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HCONRES 239 105th Congress House International Affairs Administrative remedies Alien smuggling Assault Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Commemorations Compensation for victims of crime Congress Congress and foreign policy Congressional reporting requirements Congressional tributes Crime and Law Enforcement Crimes against women Curricula Deportation Eastern Europe Employee rights Employee training Europe European Union

Expressing the sense of Congress concerning the worldwide trafficking of persons, that has a disproportionate impact on women and girls, and is condemned by the international community as a violation of fundamental human rights.

Introduced: March 10, 1998 See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 7 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 22, 1998
Referred to the Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights.
Mar 20, 1998
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims.
Mar 10, 1998
Referred to House Judiciary
Mar 10, 1998
Referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Mar 10, 1998
Referred to House International Relations
Mar 10, 1998
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E340)
Mar 10, 1998
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Expresses the sense of the Congress that trafficking: (1) consists of all acts involved in the recruitment or transportation of persons within or across borders involving deception, coercion or force, abuse of authority, debt bondage or fraud, for the purpose of placing persons in situations of abuse or exploitation; and (2) involves kidnapping, false imprisonment, rape, battering, forced labor, or slavery-like practices which violate fundamental human rights.

Urges the Department of Justice Office of Violence Against Women to report to the Congress on: (1) efforts to identify instances of trafficking of persons into the United States within the last five years; (2) the successes or difficulties experienced in promoting interagency cooperation, cooperation between local, State, and Federal authorities, and cooperation with nongovernmental organizations; (3) the treatment and services provided and the disposition of trafficking cases in the criminal justice system; and (4) legal and administrative barriers to more effective governmental responses.

Urges that trafficking victims be provided with support services and incentives to testify.

Calls on the Secretary of State to: (1) develop curricula and conduct training for consular officers on the prevalence and risks of trafficking and the rights of victims; and (2) develop and disperse to visa seekers written materials describing the potential risks of trafficking.

Commends the Department of State and the European Union for their joint initiative to promote awareness of the problem of trafficking throughout countries of origin in Eastern Europe and the independent states of the former Soviet Union. Urges their continued efforts to engage in similar programs in other regions and to ensure that the dignity and human rights of trafficking victims are protected in destination countries.

Calls for: (1) the State Department's Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs to continue to provide and expand funding to support criminal justice training programs which include trafficking; and (2) the President's Interagency Council on Women to report to the Congress regarding implementation by the Secretary of State and the Attorney General of the duties described in this resolution.

What's happening now April 22, 1998

Referred to the Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4