[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 139 (Monday, September 9, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H5091-H5093]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             GLOBAL ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING ENHANCEMENT ACT

  Mrs. RADEWAGEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 7089) to authorize the Diplomatic Security Services of the 
Department of State to investigate allegations of violations of conduct 
constituting offenses under chapter 77 of title 18, United States Code, 
and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 7089

       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 ``Global Anti-Human 
     Trafficking Enhancement Act''.

     SEC. 2. EXPANDING PROTECTION AND PROSECUTION EFFORTS AT THE 
                   UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

       (a) Investigation Authority.--The Secretary of State is 
     authorized to investigate transnational violations of chapter 
     77 of title 18, United States Code, in which part of the 
     offense conduct occurred outside the United States or 
     involved 1 or more foreign nationals.
       (b) Authorities.--Section 37(a)(1) of the State Department 
     Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2709(a)(1)) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``; or'' and inserting 
     a semicolon;
       (2) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D); 
     and
       (3) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following new 
     subparagraph:
       ``(C) transnational violations of chapter 77 of title 18, 
     United States Code, in which any part of the offense conduct 
     occurred outside the United States or involved one or more 
     foreign nationals; or''.

     SEC. 3. REPORT.

       Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, and annually thereafter for six years, the 
     Secretary of State shall submit to the Committee on Foreign 
     Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
     Foreign Relations of the Senate a report that includes each 
     of the following:
       (1) The number of relevant cases opened and investigated by 
     the Diplomatic Security Service as a result of the additional 
     authorities granted by the amendments made by this Act.
       (2) The percentage of the cases opened and investigated by 
     the Diplomatic Security

[[Page H5092]]

     Service as a result of the additional authorities granted by 
     the amendments made by this Act that were referred for 
     further action, including prosecution.
       (3) An assessment of the efficacy of the authorities 
     granted by the amendments made by this Act and whether such 
     authorities are sufficient to meaningfully contribute to 
     Department of State and broader United States Government 
     efforts to prosecute and prevent, where applicable, human 
     trafficking and transnational violations of chapter 77 of 
     title 18, United States Code.
       (4) An assessment of whether the resources of the 
     Diplomatic Security Service are sufficient to effectively 
     carry out the objectives of this Act.

     SEC. 4. SUNSET.

       This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall 
     terminate on the date that is 7 years after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, and the provisions of law amended by 
     such amendments shall be restored as if such amendments had 
     not been enacted.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
American Samoa (Mrs. Radewagen) and the gentlewoman from North Carolina 
(Ms. Manning) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from American Samoa.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. RADEWAGEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on this measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from American Samoa?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. RADEWAGEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support for H.R. 7089, the Global Anti-
Human Trafficking Enhancement Act, introduced by the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. James).
  We all believe that people have inherent dignity and possess equal 
human rights. Unfortunately, not everyone in the world respects that 
dignity and those rights.
  Each year, millions of individuals are exploited through human 
trafficking. They are forced to work in dangerous, brutal jobs for 
little or no pay. They are forced to engage in commercial sex. They are 
forced to marry people they don't know or to join the Armed Forces 
before the age of consent.
  All of us here believe that human traffickers must be caught, 
prosecuted, and punished to the full extent of the law. That is why the 
Global Anti-Human Trafficking Enhancement Act is so necessary.
  This bill authorizes the State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic 
Security to investigate criminal violations of U.S. Federal 
antitrafficking statutes that occur overseas or involve foreign 
persons.
  Most people are not aware that Diplomatic Security is the most widely 
represented U.S. law enforcement agency overseas, with agents operating 
in over 270 foreign posts.
  This new authority will serve as a force multiplier for the FBI and 
foreign country law enforcement, who are on the front lines of pursuing 
traffickers and protecting victims.
  With this authority, Diplomatic Security agents would be able to 
investigate the dozens of Federal antitrafficking cases every year that 
currently are not pursued because of time and resource constraints at 
FBI and other Federal law enforcement agencies that do not have people 
in the far corners of the world.
  This proposal has been lauded by the Department of Justice, advocacy 
groups, and others. It responds to the National Action Plan's mandate 
to increase trafficking prosecutions and fight modern slavery.

                              {time}  2015

  It was adopted in the Foreign Affairs Committee by a unanimous 
bipartisan vote of 46-0.
  Let's empower our diplomatic security agents to assist in the mission 
of investigating violations of U.S. anti-trafficking laws that have 
overseas elements by passing H.R. 7089, the Global Anti-Human 
Trafficking Enhancement Act.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 7089, as 
amended, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this important legislation authorizes the Diplomatic 
Security Service of the Department of State to investigate allegations 
of human trafficking crimes.
  I thank Chairman McCaul and Representative James for their leadership 
and for working with us on this legislation. I also thank the Bureau of 
Diplomatic Security for engaging with the committee in a constructive 
manner.
  Human trafficking is a scourge on humanity. It is a grave violation 
of human dignity and freedom, exploiting the most vulnerable among us, 
including women and children.
  The scale of this crime is staggering, with millions of people around 
the world trapped in conditions of forced labor, sexual exploitation, 
and unimaginable suffering.
  These are not just statistics. They are real people with dreams, 
families, and aspirations, all cruelly taken away by traffickers.
  This bill is not just about expanding authority. It is about ensuring 
that we have the capacity to act decisively and effectively. By 
enhancing our ability to investigate these crimes, we can bring more 
traffickers to justice and, more importantly, rescue and rehabilitate 
more victims.
  Mr. Speaker, the passage of H.R. 7089 is a moral imperative. It is 
about standing up for the voiceless and ensuring that justice prevails. 
I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this critical bill, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. RADEWAGEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. James), chairman of the Foreign 
Affairs Subcommittee on Africa and the author of this bill.
  Mr. JAMES. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friends, Mrs. Radewagen and Ms. 
Manning, for their support of this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of my bill, H.R. 7089, the 
Global Anti-Human Trafficking Enhancement Act.
  God's children are not for sale. Mr. Speaker, I am sure we can all 
agree that human trafficking must be eradicated everywhere.
  The effort behind this legislation is about confronting modern-day 
slavery, a major stain, the worst stain, on humanity and decency.
  My bill allows the State Department, specifically the Diplomatic 
Security Service, to investigate instances of transnational human 
trafficking. To clarify, a human trafficking violation is transnational 
when part of the offense occurs outside of the United States or 
involves one or more foreign nationals.
  Currently, Diplomatic Security must account for document fraud to 
allow them to start investigating these instances--minutiae, 
bureaucracy, red tape. We are going to cut that red tape with this 
bill.
  My bill further complements current Federal law enforcement efforts 
to prosecute these instances, given Diplomatic Security's global reach.
  Differences in language and culture are commonly the greatest 
barriers to successfully prosecuting these transnational trafficking 
purveyors. Diplomatic Security is by far the most widely 
internationally represented U.S. law enforcement agency, with agents 
operating in over 270 posts all over the world.
  I often hear: Why is America involved in different parts of this 
world? Well, when it comes to the safety of our children, young adults, 
the elderly, the most vulnerable around the world, American leadership 
can do more to help bring justice to these victims.
  According to the State Department: ``There are about 27.6 million 
victims worldwide of human trafficking at any given time.'' Those are 
just the ones we know about.
  This evil and depraved industry preys on people of all ages, 
backgrounds, and nationalities for their own profit--again, 
particularly women, children, and people coming from impoverished 
backgrounds.
  God's will is clear. Luke 4:18-19 reads: The Spirit of the Lord is 
upon me because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. 
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recover sight to the 
blind and set at liberty those who are oppressed, and to proclaim the 
year of the Lord's favor.
  Mr. Speaker, my bill empowers our law enforcement to liberate the 
oppressed and the captive, and I ask my colleagues to please support 
H.R. 7089.

[[Page H5093]]

  

  Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume 
for the purpose of closing.
  Human trafficking causes unimaginable suffering, and this bill 
empowers the Diplomatic Security Service to extend its essential work 
in investigating and combating these crimes, ensuring we can respond 
quickly and effectively.
  Our Diplomatic Security officers, with their unique global reach and 
expertise, play a vital role in dismantling trafficking networks that 
operate across borders.
  H.R. 7089 is not just about expanding authority. It is about 
delivering justice and hope to victims while holding traffickers 
accountable.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this 
important bill. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. RADEWAGEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time, 
and I again thank Mr. James and his bipartisan cosponsors for the bill 
before us today.
  We need to unlock the investigative potential at the U.S. State 
Department. We need to give our Diplomatic Security agents the 
authority to assist in the mission of catching criminals who violate 
our anti-trafficking statutes.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support H.R. 7089, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from American Samoa (Mrs. Radewagen) that the House suspend 
the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 7089, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________