[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 147 (Tuesday, September 13, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H7749-H7750]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION FOR SPECIAL ASSESSMENT FOR DOMESTIC 
                       TRAFFICKING VICTIMS' FUND

  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (S. 4785) to extend by 19 days the authorization for the special 
assessment for the Domestic Trafficking Victims' Fund.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 4785

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

     SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION FOR SPECIAL ASSESSMENT 
                   FOR DOMESTIC TRAFFICKING VICTIMS' FUND.

       Section 3014(a) of title 18, United States Code, is 
     amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 
     ``September 11'' and inserting ``September 30''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Nadler) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Jordan) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. NADLER. Mr. 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 S. 4785.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 4785 is bipartisan legislation that would extend 
until September 30 of this year, 2022, the mandatory special assessment 
of $5,000 imposed on those convicted of certain offenses involving 
sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, or human trafficking.
  Human trafficking is a multi-billion-dollar criminal industry that 
denies freedom to 24.9 million people around the world and generates 
more than $150 billion annually in illicit profits. It is a 
reprehensible crime that touches communities across the country--from 
major cities to suburban enclaves and rural back roads--and can cause 
devastating, sometimes irreparable harm to victims who fall prey to 
cunning traffickers.
  The fight against human trafficking requires a comprehensive, 
multidisciplinary strategy that includes prosecution of traffickers so 
that they cannot harm again, protection of victims through services to 
increase safety and treat trauma, and prevention efforts to alleviate 
social vulnerabilities to exploitation.
  From providing immediate, emergency care when victims are identified 
to long-term care that helps survivors recover from their 
victimization, victim assistance is vital to the Federal anti-
trafficking strategy and efforts to combat sexual abuse and 
exploitation as well as child pornography, which continue to be a 
threat to our children and other vulnerable persons.
  The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, commonly referred to as 
the JVTA, requires Federal sentencing judges to impose a special 
assessment of $5,000 on those convicted of Federal crimes involving 
sexual abuse, child pornography, sexual exploitation, or human 
trafficking.
  The fees collected from the special assessment are transferred to the 
Domestic Trafficking Victims' Fund and used to fund and enhance vital 
services and programming that assist victims and survivors who have 
been abused, exploited, and/or trafficked.
  This past Sunday, the provision that requires judges to impose the 
special assessment expired, which necessitates the passage of this 
extension until the end of the fiscal year when it can be renewed as 
part of other ongoing legislation to fund the government.
  Congress must do all we can to ensure that resources are available to 
support the needs of victims and survivors of human trafficking, sexual 
abuse, and sexual exploitation, who often have complex needs requiring 
a broader array of trauma-focused services and treatment.
  Although we are considering the bill as introduced by Senators 
Klobuchar and Cornyn, I must also thank Representative Karen Bass for 
her work to introduce the House companion, H.R. 8684, and for her 
continued dedication to helping victims and survivors of human 
trafficking, sexual abuse, and sexual exploitation.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support the extension of the 
$5,000 special assessment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1445

  Mr. JORDAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation extends the authorization for a special 
assessment for the Domestic Trafficking Victims' Fund for 19 days. The 
special assessment is a $5,000 fine levied against someone convicted of 
certain Federal trafficking and sexual abuse offenses. These offenses 
include human smuggling, human trafficking, and sexual abuse of minors, 
among others.
  This $5,000 fine is in addition to other restitution or compensation 
that offenders might be forced to pay, such as court-ordered fines, 
orders of restitution, and other fines related to victim compensation.
  Of course, an additional $5,000 fine can never adequately deter 
criminals from committing these heinous acts. A much more effective 
solution would be to make it more difficult for criminals to traffic 
and smuggle people across our borders in the first place.
  Unfortunately, House Democrats are flat-out unwilling to do anything 
to stop the Biden border crisis. For 21 months, we have seen how 
dangerous criminals have exploited our open borders to smuggle people 
and drugs, particularly fentanyl, into our country.
  The blame for the border crisis, and also our crime crisis, lies 
squarely at the feet of the radical left's agenda and their anti-law 
enforcement agenda.
  House Republicans are more than willing to increase penalties for 
human trafficking and human smuggling, but the House can and should do 
much more to address the catastrophic border crisis caused by President 
Biden's failures.
  Literally, in 20 months, we have gone from a secure border to no 
border. It would help if we actually had a border again to deal with 
these issues that we are discussing here today.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  S. 4785 is bipartisan legislation that would extend the $5,000 
special assessment that provides funding to help victims and survivors 
of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, child pornography, and human 
trafficking, through services, programming, and treatment tailored to 
their specific needs.
  Each of us should make every effort to support programs that help 
rescue survivors of these reprehensible crimes and provide them with 
the resources they need to become whole again, while also holding 
perpetrators accountable for the harms they cause.
  I urge all my colleagues to support S. 4785, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 4785, 
bipartisan legislation that would extend the authorization of the 
$5,000 special assessment for the Domestic Trafficking Victims' Fund.
  Human trafficking is one of the greatest ongoing threats to human 
rights in the world--and in this country.
  An estimated 25 percent of human trafficking victims are reportedly 
in my home state of Texas, with Houston being one of the largest hubs 
for human trafficking in the country. And although some populations are 
at greater risk of victimization than others, human trafficking spans 
all races, ages, genders, and every socioeconomic status.
  In 2020, the National Human Trafficking Hotline identified more than 
16,000 victims of human trafficking, who likely represent only a 
fraction of the actual problem.
  In that same year, the National Center for Missing and Exploited 
Children received more than 21.7 million reports, most of which were 
related to child sexual abuse material, online

[[Page H7750]]

enticement, child sex trafficking, and child sexual molestation.
  Victims who have been exploited or abused sexually or trafficked, 
whether for labor or sex, require and deserve victim-focused, 
culturally informed responses from well-trained providers and law 
enforcement, that direct them towards emergency and long-term services 
critical to sustaining them as they heal.
  Funding and grants--from the Domestic Trafficking Victims' Fund to 
develop, expand, strengthen, and provide these victim services and 
programming--derive from the mandatory special assessment, which is 
imposed on perpetrators convicted of human trafficking, sexual abuse 
and exploitation, and child pornography.
  Because it is our duty not only to ensure victims and survivors of 
these ghastly crimes are not re-victimized but also to provide them 
with services that help them successfully re-integrate into society, we 
must extend the authorization of the $5,000 special assessment.
  I support S. 4875 and encourage my colleagues to do the same.
  We must also continue to shape legislation to improve upon the U.S. 
antitrafficking response--as well as other legislation and programming 
aimed at preventing sexual exploitation and sexual abuse and protecting 
victims and survivors--particularly our children and youth.
  That is why I introduced H.R. 7566, the Stop Human Trafficking in 
School Zones Act, to ensure schools are safe havens for students.
  It is my hope that my bill, which was ordered to be reported 
favorably by voice vote, will be brought to the floor for consideration 
soon.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, S. 4785.
  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. BIGGS. 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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