[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 17026-17027]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 549--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING 
                           MODERN-DAY SLAVERY

  Mr. SANTORUM (for himself, Mr. Pryor, and Mrs. Dole) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
Relations:

                              S. Res. 549

       Whereas the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 
     U.S.C. 7101 et seq.) states that the Declaration of 
     Independence recognizes the inherent dignity and worth of all 
     people and states that all men are created equal and are 
     endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, 
     including the right to be free from slavery and involuntary 
     servitude;
       Whereas the United States outlawed slavery and involuntary 
     servitude in 1865, recognizing that those evil institutions 
     must be abolished;
       Whereas, in the 21st century, as many as 27,000,000 people 
     are suffering as slaves throughout the world and in the 
     United States;
       Whereas an estimated 800,000 persons are trafficked across 
     international borders each year;
       Whereas an estimated 18,000 to 20,000 victims are 
     trafficked into the United States each year;
       Whereas approximately 80 percent of victims are female and 
     an estimated 40 to 50 percent of victims are children;
       Whereas many of the victims are trafficked into the 
     international sex trade, which includes sexual exploitation 
     of persons involving activities including prostitution, 
     pornography, sex tourism, and other commercial sexual 
     services;
       Whereas modern-day slavery also includes bonded labor, 
     forced labor, forced marriage, chattel slavery, and child 
     labor;
       Whereas the Department of Health and Human Services states 
     that human trafficking is the second largest criminal 
     industry worldwide;

[[Page 17027]]

       Whereas traffickers use threats, intimidation, 
     manipulation, coercion, fraud, shame, and violence to force 
     victims into modern-day slavery;
       Whereas a trafficker may be a family friend, someone well-
     known within the community, someone in law enforcement, or a 
     member of an organized criminal network;
       Whereas traffickers capitalize on areas of conflict and 
     post-conflict, transitioning states, sudden political change, 
     economic collapse, civil unrest, internal armed conflict, 
     chronic unemployment, widespread poverty, personal disaster, 
     lack of economic opportunity, and natural disasters;
       Whereas traffickers prey upon the vulnerable, ethnic 
     minorities, and people without citizenship;
       Whereas modern-day slavery thrives because of its high 
     profitability and minimal risk due to little rule of law, 
     lack of enforcement, and corruption of law enforcement 
     institutions;
       Whereas populations vulnerable to trafficking are growing 
     due to the rising numbers of orphans in developing countries 
     due to civil conflicts and the HIV/AIDS pandemic;
       Whereas the spread of HIV/AIDS and other sexually-
     transmitted diseases poses a global threat and creates a 
     particular challenge for victims of modern-day slavery 
     involved in the international sex trade;
       Whereas the loss of family-support networks due to modern-
     day slavery contributes to the breakdown of societies;
       Whereas trafficking has a negative impact on the labor 
     market in countries and perpetuates a cycle of poverty;
       Whereas trafficking brutalizes men, women, and children, 
     and exposes them to rape, torture, HIV/AIDS and other 
     sexually transmitted diseases, violence, dangerous working 
     conditions, poor nutrition, drug and alcohol addiction, and 
     severe psychological trauma from separation, coercion, sexual 
     abuse, and depression;
       Whereas organized criminal groups, gangs, document forgers, 
     brothel owners, and corrupt police or immigration officials 
     funnel trafficking profits into both legitimate and criminal 
     activities;
       Whereas modern-day slavery strips human beings of dignity, 
     respect, and hope for their future; and
       Whereas no country or people are immune from the effects of 
     modern-day slavery: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) the abolition of modern-day slavery should be a 
     priority of the United States foreign and domestic policy;
       (2) the United States should continue to bring together 
     governments, international organizations, nongovernmental 
     organizations, and individuals to form a comprehensive 
     coalition to fight modern-day slavery;
       (3) the Federal Government should continue to expand 
     protection and legal options for victims of modern-day 
     slavery;
       (4) the abolition of modern-day slavery should be 
     prioritized at the 2007 Group of 8 (G-8) Summit in Germany; 
     and
       (5) the trade policy of the United States should reflect 
     the commitment of the United States to freedom for all 
     people.

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