[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 124 (Tuesday, July 26, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H7083-H7089]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





   FREDERICK DOUGLASS TRAFFICKING VICTIMS PREVENTION AND PROTECTION 
                      REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2022

  Ms. BASS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 6552) to reauthorize the Trafficking Victims Protection Act 
of 2000, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 6552

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Frederick Douglass 
     Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization 
     Act of 2022''.

     SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.

     TITLE I--COMBATING TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS IN THE UNITED STATES

Subtitle A--Programs To Support Victims and Persons Vulnerable to Human 
                              Trafficking

Sec. 101. Modifications to grants to assist in the recognition of 
              trafficking.
Sec. 102. Human trafficking survivors employment and education program.
Sec. 103. Extending sunset for Advisory Council on Human Trafficking.

         Subtitle B--Monitoring Child, Forced, and Slave Labor

Sec. 111. Sense of Congress on submission of Department of Justice 
              reports on time.
Sec. 112. Sense of Congress on requiring child welfare agencies to 
              report information on missing and abducted foster 
              children and youth.

              TITLE II--FIGHTING HUMAN TRAFFICKING ABROAD

Sec. 201. Modifications to program to end modern slavery grants.
Sec. 202. Amendments to tier standards.
Sec. 203. Expanding prevention efforts at the United States Agency for 
              International Development.
Sec. 204. Sense of Congress on human trafficking crisis in Ukraine.

               TITLE III--AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS

Sec. 301. Extension of authorizations under the Victims of Trafficking 
              and Violence Protection Act of 2000.
Sec. 302. Extension of authorizations under the International Megan's 
              Law.

     TITLE I--COMBATING TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS IN THE UNITED STATES

Subtitle A--Programs To Support Victims and Persons Vulnerable to Human 
                              Trafficking

     SEC. 101. MODIFICATIONS TO GRANTS TO ASSIST IN THE 
                   RECOGNITION OF TRAFFICKING.

       (a) Amendments to Authorities To Prevent Trafficking.--
     Section 106(b)(2) of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence 
     Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7104(b)) is amended--
       (1) in the heading, by striking ``Grants to assist in the 
     recognition of trafficking'' and inserting ``Frederick 
     douglass human trafficking prevention education grants'';
       (2) in subparagraph (B)--
       (A) in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting 
     ``under a program named `Frederick Douglass Human Trafficking 
     Prevention Education Grants' '' after ``may award grants''; 
     and
       (B) in clause (ii), by inserting ``, linguistically 
     accessible, and culturally responsive'' after ``age-
     appropriate'';
       (3) in the heading of subparagraph (C), by inserting ``for 
     frederick douglass human trafficking prevention education 
     grants'' after ``Program requirements'';
       (4) by amending subparagraph (D) to read as follows:
       ``(D) Priority.--In awarding Frederick Douglass Human 
     Trafficking Prevention Education Grants under this paragraph, 
     the Secretary shall--
       ``(i) give priority to local educational agencies serving a 
     high-intensity child sex trafficking area or an area with 
     significant child labor trafficking;
       ``(ii) give additional priority to local educational 
     agencies that partner with non-profit organizations 
     specializing in human trafficking prevention education, which 
     partner with law enforcement and technology or social media 
     companies, to assist in training efforts to protect children 
     from labor trafficking and sexual exploitation and abuse 
     including grooming, materials depicting the sexual abuse of 
     children, and human trafficking transmitted through 
     technology; and
       ``(iii) consult, as appropriate, with the Secretary of 
     Education, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, 
     the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Labor, and 
     the Attorney General, to identify the geographic areas in the 
     United States with the highest prevalence of at-risk 
     populations for child trafficking, including children who are 
     members of a racial or ethnic minority, homeless youth, 
     foster youth, youth involved in the child welfare system, and 
     children and youth who run away from home or an out-of-home 
     placement.''; and
       (5) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(E) Criteria for selection.--Grantees should be selected 
     based on their demonstrated ability to--
       ``(i) engage stakeholders, including survivors of human 
     trafficking, and Federal, State, local, or Tribal partners, 
     to develop the programs;
       ``(ii) train the trainers, guardians, K-12 students, 
     teachers, and other school personnel in a linguistically 
     accessible, culturally responsive, age-appropriate, and 
     trauma-informed fashion; and
       ``(iii) create a scalable, repeatable program to prevent 
     child labor trafficking and sexual exploitation and abuse 
     including grooming, child sexual abuse materials, and 
     trafficking transmitted through technology that--

       ``(I) uses evidence-based (as such term is defined in 
     section 8101(21)(A) of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
     Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801(21)(A))) best practices; and
       ``(II) employs appropriate technological tools and 
     methodologies, including linguistically accessible, 
     culturally responsive, age-appropriate, and trauma-informed 
     approaches for trainers, guardians, educators, and K-12 
     students.

       ``(F) Train the trainers.--For purposes of subparagraph 
     (E), the term `train the trainers' means having experienced 
     or master trainers coach new trainers who are less 
     experienced with a particular topic or skill, or with 
     training overall, who can then teach the material to others, 
     creating a broader reach, sustainability, and making efforts 
     cost- and time-efficient (commonly referred to as `training 
     of trainers').
       ``(G) Data collection.--The Secretary shall consult with 
     the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Housing and 
     Urban Development, and the Secretary of the Interior to 
     determine the appropriate demographics of the recipients or 
     of students at risk of being trafficked or exploited, to be 
     collected and reported with respect to grants under this 
     paragraph, which shall include data collection of, at a 
     minimum, students who are economically disadvantaged, members 
     of a racial or ethnic minority, homeless youth, foster youth, 
     youth involved in the child welfare system, and children and 
     youth who run away from home or an out-of-home placement.
       ``(H) Report.--Not later than 540 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the 
     Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to the 
     Committees on Education and Labor, Energy and Commerce, and 
     the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the 
     Committees on the Judiciary and Health, Education, Labor, and 
     Pensions of the Senate and make available to the public a 
     report, including data on the following:
       ``(i) The total number of entities that received a 
     Frederick Douglass Human Trafficking Prevention Education 
     Grant over the past year.
       ``(ii) The total number of partnerships or consultants that 
     included survivors, non-profit organizations specialized in 
     human trafficking prevention education, law enforcement, and 
     technology or social media companies.
       ``(iii) The total number of elementary and secondary 
     schools that established and implemented evidence-based (as 
     such term is defined in section 8101(21)(A) of the Elementary 
     and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801(21)(A))) 
     best practices through programs developed using such grants.
       ``(iv) The total number and geographic distribution of 
     trainers, guardians, students, teachers, and other school 
     personnel trained using such grants pursuant to this 
     paragraph.
       ``(v) The results of pre-training and post-training surveys 
     to gauge trainees' increased understanding of the scope and 
     signs of child trafficking and child sexual exploitation and 
     abuse; how to interact with potential victims and survivors 
     of child trafficking and child sexual exploitation and abuse 
     using age-appropriate and trauma-informed approach; and the 
     manner in which to respond to potential child trafficking and 
     child sexual exploitation and abuse.
       ``(vi) The number of potential victims and survivors of 
     child trafficking and child sexual exploitation and abuse 
     identified and served by grantees, excluding any individually 
     identifiable information about such children and acting in 
     full compliance with all applicable privacy laws and 
     regulations.
       ``(vii) The number of students in elementary or secondary 
     school identified by grantees as being at risk of being 
     trafficked or sexually exploited and abused, excluding any 
     individually identifiable information about such children.
       ``(viii) The demographic characteristics of child 
     trafficking survivors and victims, sexually exploited and 
     abused children, and students at risk of being trafficked or 
     sexually exploited and abused described in clauses (vi) and 
     (vii), excluding any individually identifiable information 
     about such children.
       ``(ix) Any service gaps and best practices identified by 
     grantees.''.

     SEC. 102. HUMAN TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS EMPLOYMENT AND 
                   EDUCATION PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services 
     may carry out a Human Trafficking Survivors Employment and 
     Education Program to prevent the re-exploitation of eligible 
     individuals who have been victims of trafficking, by 
     assisting such individuals to integrate or reintegrate into 
     society through social services support for the attainment of 
     life-skills, employment, and

[[Page H7084]]

     education necessary to achieve self-sufficiency.
       (b) Services Provided.--Services offered, provided, and 
     funded by the Program shall include (as relevant to the 
     victim of trafficking)--
       (1) enrollment and participation in--
       (A) basic education, including literacy education and 
     English as a second language education;
       (B) job-related skills training;
       (C) vocational and certificate programs; and
       (D) programs for attaining a regular high school diploma or 
     its recognized equivalent;
       (2) life-skill training programs, including management of 
     personal finances, self-care, and parenting classes;
       (3) resume creation and review;
       (4) interview coaching and counseling;
       (5) assistance with expungement of criminal records when 
     such records are for nonviolent crimes that were committed as 
     a consequence of the eligible individual's victimization, 
     including assistance with credit repair;
       (6) assistance with enrollment in college or technical 
     school;
       (7) scholarship assistance for attending college or 
     technical school;
       (8) professional coaching or professional development 
     classes;
       (9) case management to develop an individualized plan with 
     each victim of trafficking, based on each person's needs and 
     goals;
       (10) assistance with obtaining victim compensation, direct 
     victim assistance, or other funds for mental health care; and
       (11) other programs and services that help eligible 
     individuals to achieve self-sufficiency, such as wrap-around 
     social services to assist survivors in meeting their basic 
     needs.
       (c) Service Period.--Eligible individuals may receive 
     services through the Program for a cumulative period of 5 
     years.
       (d) Cooperative Agreements.--Subject to the availability of 
     appropriations, the Secretary shall enter into cooperative 
     agreements with one or more eligible organizations to carry 
     out this section.
       (e) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Eligible individual.--The term ``eligible individual'' 
     means a domestic or foreign victim of trafficking who--
       (A) has attained the age of 18 years; and
       (B) is eligible to receive services under section 107(b) of 
     the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 
     7105(b)).
       (2) Eligible organization.--The ``eligible organization'' 
     may include a non-governmental organization and means a 
     service provider that meets the following criteria:
       (A) Experience in using national or local anti-trafficking 
     networks to serve victims of trafficking.
       (B) Experience qualifying, providing, and coordinating 
     services for victims of trafficking, as described in 
     subsection (b), that is linguistically accessible, culturally 
     responsive, age-appropriate, and trauma-informed.
       (C) With respect to a service provider for victims of 
     trafficking served by the Program who are not United States 
     citizens, a provider that has experience in identifying and 
     assisting foreign-born victims of trafficking, including 
     helping them qualify for Continued Presence, T-Visas, and 
     other Federal, State, and local services and funding.
       (D) With respect to a service provider for victims of 
     trafficking served by the Program who are United States 
     citizens and legal permanent residents, a provider that has 
     experience identifying and assisting victims of trafficking, 
     as such term is defined in section 103 of the Trafficking 
     Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102), especially 
     youth and underserved populations.
       (3) Program.--The term ``Program'' means the Human 
     Trafficking Survivors Employment and Education Program 
     established under this section.
       (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Health and Human Services.

     SEC. 103. EXTENDING SUNSET FOR ADVISORY COUNCIL ON HUMAN 
                   TRAFFICKING.

       Section 115(h) of the Justice for Victims of Trafficking 
     Act of 2015 is amended by striking ``2020'' and inserting 
     ``2031''.

         Subtitle B--Monitoring Child, Forced, and Slave Labor

     SEC. 111. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON SUBMISSION OF DEPARTMENT OF 
                   JUSTICE REPORTS ON TIME.

       It is the sense of Congress that the Department of Justice 
     has failed to meet reporting requirements under title IV of 
     the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2017 (Public Law 
     115-393; 132 Stat. 5273)) and that progress on critical data 
     collection on human trafficking and crime reporting are in 
     jeopardy as a result of such failure and must be addressed 
     immediately.

     SEC. 112. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON REQUIRING CHILD WELFARE 
                   AGENCIES TO REPORT INFORMATION ON MISSING AND 
                   ABDUCTED FOSTER CHILDREN AND YOUTH.

       It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) each State child welfare agency should prioritize 
     developing and implementing protocols to comply with section 
     471(1)(35)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
     671(a)(35)(B));
       (2) report the information it receives on missing or 
     abducted foster children and youth to the National Center on 
     Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and to law enforcement 
     authorities for inclusion in the FBI's National Crime 
     Information Center database, in accordance with subparagraphs 
     (A) and (B) of section 471(a)(34) of the Social Security Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 671(a)(34));
       (3) such reports must be made immediately (and in no case 
     later than 24 hours) after the information is received; and
       (4) such reports to the Secretary of the Department of 
     Health and Human Services were required to start on September 
     30, 2016, and annual reports were required to start on 
     September 30, 2017, by such section 471(a)(34), to provide 
     the total number of children and youth who are sex 
     trafficking victims.

              TITLE II--FIGHTING HUMAN TRAFFICKING ABROAD

     SEC. 201. MODIFICATIONS TO PROGRAM TO END MODERN SLAVERY 
                   GRANTS.

       (a) In General.--Section 1298 of the National Defense 
     Authorization Act of 2017 (22 U.S.C. 7114) is amended as 
     follows:
       (1) In subsection (g)(2), by striking ``2020'' and 
     inserting ``2026''.
       (2) In subsection (h)(1), by striking ``Not later than 
     September 30, 2018, and September 30, 2020'' and inserting 
     ``Not later than September 30, 2022, and September 30, 
     2026''.
       (b) Award of Funds.--All grants shall be awarded on a 
     competitive basis.

     SEC. 202. AMENDMENTS TO TIER STANDARDS.

       (a) Modifications to Tier 2 Watch List.--Subsection (b)(2) 
     of section 110 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 
     2000 (22 U.S.C. 7107), is amended--
       (1) in the heading, by striking ``Special'' and inserting 
     ``Tier 2''; and
       (2) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as follows:
       ``(A) Submission of list.--Not later than the date on which 
     the determinations described in subsections (c) and (d) are 
     submitted to the appropriate congressional committees in 
     accordance with such subsections, the Secretary of State 
     shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a 
     list of countries that the Secretary determines requires 
     special scrutiny during the following year. The list shall be 
     composed of countries that have been listed pursuant to 
     paragraph (1)(B) pursuant to the current annual report 
     because--
       ``(i) the estimated number of victims of severe forms of 
     trafficking is very significant or is significantly 
     increasing and the country is not taking proportional 
     concrete actions; or
       ``(ii) there is a failure to provide evidence of increasing 
     efforts to combat severe forms of trafficking in persons from 
     the previous year, including increased investigations, 
     prosecutions and convictions of trafficking crimes, increased 
     assistance to victims, and decreasing evidence of complicity 
     in severe forms of trafficking by government officials.''.
       (b) Modification to Special Rule for Downgraded and 
     Reinstated Countries.--Subsection (b)(2)(F) of such section 
     110 is amended--
       (1) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking ``the 
     special watch list'' and all that follows through ``the 
     country--'' and inserting ``the Tier 2 watchlist described in 
     subparagraph (A) for more than 1 year immediately after the 
     country consecutively--'';
       (2) in clause (i), in the matter preceding subclause (I), 
     by striking ``the special watch list described in 
     subparagraph (A)(iii)'' and inserting ``the Tier 2 watch list 
     described in subparagraph (A)''; and
       (3) in clause (ii), by inserting ``in the year following 
     such waiver under subparagraph (D)(ii)'' before the period at 
     the end.
       (c) Conforming Amendments.--Subsection (b) of such section 
     110 is amended as follows:
       (1) In paragraph (2), as amended by subsection (a)--
       (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``special watch list'' 
     and inserting ``Tier 2 watch list'';
       (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``special watch list'' 
     and inserting ``Tier 2 watch list''; and
       (C) in subparagraph (D)--
       (i) in the heading, by striking ``special watch list'' and 
     inserting ``tier 2 watch list''; and
       (ii) in clause (i), by striking ``special watch list'' and 
     inserting ``Tier 2 watch list''.
       (2) In paragraph (3)(B), in the matter preceding clause 
     (i), by striking ``clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) of''.
       (3) In paragraph (4)--
       (A) in subparagraph (A), in the matter preceding clause 
     (i), by striking ``each country described in paragraph 
     (2)(A)(ii)'' and inserting ``each country described in 
     paragraph (2)(A)''; and
       (B) in subparagraph (D)(ii), by striking ``the Special 
     Watch List under paragraph (2)'' and inserting ``the Tier 2 
     watch list under paragraph (2)''.

     SEC. 203. EXPANDING PREVENTION EFFORTS AT THE UNITED STATES 
                   AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

       In order to increase the prevention efforts by the United 
     States abroad, the Administrator of the United States Agency 
     for International Development shall encourage integration of 
     activities to counter trafficking in persons (C-TIP) into 
     broader assistance programming. The Administrator shall--
       (1) determine a reasonable definition for the term ``C-TIP 
     Integrated Development Programs'', which shall at a minimum 
     include any programming to address health, economic 
     development, education, democracy and governance, food 
     security and humanitarian assistance that the Administrator 
     determines includes a sufficient counter-trafficking in 
     persons element integrated in the program design or delivery;

[[Page H7085]]

       (2) encourage that any program design or delivery that may 
     directly serve victims of trafficking in persons is age-
     appropriate, linguistically accessible, culturally 
     responsive, and survivor- and trauma-informed, and provides 
     opportunities for anonymous and voluntary feedback from the 
     beneficiaries receiving such services;
       (3) encourage that each USAID mission integrates a counter-
     trafficking in persons perspective and specific approaches 
     into development programs, project design, and methods for 
     program monitoring and evaluation, when addressing a range of 
     development issues, including--
       (A) health;
       (B) economic development;
       (C) education;
       (D) democracy and governance;
       (E) food security; and
       (F) humanitarian assistance;
       (4) implement robust training and disseminate tools around 
     the integration of a counter-trafficking perspective and 
     awareness in the day-to-day work of development 
     professionals; and
       (5) encourage subsequent Country Development Cooperation 
     Strategies include a counter-trafficking in persons analytic 
     component to guide future project design and promote the 
     inclusion of counter-trafficking elements in project design, 
     implementation, monitoring, and evaluation required for Tier 
     2 Watch List and Tier 3 countries (as such terms are defined 
     for purposes of section 110 of the Trafficking Victims 
     Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7107), as amended).

     SEC. 204. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING CRISIS IN 
                   UKRAINE.

       It is the sense of Congress that Russia's aggression in 
     Ukraine targeting civilians and non-military infrastructure 
     has led to millions to flee their homes--90 percent of them 
     being women and children according to the United Nations High 
     Commissioner for Refugees--creating a humanitarian and human 
     trafficking crisis, as Russian President Putin continues to 
     wage the largest and most lethal war in Europe since World 
     War II.

               TITLE III--AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS

     SEC. 301. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATIONS UNDER THE VICTIMS OF 
                   TRAFFICKING AND VIOLENCE PROTECTION ACT OF 
                   2000.

       Section 113 of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence 
     Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7110) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``2018 through 2021, 
     $13,822,000'' and inserting ``2022 through 2026, 
     $16,000,000'';
       (2) in subsection (b)(1)--
       (A) by striking ``To carry out the purposes of sections 
     106(b) and 107(b),'' and inserting ``To carry out the 
     purposes of sections 106(b) and 107(b) of this Act and 
     sections 101 and 102 of the Frederick Douglass Trafficking 
     Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 
     2022,''; and
       (B) by striking ``$19,500,000'' and all that follows, and 
     inserting ``$25,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2022 
     through 2026, of which $5,000,000 is authorized to be 
     appropriated in each fiscal year for the National Human 
     Trafficking Hotline and for cybersecurity and public 
     education campaigns, in consultation with the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security, for identifying and responding as needed 
     to cases of human trafficking.'';
       (3) in subsection (c)(1)--
       (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
     ``2018 through 2021, $65,000,000'' and inserting ``2022 
     through 2026, $89,500,000'';
       (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``; and'' and 
     inserting a semicolon;
       (C) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting ``; and''; and
       (D) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(E) to fund programs to end modern slavery, in an amount 
     not to exceed $37,500,000 for each of the fiscal years 2022 
     through 2026.''; and
       (4) in subsection (d) in paragraph (1), by striking ``2018 
     through 2021'' and inserting ``2022 through 2026, of which 
     $35,000,000 is authorized to be appropriated for each fiscal 
     year for the Office of Victims of Crime Housing Assistance 
     Grants for Victims of Human Trafficking''.

     SEC. 302. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATIONS UNDER THE INTERNATIONAL 
                   MEGAN'S LAW.

       Section 11 of the International Megan's Law to Prevent 
     Child Exploitation and Other Sexual Crimes Through Advanced 
     Notification of Traveling Sex Offenders (34 U.S.C. 21509) is 
     amended by striking ``2018 through 2021'' and inserting 
     ``2022 through 2026''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Bass) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.


                             General Leave

  Ms. BASS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on H.R. 6552, as amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. BASS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6552, the 
Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection 
Reauthorization Act of 2022.
  I thank the ranking member of our Subcommittee on Africa, Global 
Health, and Global Human Rights, Representative Chris Smith, who I have 
worked closely with for many years to develop this bill. This joint 
effort has served as a daily reminder that collaboration in Congress is 
both imperative and far from finished when it comes to combating and 
eliminating human trafficking.
  This legislation is the overdue reauthorization of the Trafficking 
Victims Act of 2000, which expired last September. To continue this 
essential fight to end global human trafficking, this measure must be 
passed by the House today so that more than 20 years of work is not 
undone.
  This bill is especially important in the wake of the COVID-19 
pandemic, when virtual K-12 education made it harder for teachers to 
identify and report human trafficking, prosecutions of traffickers were 
delayed as courts closed, and the demand for social services for 
survivors increased as many of them lost their jobs and homes.
  Critically, this reauthorization strengthens provisions in the 
original bill that protect and support trafficking victims while 
reauthorizing $1 billion to fund programs across the Departments of 
Justice, Homeland Security, and Health and Human Services that are 
dedicated to addressing human trafficking and aiding victims.
  This funding includes $35 million in housing assistant grants for the 
victims of human trafficking, which offer temporary housing that 
provides trafficking survivors with meaningful alternatives to living 
with their abusers. It also funds education programs on trafficking 
warning signs for educators and law enforcement personnel who may 
otherwise unknowingly encounter trafficking victims. It further 
requires greater accountability measures to protect people who are 
trafficked while appropriately punishing traffickers.
  In the U.S., the populations most vulnerable to human trafficking 
include migrant laborers, minorities, people with disabilities, those 
in the LGBTQ community, and especially runaway and homeless youth and 
those in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. In regard to 
sex trafficking, which is where the child welfare system comes in, the 
average age of the victim is 12 years old.
  As a former healthcare professional and chair of the subcommittee, I 
have been a champion of child welfare issues throughout my time in 
Congress. I have seen too many instances of human rights violations 
against children and other vulnerable populations falling victim to the 
abuses of human trafficking, both in the U.S. and around the world. We 
must take this issue seriously and continue taking a whole-of-
government approach to addressing it.
  Sometimes, however, we focus on the international and forget that 
this is a problem right here in many cities around our Nation. The 
Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection 
Reauthorization Act adds several new provisions to the original 
legislation that will substantially improve our efforts against 
trafficking here at home while only slightly modifying existing 
provisions that have been successful throughout its passage.
  One important example is the modifications made to existing HHS 
grants that would train elementary and secondary school teachers, 
children, guardians, and trainers in the recognition and response to 
child trafficking. Child trafficking in the U.S. is not labor 
trafficking, but it is sex trafficking. This section now focuses 
authorities to ensure that grantees will use proven best practices, 
trains personnel with equitable approaches, and identifies service 
gaps, among other things.
  It also calls on State child welfare agencies to prioritize the 
implementation of protocols to report information on missing and 
abducted children to the National Center for Missing and Exploited 
Children and law enforcement.
  Additionally, the bill requires States to submit annual reports on 
child sex

[[Page H7086]]

trafficking victims to Health and Human Services, which is one of the 
many steps that we can take to trace, track, and find those missing 
and, hopefully, create a system that prevents further disappearance of 
our youth. It is our job to protect those in this country who cannot 
protect themselves, especially children in the child welfare system. 
When we remove them from their parents and from their homes, then we 
the government become the parents, and we cannot be guilty of neglect.
  H.R. 6552 strengthens anti-trafficking efforts abroad. Human 
trafficking is the second largest criminal industry worldwide, with 
more than 25 million people, women and girls being the largest 
identified demographic. These numbers are alarming, and I am humbled to 
be part of a measure that will focus on expanding prevention efforts at 
USAID by taking steps to further integrate counter-trafficking in 
persons activities into already existing international development 
programs.
  This bill moves not only to support those who have already fallen 
victim but also to prevent further trafficking and bring perpetrators 
to justice. We must swiftly pass this bipartisan measure to protect 
those who are the most vulnerable among us. It is our duty to stop this 
heinous crime whenever and wherever it is discovered, whether it be 
here in the United States or abroad.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                                         House of Representatives,


                                   Committee on the Judiciary,

                                    Washington, DC, June 14, 2022.
      Hon. Gregory Meeks,
     Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Meeks: This letter is to advise you that the 
     Committee on the Judiciary has now had an opportunity to 
     review the provisions in H.R. 6552, the ``Frederick Douglass 
     Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization 
     Act of 2022,'' that fall within our Rule X jurisdiction. I 
     appreciate your consulting with us on those provisions. The 
     Judiciary Committee has no objection to your including them 
     in the bill for consideration on the House floor, and to 
     expedite that consideration is willing to forgo action on 
     H.R. 6552, with the understanding that we do not thereby 
     waive any future jurisdictional claim over those provisions 
     or their subject matters.
       In the event a House-Senate conference on this or similar 
     legislation is convened, the Judiciary Committee reserves the 
     right to request an appropriate number of conferees to 
     address any concerns with these or similar provisions that 
     may arise in conference.
       Please place this letter into the Congressional Record 
     during consideration of the measure on the House floor. Thank 
     you for the cooperative spirit in which you have worked 
     regarding this matter and others between our committees.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Jerrold Nadler,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                 Committee on Foreign Affairs,

                                    Washington, DC, July 21, 2022.
     Hon. Jerrold Nadler,
     Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Nadler: I am writing to you concerning H.R. 
     6552, Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and 
     Protection Reauthorization Act of 2022, as amended. I 
     appreciate your willingness to work cooperatively on this 
     legislation.
       I acknowledge that provisions of the bill fall within the 
     jurisdiction of the Committee on the Judiciary under House 
     Rule X, and that your Committee will forgo action on H.R. 
     6552 to expedite floor consideration. I further acknowledge 
     that the inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill 
     does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the 
     matters contained in the bill that fall within your 
     jurisdiction.
       I also acknowledge that your Committee will be 
     appropriately consulted and involved as this or similar 
     legislation moves forward, and will support the appointment 
     of Committee on the Judiciary conferees during any House-
     Senate conference convened on this legislation. Lastly, I 
     will ensure that our exchange of letters is included in the 
     Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill. 
     Thank you again for your cooperation regarding the 
     legislation. I look forward to continuing to work with you as 
     the measure moves through the legislative process.
           Sincerely,
                                                 Gregory W. Meeks,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Ways and Means,

                                    Washington, DC, July 25, 2022.
     Hon. Gregory Meeks,
     Chair, Committee on Foreign Affairs,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chair Meeks: In recognition of the desire to expedite 
     consideration of H.R. 6552, Frederick Douglass Trafficking 
     Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 
     2022, the Committee on Ways and Means agrees to waive formal 
     consideration of the bill as to provisions that fall within 
     the rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means.
       The Committee on Ways and Means takes this action with the 
     mutual understanding that we do not waive any jurisdiction 
     over the subject matter contained in this or similar 
     legislation, and the Committee will be appropriately 
     consulted and involved as the bill or similar legislation 
     moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues 
     within our jurisdiction. The Committee also reserves the 
     right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of 
     conferees to any House-Senate conference involving this or 
     similar legislation.
       Finally, I would appreciate your response to this letter 
     confirming this understanding and would ask that a copy of 
     our exchange of letter on this matter be included in the 
     Congressional Record during floor consideration of H.R. 6552.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Richard E. Neal,
     Chair.
                                  ____


                                         House of Representatives,


                                 Committee on Foreign Affairs,

                                    Washington, DC, July 25, 2022.
     Hon. Richard E. Neal,
     Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Neal: I am writing to you concerning H.R. 
     6552, Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and 
     Protection Reauthorization Act of 2022, as amended. I 
     appreciate your willingness to work cooperatively on this 
     legislation.
       I acknowledge that provisions of the bill fall within the 
     jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means under House 
     Rule X, and that your Committee will forgo action on H.R. 
     6552 to expedite floor consideration. I further acknowledge 
     that the inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill 
     does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the 
     matters contained in the bill that fall within your 
     jurisdiction.
       I also acknowledge that your Committee will be 
     appropriately consulted and involved as this or similar 
     legislation moves forward and will support the appointment of 
     Committee on Ways and Means conferees during any House-Senate 
     conference convened on this legislation.
       Lastly, I will ensure that our exchange of letters is 
     included in the Congressional Record during floor 
     consideration of the bill. Thank you again for your 
     cooperation regarding the legislation. I look forward to 
     continuing to work with you as the measure moves through the 
     legislative process.
           Sincerely,
                                                 Gregory W. Meeks,
                                                         Chairman.

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the 
bill, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I want to convey my special thanks to Chairwoman Karen 
Bass for her exceptional leadership, partnership, and friendship.
  For years, we have worked together to combat the unspeakable crime 
and abject cruelty of sex and labor trafficking.

                              {time}  1415

  The Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection 
Act is just the latest bold initiative in our mutual commitment to end 
modern-day slavery.
  I want to thank Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Hoyer, Minority 
Leader Kevin McCarthy, and especially Chairman Meeks and Ranking Member 
McCaul for having favorably reported the bill from the Foreign Affairs 
Committee on February 9.
  Majority Leader Hoyer was especially helpful and has ensured timely 
consideration during this month of July, just in time to commemorate 
the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.
  As my colleagues know--we have all been through this--but in this 
case there were five full committee referrals for this bill. It can be 
very challenging getting the committee chairmen and ranking members to 
agree, and I am grateful to them for their good faith in coming 
together for this important human rights cause and making sure that 
this legislation was brought to the floor.
  Madam Speaker, I have been working on human trafficking since 1995. I 
have chaired more than 35 hearings and written five anti-trafficking 
laws including the landmark Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000. 
Many in the United States--and I'm grateful that this is so 
bipartisan--and many around the world have rallied to stop

[[Page H7087]]

this hideous abuse, yet it couldn't be clearer that much more needs to 
be done.
  Traffickers never take a holiday, nor can we. Because traffickers and 
the nefarious networks that they lead always find new ways to exploit 
the vulnerable, we must aggressively strengthen our laws, and we must 
be equally aggressive in the implementation of those laws.
  The Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection 
Act is a bipartisan, survivor-informed bill. Karen and I first 
introduced the bill nearly 11 months ago on Frederick Douglass' 183rd 
anniversary of his self-emancipation, and we were joined at the 
introduction by Kenneth Morris--Frederick Douglass' great-great-great-
grandson. Ken has been a tremendous friend and ally in this human 
rights struggle and helped us write the bill.
  Born a slave--as I think many people know--back in 1818, Frederick 
Douglass disguised himself as a sailor and traveled from Baltimore to 
New York. A renowned abolitionist and statesman--and a Republican--he 
continued to lead the fight to end slavery, Jim Crow laws, and advance 
respect and equality.
  The Frederick Douglass TVPRA honors this great man by significantly 
enhancing programs, strengthening our laws and adding new ones, and 
adding accountability for programs at the Departments of Justice, 
Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, and State to combat human 
trafficking and to offer sustainable solutions, solutions that work.
  This bill ensures robust prevention through trafficking prevention 
education--situational awareness for our children, their teachers, and 
parents--stabilization of survivors once they are no longer in the 
hands of traffickers, and long-term solutions that facilitate healing 
and survivor empowerment.
  Frederick Douglass once said: ``It is easier to build strong children 
than to repair broken men.''
  We want to prevent trafficking from occurring in the first place. 
That is why we have authored this legislation. We create an age-
appropriate, scalable program to train the trainers, use proven and 
tested best practices, and include training parents and guardians in 
trafficking prevention education. This bill also properly designates 
these grants as the Frederick Douglass Prevention Education Grants.
  I know all of my colleagues are aware of Megan's Law which protects 
children domestically. In 2008 I introduced International Megan's Law. 
It passed the House three times and almost died in the Senate until the 
third iteration of it. It was signed into law in 2016, and now it is 
being reauthorized in this bill as well.
  Megan Kanka was from my former hometown of Hamilton. She was just 7 
years old when she was kidnapped, raped, and brutally murdered in 1994. 
Her assailant lived right across the street. Unbeknownst to her family 
and other residents in the neighborhood, he was a convicted, repeat 
child sex offender. Her parents, Maureen and Richard Kanka, are 
heartbroken to this day. They have been amazingly effective, 
courageous, and heroic in successfully pushing every State in the Union 
to enact Megan's Law.
  So why International Megan's Law?
  We know from law enforcement, academia, and media documentation that 
Americans on the U.S. sex offender registries are frequently caught 
abusing children all over the world: Asia, Central and South America, 
and Europe--as I said, everywhere.
  Under International Megan's Law, convicted child sex offenders who 
travel abroad must provide notice to the U.S. Government through the 
Angel Watch Center prior to departure of all planned destinations. 
Failure to do so carries a significant jail term. Upon receipt of the 
travel itinerary, the U.S. Government informs the destination country 
or countries of those plans.
  In just a few years of working--and that is with people not traveling 
as much during Covid-19, the pandemic--the U.S. Government has notified 
foreign governments of the planned travel of 19,000 covered child sex 
offenders, and more than 7,000 individuals who were convicted of crimes 
against children were denied entry to these nations.
  The Douglass bill, Madam Speaker, also requires international 
programs to focus on best practices in their integration of counter-
trafficking efforts into their development portfolios. This way we can 
make the best use of our foreign assistance at the Department of State 
and the U.S. Agency for International Development.
  The bill realigns efforts to meet fundamental needs of survivors 
through wrap-around social services with case management, including 
assistance with obtaining housing, life-skills training, and mental 
health care, while also providing long-term solutions through 
job coaching and training, and assistance with obtaining employment and 
higher education. This approach is fundamental to meeting survivors' 
needs on their continuum of healing.

  As Frederick Douglass, again, once said: ``Knowledge makes a man 
unfit to be a slave.''
  Rather than quick fixes that can leave survivors vulnerable to re-
trafficking, the Frederick Douglass bill invests wisely in systemic and 
dignified solutions by providing survivors opportunities for the 
education and jobs they need to become self-reliant and even leaders.
  It provides, for the first-time, $35 million for Housing Assistance 
Grants For Victims of Human Trafficking. The number of people without 
housing in the U.S. continues to climb, while trafficking victims are 
extraordinarily vulnerable if they don't have a place to live.
  We cannot forget what is happening in Ukraine. There is good language 
in the bill calling to our attention all of those who have been so 
horribly mistreated and trafficked. I thank Chairwoman Bass for really 
bringing a focus to foster care and the fact that so many of our foster 
care children have been trafficked. It is a place of extreme 
vulnerability. She has very good language that she has put into this 
bill--we worked together--but it was her initiative on that issue.
  The ILO says that there are nearly 25 million people in the world who 
are enslaved and that most are women and children. That is 
unconscionable. Every human life is of infinite value. We as lawmakers 
have a duty to protect the weakest and most vulnerable from harm.
  I yield such time as he may consume to gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Roy).
  Mr. ROY. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Madam Speaker, I just want to speak up in favor of, not necessarily 
the bill because I need to review the bill, but the legislation's 
purpose and the intent of the authors to approach this issue of human 
trafficking because it is so critically important. I am glad that we 
are working on a bipartisan basis to do that.
  I am going to demand the yeas and nays in a minute because of other 
issues involving the floor I am not going to get into right now, about 
time to review bills and other things we are discussing with the 
majority, and that is why we are making decisions on the floor to force 
votes.
  But on the substance, human trafficking is absolutely devastating. It 
is devastating to the people of Texas, it is devastating to the people 
of the district I represent, it is devastating to young children, 
people whom I have met when I have gone to various centers in Texas 
where they are dealing with these, mainly children, but also adults in 
trafficking.
  Also trafficking goes well beyond, obviously, the sex trafficking 
trade and goes to the slave labor that exists in the United States of 
America today and that is absolutely unconscionable.
  I appreciate the bipartisan work on this topic. I am certainly 
delighted to work with both Members on it. I just didn't want the fact 
that I am going to demand the yeas and nays to be an indication of not 
supporting the purpose of this bill. There are other factors that are 
in play involving the floor and spending and other stuff. I appreciate 
it.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I am prepared to close.
  Madam Speaker, I thank my good friend from Texas for his very fine 
statement, and I look forward to a recorded vote.
  I also want to say very clearly that we have a very, very broad 
bipartisan group of stakeholders who are for this, including, as I 
mentioned a moment ago, Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives, the 
Douglass Leadership Institute, Frederick Douglass Foundation,

[[Page H7088]]

along with 300 anti-trafficking and human trafficking organizations, 
over 500 advocates and survivors, and they have worked tirelessly with 
us over the last 18 months, with both Karen Bass and me in crafting 
this legislation. We even had more. Some of them did drop out, but we 
will come back some day in the future to get some of that. But it is a 
good solid bill.
  Survivor leaders like Bella Hanoukey and Robert Lung provided 
valuable insights and expertise for this bill. As I said, Kenneth 
Morris was outstanding in the work that he provided for us.
  As a matter of fact, as the special representative for human 
trafficking for the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, a couple of years ago, 
I brought him into one of our big parliamentary assembly meetings, and 
there were at least 100-plus lawmakers from the European space that 
heard him speak about the importance of prevention. If young people 
know what is out there and what is waiting--particularly run-aways--
they will be forearmed and forewarned and, hopefully, can mitigate the 
possibility of being trafficked themselves. He hit it out of the park, 
and he has been a great friend on this.

  We also have 3Strands Global Foundation; the Safe House Project; 
America First Policy Institute; End Child Prostitution and Trafficking 
USA; ECPAT, with whom we work very closely; the American Hotel and 
Lodging Association; the Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking, that 
is known as ATEST. They have a great group and consortium of groups.
  We have the International Justice Mission, IJM; World Vision; United 
States Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking; Shared Hope 
International; Hope for Justice; National Child Protection Task Force; 
Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network, also known as RAINN; the 
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, who also worked 
with us closely on it; the National Center on Sexual Exploitation; and 
the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women.
  They all provided valuable insights, as I mentioned a moment ago.
  I want to thank Mark Iozzi and Jamie Jackson from the majority 
leader's office for working closely with Chairwoman Bass and me and who 
helped bring this to the floor today; Chris Bien and Will Dunham from 
the minority leader's office; Janice Kaguyutan--I want to thank her for 
her help as she has done before on trafficking and legislation; and 
Doug Anderson.
  I want to thank Mary Vigil who is sitting right behind me. For the 
last 18 months she has been meeting with all the groups working and 
drafting this legislation. She has done an amazing job. I want to thank 
her for her leadership. She used to work at USAID. She has got a heart 
for vulnerable people, and I can't thank her enough for that.
  I thank Piero Tozzi, our chief counsel for the Lantos Commission on 
the Republican side and Mary Noonan, my Chief of Staff, Tomekah Burl 
and Meghann Galloway, Karen Bass' staff who were also outstanding.
  It was a full court press and a great deal of collaboration. I thank 
them and my distinguished staff and all the Members who got together 
behind this.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. BASS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for 
the purpose of closing.
  Madam Speaker, H.R. 6552, the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims 
Protection and Reauthorization Act, as amended, should be supported by 
every Member participating in today's vote. This overdue 
reauthorization strengthens laws that not only support those who have 
already fallen victim but also prevents the future risk of trafficking 
both at home here in the U.S. and abroad.
  We must supply housing for victims so that they can have a safe place 
to go when they leave their abusers. We also must ensure that child 
welfare and foster children are prioritized, particularly young women, 
girls, and those in the LGBTQ community are protected and aided with 
resources. Without housing these children often have no choice but to 
return to their pimps, their traffickers.
  Our departments must have the funding they need so they can offer the 
best training and personnel to respond to this crisis. It is our duty 
as public servants to protect the vulnerable and stop this heinous 
crime when and where it is discovered. Human trafficking is a heinous 
violation of human rights, and we must do everything in our power to 
combat it, and that includes passing this bill.
  Again, I thank the staff who have worked very hard on this. I 
especially thank the ranking member, as we have worked together for 12 
years. As my time in Congress draws to a close, I am very happy that 
this is one of the last pieces of legislation that we can move forward 
on together.
  Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting 
this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 
6552, the ``Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and 
Protection Reauthorization Act of 2022.
  H.R. 6552 is a bipartisan initiative to bolster programs and provide 
critical funding to combat human trafficking.
  I would like to thank Congressman Chris Smith, for authoring today's 
legislation, and Congresswoman Karen Bass, for co-leading this 
initiative to take important steps in preventing trafficking and 
protecting the most vulnerable among us.
  This bill will effectively reauthorize the historic Trafficking 
Victims Protection Act of 2000.
  H.R. 6552 will provide more than $1 billion over five years to 
support education, restorative care, and other programs that protect 
victims of human trafficking.
  This includes strengthening the Frederick Douglass Human Trafficking 
Prevention Education Grants created in the Frederick Douglass Act of 
2018.
  Frederick Douglass Prevention Education grants work to prevent online 
grooming and trafficking of children through trauma-informed approaches 
and programs.
  H.R. 6552 will also authorize the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services to carry out a Human Trafficking Survivors Employment and 
Education Program to prevent the re-exploitation of eligible 
individuals who have been victims of trafficking.
  The program will provide job-related skills training, life-skill 
training programs, assistance with enrollment in college or technical 
school, and other programs and services to help individuals achieve 
selfsufficiency.
  H.R. 6552 commits to fighting human trafficking both domestically and 
internationally.
  Today's bill will also reauthorize ``International Megan's Law'' to 
track convicted sex offenders living abroad and returning to the U.S. 
after living in foreign countries. It goes further by adding 
accountability for U.S. Federal and foreign governments, hotels, and 
airlines with anti-trafficking training and codes of conduct.
  My record in Congress reflects my longstanding, deep commitment to 
fighting human trafficking.
  While drafting the major update of the Violence Against Women's Act 
(VAWA), I added human trafficking provisions that address more 
resources and tools to aid local law enforcement and advocacy groups to 
assist victims and seek justice for them.
  I also introduced H.R. 128, the RAISE Act, which directs the Attorney 
General to create a pilot youth diversion program for youth that have 
been the victims of abuse, sex or drug trafficking, or other violent 
conduct, and for whom the criminal conduct is due in whole or in part 
to that victimization.
  Texas has the second-highest number of reported cases of human 
trafficking in the nation. In 2020, the National Human Trafficking 
Hotline reported a total of 987 human trafficking cases in Texas.
  This statistic is only a fraction of the actual number of cases since 
human trafficking is difficult to detect and measure. Researchers from 
the University of Texas have found that more than 300,000 people are 
victims of some sort of human trafficking each year in Texas.
  The Department of Justice declared Houston as one of the largest hubs 
in the nation for human trafficking.
  Human trafficking is modern-day slavery and a global problem.
  Today's legislation provides the necessary additional support to 
victims of human trafficking. It goes further by enforcing preventative 
measures to help ensure victims are not trafficked again.
  H.R. 6552 programs are dedicated to education and offer innovative 
practices to help survivors navigate the pathway to self-sufficiency 
and recovery.
  Too often women and girls who are victims of trafficking are arrested 
for crimes associated with their victimization, but they are treated as 
criminals and not victims in need of services.
  I find these practices to be heinous, disgusting, and unconscionable.
  A victim who has just been forced into the most vile, vicious, and 
vulnerable reality of being trafficked must not be treated as a 
criminal, just like the person who trafficked her.

[[Page H7089]]

  It is almost inconceivable that this continues to occur in modern-day 
America. Yet, it is the actual reality for millions of trafficked 
women.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 
6552.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Bass) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 6552, as amended.
  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. ROY. Madam 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.

                          ____________________