[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 148 (Monday, September 23, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H5601-H5603]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IMPACTT HUMAN TRAFFICKING ACT

  Mr. BENTZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(S. 670) to improve services for trafficking victims by establishing, 
in Homeland Security Investigations, the Investigators Maintain 
Purposeful Awareness to Combat Trafficking Trauma Program and the 
Victim Assistance Program.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                 S. 670

       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 ``IMPACTT Human Trafficking 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. INVESTIGATORS MAINTAIN PURPOSEFUL AWARENESS TO COMBAT 
                   TRAFFICKING TRAUMA PROGRAM.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established, in Homeland 
     Security Investigations of U.S. Immigration and Customs 
     Enforcement, the Investigators Maintain Purposeful Awareness 
     to Combat Trafficking Trauma Program (referred to in this Act 
     as the ``IMPACTT Program'').
       (b) Functions.--The IMPACTT Program shall--
       (1) provide outreach and training to Homeland Security 
     Investigations employees who have been exposed to various 
     forms of trauma in working with victims of human trafficking, 
     including--
       (A) self-awareness training for the relevant employees on 
     recognizing the signs of burnout, compassion fatigue, 
     critical incident stress, traumatic stress, posttraumatic 
     stress, secondary traumatic stress, and vicarious trauma;
       (B) training material that--
       (i) provides mechanisms for self-care and resilience and 
     notification of resources that are available through U.S. 
     Immigration and Customs Enforcement, such as the Employee 
     Assistance Program, the Peer Support Program, the Chaplain 
     Program, and other relevant accredited programs that are 
     available; and
       (ii) provides examples of potential resources that are 
     available outside of U.S. Immigration and Customs 
     Enforcement, which may include, faith-based and community-
     based resources; and
       (C) provide additional training to first line supervisors 
     of relevant employees on recognizing the signs referred to in 
     subparagraph (A) and the appropriate responses to employees 
     exhibiting such signs;
       (2) include training modules that are carried out by--
       (A) licensed and accredited clinicians who--
       (i) have been trained on the exposure of various forms of 
     trauma and other stressors experienced in working with 
     victims; and
       (ii) may have experience working with faith-based 
     organizations, community-based organizations, counseling 
     programs, or other social service programs; and
       (B) additional subject matter experts who are available; 
     and
       (3) be overseen and coordinated by the Department of 
     Homeland Security Center for Countering Human Trafficking to 
     ensure that--
       (A) appropriate program materials are distributed;
       (B) training is offered to all relevant employees; and
       (C) any needed travel and equipment is provided.

     SEC. 3. HOMELAND SECURITY INVESTIGATIONS VICTIM ASSISTANCE 
                   PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--Subtitle D of title IV of the Homeland 
     Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 251 et seq.) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:

     ``SEC. 447. HOMELAND SECURITY INVESTIGATIONS VICTIM 
                   ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

       ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) Forensic interview specialist.--The term `forensic 
     interview specialist' is an interview professional who has 
     specialized experience and training in conducting trauma-
     informed forensic interviews with victims of crime.
       ``(2) Victim.--The term `victim' has the meaning given such 
     term in section 503(e)(2) of the Victims' Rights and 
     Restitution Act of 1990 (34 U.S.C. 20141(e)(2)).
       ``(3) Victim assistance specialist.--The term `victim 
     assistance specialist' is a victim assistance professional 
     who--
       ``(A) has experience working with victims of crime in a 
     service capacity;
       ``(B) has been trained on the exposure of various forms of 
     trauma and other stressors experienced in working with 
     victims; and
       ``(C) may have experience working with local government and 
     community-based organizations, including victim advocacy 
     centers, child advocacy centers, child welfare agencies, 
     faith-based organizations, and other social service programs.
       ``(b) In General.--There is established, in Homeland 
     Security Investigations of U.S. Immigration and Customs 
     Enforcement, the Victim Assistance Program.
       ``(c) Functions.--The Victim Assistance Program shall--
       ``(1) provide oversight, guidance, training, travel, 
     equipment, and coordination to Homeland Security 
     Investigations victim assistance personnel throughout the 
     United States;
       ``(2) recruit not fewer than--
       ``(A) 1 forensic interview specialist and 1 victim 
     assistance specialist for each Homeland Security 
     Investigations Special Agent in Charge office;
       ``(B) 1 victim assistance specialist for--
       ``(i) every Homeland Security Investigations office 
     participating in a human trafficking task force; and
       ``(ii) every Homeland Security Investigations office 
     participating in a child sexual exploitation task force;
       ``(3) support Homeland Security Investigations regional 
     attache offices, to the extent necessary;
       ``(4) provide training regarding victims' rights, victim-
     related policies, roles of forensic interviewers and victim 
     assistance specialists, and an approach that is--
       ``(A) victim-centered;
       ``(B) trauma-informed; and
       ``(C) linguistically appropriate, to the extent feasible; 
     and
       ``(5) purchase emergency items that are needed to assist 
     identified victims in Homeland Security Investigations 
     criminal investigations, including food, clothing, hygiene 
     products, transportation, and temporary shelter that is not 
     otherwise provided by a nongovernmental organization.''.
       (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--The Homeland 
     Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-296) is amended--
       (1) in section 1(b) (6 U.S.C. 101 note)--
       (A) by striking the item relating to section 442 and 
     inserting the following:

``Sec. 442. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.'';
     and
       (B) by inserting after the item relating to section 446 the 
     following:

``Sec. 447. Homeland Security Investigations Victim Assistance 
              Program.'';
       (2) in section 442--
       (A) by amending the section heading to read as follows: 
     ``u.s. immigration and customs enforcement'';
       (B) by striking ``bureau'' each place such term appears 
     (except in subsection (a)(1)) and inserting ``agency'';
       (C) by striking ``the Bureau of Border Security'' each 
     place such term appears and inserting ``U.S. Immigration and 
     Customs Enforcement'';
       (D) in subsection (a)--
       (i) in the subsection heading, by striking ``of Bureau'';
       (ii) in paragraph (3)(C), by striking ``affecting the 
     Bureau of'' and inserting ``affecting U.S.''; and
       (iii) in paragraph (4), by striking ``the Bureau.'' and 
     inserting ``the agency.''; and
       (E) in subsection (b)(2)--
       (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
     ``Bureau of Border Security'' and inserting ``U.S. 
     Immigration and Customs Enforcement''; and
       (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``the Bureau of'' 
     before ``Citizenship and Immigration Services'' and inserting 
     ``U.S.''; and
       (3) in section 443(2), by striking ``such bureau'' and 
     inserting ``such agency''.

     SEC. 4. ANNUAL REPORT.

       Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Homeland 
     Security shall submit a report to Congress that identifies, 
     with respect to the reporting period--
       (1) the number of trainings that were provided through the 
     IMPACTT Program and the number of personnel who received such 
     training; and
       (2) the number of human trafficking victims who were 
     assisted by the Homeland Security Investigations Victim 
     Assistance Program.

     SEC. 5. NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS.

       No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated for 
     the purpose of carrying out this Act.

[[Page H5602]]

  


     SEC. 6. SUNSET.

       This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall cease to 
     have force or effect beginning on October 1, 2030.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Oregon (Mr. Bentz) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Ivey) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oregon.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BENTZ. 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 S. 670.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Oregon?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BENTZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the Investigators Maintain Purposeful Awareness to 
Combat Trafficking Trauma Program and the Victim Assistance Program, 
IMPACTT Human Trafficking Act, provides for outreach and training to 
Homeland Security Investigations employees who have been exposed to 
various forms of trauma while working with victims of human 
trafficking.
  Thousands of men, women, and children are exploited through sex or 
labor in the United States. Traffickers might use violence, 
manipulation, and false promises of jobs or even romantic relationships 
to lure victims into trafficking situations. We have heard about these 
issues extensively in two victim-focused hearings in the House 
Judiciary Committee in this Congress.
  Human trafficking not only leaves victims and survivors with lasting 
trauma, but it also affects the dedicated professionals who are 
responsible for investigating these crimes. Homeland Security 
Investigations is a component of and the main investigative body within 
the Department of Homeland Security.
  HSI investigates all types of transnational crimes, but they serve as 
the leading Federal agency combating the evils of human trafficking, 
human smuggling, and child exploitation.
  HSI works with more than 120 Federal, State, and local law 
enforcement human trafficking task forces across the United States. 
Through these task forces, HSI agents work with victim services 
organizations, community-based organizations, faith-based 
organizations, and others to raise awareness of human trafficking and 
generate investigative leads.
  While we all have a role in putting a stop to human trafficking, HSI 
stands on the front lines to identify and capture traffickers and 
predators, and then to hold these criminals accountable.
  We cannot thank these brave men and women enough for all they do to 
protect victims, both in the United States and abroad. This bill would 
make permanent the Investigators Maintain Purposeful Awareness to 
Combat Trafficking Trauma, IMPACTT, program within HSI that provides 
outreach and training to investigators, interviewers, victim assistance 
specialists, and other partners who have been exposed to trauma while 
working with victims of human trafficking.
  These trainings would include the available resources to help cope 
with burnout, stress, compassion fatigue, and trauma.
  The bill also makes the HSI victim assistance program permanent, 
which provides important guidance on victim assistance and monitors 
compliance with Federal crime victim statutes.
  Lastly, this legislation increases the number of victim assistance 
specialists to ensure that every office participating in a human 
trafficking or child exploitation task force will have an assigned 
victim assistance specialist.
  This legislation already passed the Senate under unanimous consent.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1730

  Mr. IVEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 670, the IMPACTT Human Trafficking Act, is bipartisan 
legislation that has a dual purpose. It would establish the program 
within the DHS' Homeland Security Investigation unit, or HSI. It would 
also codify and expand the HSI Victim Assistance Program.
  By establishing the IMPACTT program, this bill would ensure that 
outreach and training are available to HSI agents, forensic 
interviewers, survivor assistance specialists, task force officers, and 
other partners who work with survivors of human trafficking.
  This work can be extremely taxing, exposing these individuals to the 
trauma of those they are working to help. By ensuring that these 
individuals receive support, such as through training to help recognize 
burnout and secondary traumatic stress, this legislation would help 
them be more effective, reduce turnover, and ensure that they can 
continue the important work of fighting human trafficking and assisting 
survivors.
  The second component of this legislation would enhance the HSI Victim 
Assistance Program to ensure that every human trafficking survivor 
identified by HSI is assigned a survivor assistance specialist and that 
this program provides survivors with the support they need.
  Survivor assistance specialists are a critical component of HSI's 
survivor-centered approach to addressing human trafficking. These 
specialists connect survivors to resources they might need and might 
not otherwise be aware of, help survivors understand their 
investigative and prosecutorial process, and train other law 
enforcement and private-sector partners so that survivors receive 
assistance that is survivor-centered, trauma-informed, and 
linguistically appropriate.
  Currently, only the largest HSI field offices have a victim 
assistance specialist, but this legislation would ensure that every HSI 
office with a human trafficking or child exploitation task force would 
have a survivor assistance specialist to carry out this important work.
  The Victim Assistance Program also provides forensic interview 
support so that survivors are not retraumatized during investigative 
interviews, and this bill would ensure that more survivors receive that 
support.
  Finally, this bill would help address the immediate needs of 
survivors of human trafficking by providing funds for clothing, food, 
transportation, hygiene products, and temporary shelter.
  This benefits the survivors by promoting their safety and reducing 
the chances that they end up back under the control of a trafficker. It 
also prevents crime and future victimization by increasing the chances 
that survivors are willing and able to assist law enforcement in 
bringing the perpetrators of trafficking to justice.
  As the State's attorney of Prince George's County, I saw some of the 
harrowing experiences survivors of human trafficking experienced. This 
bipartisan legislation would provide important support to help them as 
well as those who work with them.
  I commend Senator Peters and my House colleagues who jointly led the 
companion to this bill: Representatives Joyce, Titus, Wagner, and 
Slotkin. It is truly encouraging to see a bipartisan, bicameral bill 
that supports the survivors of human trafficking, and I hope we can all 
work together on more bipartisan legislation like this in the future.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me in support of this 
important legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BENTZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio 
(Mr. Joyce).
  Mr. JOYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the 
IMPACTT Human Trafficking Act, which I introduced alongside Senator 
Peters early last year.
  Thousands of men, women, and children are victimized by human 
traffickers in the United States each year. Ohio is consistently ranked 
among the States most heavily impacted by human trafficking incidents. 
Traffickers threaten, deceive, and manipulate their victims, forcing 
them into what amounts to modern-day slavery.
  As a former prosecutor, I understand the importance of caring for 
victims, punishing perpetrators, and ensuring that law enforcement 
personnel also receive the resources and attention they need when 
investigating these heinous crimes.
  This bill would codify and expand the Victim Assistance Program at 
HSI to provide much-needed support for victims and other individuals 
impacted by human trafficking.

[[Page H5603]]

  The bill also makes permanent a program focused on promoting the 
well-being of HSI employees and partners who are repeatedly exposed to 
trauma and stress during the course of their work with victims and 
associated investigations. These law enforcement personnel are 
consistently exposed to some of the worst humanity has to offer, and 
they are working to protect the most vulnerable. We should do 
everything in our power to safeguard their well-being and make sure 
they have the resources they need to protect their mental health and 
continue to do this admirable work.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Senator Peters for his continued leadership on 
this issue and my colleagues in the House for their critical 
partnership on this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to support this bill 
today.
  Mr. IVEY. Mr. Speaker, S. 670, the IMPACTT Human Trafficking Act, 
would enable more survivors to participate in the investigation and 
prosecution of the crimes committed against them and prevent future 
trafficking crimes. I support this bipartisan legislation, and I 
encourage my colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BENTZ. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this 
necessary bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Bentz) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, S. 670.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________