End Human Trafficking in Government Contracts Act of 2022

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 3470) to provide for the implementation of certain trafficking in contracting provisions, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on S. 3470.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 3470, the End Human Trafficking in Government Contracts Act.

S. 3470 was introduced by Senator Lankford from Oklahoma and has passed the Senate by unanimous consent. The bill would require the head of an agency to make a referral for debarment of a Federal contractor in response to Inspector General verification that the company has engaged in any form of human trafficking, including labor and sex trafficking.

Under current law, the referral is merely an action that the agency head may consider. Putting stronger penalties on contractors creates stronger incentives for them to be vigilant about eliminating human trafficking from their business. This bill helps to ensure that we use the U.S. Government's enormous purchasing power to combat human trafficking.

Under this bill, the Office of Management and Budget would also submit a report to Congress on Federal Government actions to end trafficking in Federal contracts. Human trafficking is nothing short of modern-day slavery. It is estimated that human trafficking is a $150 billion global industry. It must be a priority to ensure that the U.S. is not contributing one dollar to perpetuate human trafficking through Federal contracts.

Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this straightforward legislation to further enforce zero tolerance for human trafficking in Federal contracts.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers on this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, combating sex trafficking by any means, in this case with using the power of our contracting system, is truly a bipartisan effort in this committee.

Mr. Speaker, I support and urge passage of this bill, S. 3470.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, the End Human Trafficking in Government Contracts Act ensures that Federal agencies are not paying for or participating in human trafficking or human sex trafficking through grants or contracts. This is a particular concern for overseas contracts in which some unscrupulous companies may take advantage of vulnerable third-country workers.

Congress has acted before to address this problem. Unfortunately, both the Government Accountability Office and the Department of Defense Inspector General have found that trafficking by contractors and grantees continues. This bill moves to send a clear message: Trafficking will not be tolerated.

Under current law, agencies are already required to refer allegations of human or sex trafficking to the Inspector General for investigation. If found to be true, that agency has a number of options to deal with the situation, but this bill requires all substantiated cases be reported to the agency's suspension and debarment official.

In the contracting world, this is serious business. After due process, a contractor could be prohibited from receiving future government contracts or other government benefits. This bill ensures all current or would-be grantees or contractors take all measures necessary to stop human or sex trafficking.

Finally, the bill directs the Office of Management and Budget to report on enforcement of the laws so we in Congress could conduct the necessary oversight.

I thank Senators James Lankford and Joni Ernst for sending this important bill to the House for final passage in Congress today.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill and for the President to sign S. 3470 into law.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, let me be clear. Not a single dime of taxpayer money should ever flow to anyone engaged in human or sex trafficking activities. This bill is an important step toward ensuring responsible stewardship of taxpayer money.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I was unable to cast votes on the following legislative measures. If I were present for roll call votes, I would have voted Aye for the following votes:

Roll 461, September 29, 2022: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass S. 4900--SBIR and STTR Extension Act of 2022.

Roll 462, September 29, 2022: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, As Amended, H.R. 8466--Chai Suthammanont Healthy Federal Workplaces Act of 2022, as amended.

Roll 463, September 29, 2022: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass S. 3470--End Human Trafficking in Government Contracts Act of 2022.

Roll 464, September 29, 2022: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass S. 2551--AI Training Act.

Roll 465, September 29, 2022: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass S. 958--Maximizing Outcomes through Better Investments in Lifesaving Equipment for (MOBILE) Health Care Act.

Roll 466, September 29, 2022: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, As Amended, H.R. 6965--Visit America Act, as amended.

Roll 467, September 29, 2022: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, As Amended, H.R. 7321--Global Aircraft Maintenance Safety Improvement Act, as amended.

Roll 468, September 29, 2022: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, As Amended, House Amendment to S. 3662--Preventing PFAS Runoff at Airports Act.

Roll 469, September 29, 2022: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, As Amended, H.R. 8888--Food Security for All Veterans Act.

Roll 470, September 29, 2022: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass S. 2794--Supporting Families of the Fallen Act.

Roll 471, September 29, 2022: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, As Amended, H.R. 8446--Global Food Security Reauthorization Act of 2022, as amended.

Roll 472, September 29, 2022: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 8463--Millennium Challenge Corporation Eligibility Expansion Act.

Roll 473, September 29, 2022: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass Certain Bills and Concur in the Senate Amendments on H.R. 8956, H.R. 6967, H.R. 8163, H.R. 4081, H.R. 6889, H.R. 1638, Senate Amendment to

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 413, S. Res. 638.

I further ask that the committee-reported substitute amendment to the resolution be agreed to.

I know of no further debate on the resolution, as amended.

I ask that the preamble be agreed to and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 384, S. 3470.