Global Anti-Human Trafficking Enhancement Act

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 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.

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

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.

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.