let me end by asking and encouraging all
people, when they see something, say something.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues today to support this legislation
so we may send it to the President's desk for signature, finally
bringing justice to the tens of thousands of human trafficking victims.
Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how much time remains on
each side?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Virginia has 3\1/4\
minutes remaining. The gentlewoman from Texas has 3\1/2\ minutes
remaining.
Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, so many important points have been
made, and I would just like to quickly summarize by adding my
appreciation, again, to the sponsors and to the speakers today,
Congresswoman Maloney and Congresswoman Beatty, and, of course, the
speakers of our friends on the other side of the aisle.
I want to emphasize something that I think should pierce our hearts,
which is that children should be protected. There are several elements
that I think are important to make mention of regarding these children
being protected.
One, I would like to acknowledge the responsibilities of the Attorney
General to create a system to monitor the issuance and enforcement of
mandatory restitution. Remember, these children have been victimized
over the years and really have been thrown to foster care or other
agencies where moneys were not available. These restitution orders will
compensate victims not only of human trafficking but also related
immigration and child pornography cases. The establishment of a
domestic victims fund will also improve the conditions for our
children.
We worked on a cybersecurity bill, an important part of this bill
that establishes a national cyber crimes center to manage and provide
data essential for this effort. It authorizes the U.S. Marshals Service
to provide assistance to State, local, and other Federal law
enforcement agencies. It has placed the U.S. Marshals in a very
effective manner.
Let me note the fact that there are mandatory minimums. In a very
small way in this bill, we will be looking at sentencing reformation
and reform in the following months.
What I would say is that our children are enormously important. This
is a very important bill. And I think it is very important that we move
this legislation and view it as an embracing of our children and
protecting of our women, standing as a country against the violence of
sex trafficking and child trafficking.
Might I also say that this bill encourages and forces training for
our law enforcement, something that we view as very important as we are
going forward, to investigate human trafficking as well as training for
those essential to our criminal justice system.
I might, as I close, indicate that we have finally come full circle
to be able to stand again on the floor of the House and acknowledge
that if you engage in these activities, we will find you wherever you
are, and we will prosecute you. And the idea that you can hide as a
pimp or a john is no more, and the idea that children are left to their
own devices after they have been victimized is no more.
We look to reunite families, to strengthen families, to provide for
these children, and, as my colleague has just said, not to criminalize
the children but, tragically, first to restore the victims' lives.
I ask my colleagues to support the Senate bill, the underlying bill,
the bill on the floor of the House. I thank the members of the
Judiciary Committee of the Senate, the members of the Judiciary
Committee here in the House, both the chairman and ranking member, and
the members of our committee as we work through this process, and all
the Members who put forward outstanding initiatives that are now a part
of this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, human trafficking is a scourge that greatly impacts on
my home district in Houston, Texas. Houston currently ranks #1 among
U.S. cities with the most victims of human trafficking. Twenty-five
percent of all human trafficking victims are in my home state of Texas.
Currently, thirty percent of all human trafficking tips to the National
Rescue Hotline come from Texas.
Obviously, Houston does not shoulder this threat alone. Human
trafficking impacts our whole nation. The National Center for Missing
and Exploited Children estimates that one of every seven endangered
runaways reported to the Center are likely victims of minor sex
trafficking, and that at least 100,000 American children are the
victims of sex trafficking each year.
It is our duty to rescue these children, shelter them, and help them
recover from the trauma that has been inflicted upon them. It is also
our duty to prevent these crimes before they happen and to provide law
enforcement with the tools they need to combat human traffickers.
This bill will be a significant weapon in the war against sex
trafficking, which unfortunately is the fastest growing business of
organized crime in the United States, generating an estimated $9
billion annually.
Although not perfect, S. 178 is a comprehensive bill that includes a
variety of measures intended to strike at the problem of child sex
trafficking through prevention, law enforcement, and rehabilitation
services for victims.
This bill addresses the demand for this business by adding criminal
prohibitions for those who solicit and advertize human trafficking. Law
enforcement officials across the U.S. have identified online sex ads as
the number one platform for the buying and selling of sex with children
and young women.
The legislation provides the tools to rebuild the lives of those
exploited by this business. It specifically addresses the needs of
thousands
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of homeless children, many who have fled physically and sexually
abusive homes, only to be victimized again by sex traffickers.
The bill promotes rehabilitation by encouraging the development of
specialized court programs for victims of child human trafficking.
These court programs will provide: outpatient treatment, life skills
training, housing placement, vocational training, education, family
support services, and job placement.
These programs will largely respond to the practical needs of those
victimized by human trafficking. It is our duty to provide the tools to
reclaim these stolen lives.
The bill goes further by encouraging through grant programs to the
States that establish safe harbors for children who have been victims
of sex trafficking. These safe harbors play a critical role in
preventing youth, forced into the sex trade, from being re- victimized
and stigmatized a second time by the criminal justice system.
Mr. Speaker, with this bill we are stating clearly: these children
are not criminals. They are victims of one of the most heinous types of
crime, and they deserve to be rescued and treated so that they may have
the opportunity of overcoming their horrendous traumas.
The bill also allows victims of sex trafficking with related criminal
charges to be eligible for acceptance in Job Corps program, an
important process for reintegration into society.
Victims of sex trafficking deserve and need restitution for
rehabilitation. This bill requires the Attorney General to create a
system to monitor the issuance and enforcement of mandatory restitution
orders. These restitution orders will compensate victims not only of
human trafficking, but also related immigration and child pornography
cases.
The establishment of a Domestic Trafficking Victims Fund will also
improve services to children who have been rescued, in the form of
long-term rehabilitative services, relief that is long overdue.
The requirement to monitor enforcement of restitution orders will in
turn provide a strong basis for determining the next steps necessary to
ensure that victims are justly compensated for the traumas inflicted on
them by their traffickers.
The necessary reporting must also identify current gaps in research
and data. This information will be helpful in formulating effective
strategies in deterring children from becoming victims of trafficking.
It requires the Government Accountability Office to report on both
federal and state enforcement efforts to combat human trafficking and
the commercial sexual exploitation of children.
The bill provides significant support for law enforcement officers to
identify and rescue the victims of human trafficking. The bill
establishes a National Cyber Crimes Center to manage and provide data
essential for this effort. It authorizes the U.S. Marshals Service to
provide assistance to state, local, and other federal law enforcement
agencies in locating and recovering missing children when requested to
do so by those agencies.
Given the Marshals Service's well-established history, reputation,
and success in locating missing persons and fugitives, this requirement
makes perfect sense.
We must not underestimate the task ahead for law enforcement to
effectively combat human trafficking. In my home state, it is well
known to both state and federal officials that Mexican cartels
facilitate, control, and benefit from nearly all human smuggling
activity along the Texas-Mexico border. As I've already mentioned,
domestic human trafficking is a nine billion-dollar business.
This legislation provides law enforcement with the tools to prosecute
these crimes and to rebuild the lives of those exploited by this
business
S. 178 gives block grants to states to assist law enforcement with
the expenses of wiretaps, the use of experts, and essential travel.
The legislation requires better coordination between law enforcement
and a variety of other entities, including: child advocacy centers,
social service agencies, state governmental health service agencies,
housing agencies, and legal services agencies.
When it comes to recovering and rehabilitating our missing children,
we must utilize every available resource.
Several provisions in this bill encourage and foster training for law
enforcement to investigate human trafficking as well as for training
for those essential to our criminal justice system, such as physical
and mental health care providers, federal prosecutors, and judges.
S. 178 empowers women who have been the victims of rape by providing
incentives to states to pass laws allowing termination of parental
rights of rapists.
In addition, the bill seeks to hinder demand by prosecuting not just
the trafficker, but also--for the first time--those who patronize and
solicit children for illicit sexual acts. Without the consumers of the
human sex trafficking, there would be no victims.
And, S. 178 would criminalize the act of using the Internet to
advertise human trafficking. While the Internet has enriched out lives
significantly, it has also provided traffickers with a ready tool used
to further the heinous trafficking of minors for sex.
Finally, the bill will help to foster better collaboration among
federal, state, and local law enforcement in the fight against sex
trafficking. Specifically, S. 178 directs that a task force be
established within the Violent Crimes Against Children Program to
facilitate such coordination.
This bill attacks the scourge of human trafficking by undercutting
demand, providing law enforcement with the tools they need for
intervention, and by providing rehabilitation and recovery for the
victims of human trafficking.
I had hoped that before S. 178 was presented to the President, it
would not contain provisions that extend the use of mandatory minimum
sentences. Frankly, I am surprised that the final bill includes
additional mandatory minimum sentencing provisions. Mandatory minimums
have led to mass incarceration and a one- size-fits-all philosophy in
sentencing that we should reject. But the overall value of the bill in
protecting child sex victims and adult and child trafficking and sex
victims is crucial. I support the vital purpose of this bill. On
balance however, the many other positive provisions this legislation
provides to combat human trafficking counsels in favor of its passage.
Nevertheless, we must be vigilant in monitoring the execution of this
bill after it becomes law, and effectuate modifications if necessary.
The health and welfare of so many of our young people depend on it. The
U.S. Department of Justice estimates that 300,000 children in this
country are at risk of being trafficked.
Mr. Speaker, it is for these innocent children that I strongly
encourage support for this legislation.
With that, I ask for Members' support on this legislation, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as
she may consume to the gentlewoman from South Dakota (Mrs. Noem) who
has also contributed a major piece of the legislation before the House
today.
Mrs. NOEM. I thank the chairman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, human trafficking is an issue that I believe many people
see as far removed from them and their families, but the reality is
that it is happening all around us: in our schools, near our homes, on
Web sites that our kids visit and frequent.
My words are not intended to alarm people today but to bring into
perspective that it isn't just happening overseas or in communities far
away from our homes. It is happening across this country, even in my
home State of South Dakota.
In my State, there are three main ways that people are trafficked,
according to Kimberly LaPlante, who works at an organization called
Call to Freedom in Sioux Falls. One, trafficking victims are brought
from bigger cities or from our Native American reservations and sent to
the North Dakota oil fields. Two, they are sold at large events, like
the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Or three, it is homegrown
trafficking, meaning this demand originates in my State, and that, by
the way, is the most common problem across this country.
In 2013, the South Dakota Attorney General's Office held a 6-day
undercover operation at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in western South
Dakota. They put up an online ad and, over the 6 days, received more
than 180 responses.
Local law enforcement did the same thing in a community not far from
my home. Over the course of 2 days, they received 110 responses.
This form of slavery is happening almost every single day, and it is
time we do something about it. This bill is our opportunity to do
something about it. It is an opportunity for both Chambers of Congress
to stand together and support legislation that protects our children
and our communities.
One of the components of this legislation is a provision that I wrote
to help combat many of the problems that we are facing in South Dakota
but also other places in the country.
{time} 1745
Today there are only about 200 beds for underage victims in the
United States. The language that I wrote included in this bill ensures
that shelters can get access to more resources to build safe housing
for those trying to escape and recover from trafficking.
There is also a severe lack of information about trafficking and its
victims. To help prevent it and to intervene when it does occur, my
language
[[Page H3284]]
aims to make sure that the information on the state of trafficking in
this country is analyzed and used to decide how those Federal resources
should be used to combat it.
Mr. Speaker, I am so proud to see this package coming to the floor
today. I urge the President to sign it quickly so that we can all join
hands and act to prevent this human trafficking from continuing across
our country and protect as many children and help them heal as we
possibly can.
Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, S. 178.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
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