Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) had originally submitted the “Trafficking Victims Reauthorization Act” (TVPRA) within the Senate and saw it die an ignoble death in October 2011. He subsequently offered it up as an amendment to the “Violence Against Women Act” (VAWA) in January 2013. The combined bill passed through both houses last week (28 Feb 2013), with The Senate voting 93-5 and The House voting 286 to 138.
The passage of the TVPRA follows 2.5 years of congressional debate, rewrites, exclusions and inclusions. The bill was presented to President Obama for signature on 4 March 2013.
As those of you who have read my pieces in the past know, more than 20 million persons are enslaved globally, each year. Trafficking in persons (human trafficking) generates $32 billion in profits (not just revenue) for the human traffickers. There are approximately 100,000 children who are subjected to sexual exploitation within the US (sex trafficking). Slavery in the United States includes forced labor (labor trafficking). (Source: Polaris Project)
I urge President Obama to sign this bipartisan approved legislation into law.
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For Additional Reading:
Congressional Research Service: Trafficking in Persons: U.S. Policy and Issues for Congress (Feb 2013)
Library of Congress – Thomas “S.47 — Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (Enrolled Bill [Final as Passed Both House and Senate] – ENR)” (Feb 2013)
Library of Congress – VAWA & TVPRA Bill Summary
Polaris Project: “Congress Passes Long Awaited Anti Human Trafficking Bill” (Feb 2013)