[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 193 (Thursday, December 6, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S7353]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         THE TRAFFICKING VICTIMS PROTECTION REAUTHORIZATION ACT

  Mr. CORKER. Mr. President, I wish to speak on S. 1862, the 
Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2017.
  Mr. MENENDEZ. Would the Senator from Tennessee, the chairman of the 
Foreign Relations Committee, yield for a question? As the sponsor of 
this legislation, would you explain how our bill relates to 
international exchange programs run by the Department of State that 
collect program fees to fund program operations?
  Mr. CORKER. I appreciate the Senator's question and his partnership 
with me on this legislation to advance the fight against modern-day 
slavery.
  Our bill and the underlying Trafficking Victims Protection Act are 
designed to eliminate forced labor around the world and do not affect 
the Exchange Visitor Programs, under the J-1 visa, which is authorized 
by Congress and administered by the State Department. The J-1 exchange 
programs are important tools that Congress authorized to enhance mutual 
exchange and cultural understanding between people in the United States 
and other countries, and they are subject to regulatory safeguards and 
oversight by the Department of State. Recruitment and placement fees 
referenced in S. 1862 and the Trafficking Victims Protection Act are 
fundamentally different from the program fees in our international 
exchange programs, which are fees required to be charged to program 
participants who receive J-1 visas in order to fund the program. Our 
legislation does not affect the exchange programs, which are an 
important diplomatic tool which I strongly support.
  Mr. MENENDEZ. I thank the Senator from Tennessee. I appreciate your 
explanation, which also reflects my understanding, about the difference 
between international exchange program fees and placement and 
recruitment fees covered by the bill. Let me conclude by saying that I 
agree with you about the importance of our International Exchange 
Programs administered by the Department of State, and I know that 
Congress has long supported these programs.
  Mr. CORKER. I thank the Senator from New Jersey and our distinguished 
ranking member for his question and for working with me to pass this 
important legislation.

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