February 21, 2012

Bills in Congress Related to Human Trafficking

I would never tell someone how to vote, and just because a bill is about traffricking doesn't mean it's a good one (a bad bill can be worse than a good bill sometimes)...but I thought with the focus here on of Human Trafficking this month I'd like to let you know about some bills going through congress:



H.R. 2982: Human Trafficking Reporting Act
To amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to include human trafficking as a part 1 violent crime for purposes of the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program.
Weigh in at https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr2982


S. 1259: Trafficking Victims Enhanced Protection Act of 2011
A bill to amend the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 to prohibit the provision of peacekeeping operations assistance to governments of countries that recruit and use child soldiers.
Weigh in at https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/s1259

Strengthening the Child Welfare Response to Human Trafficking Act (HR 2730)
Improves the child welfare response to trafficking by strengthening the child welfare system to identify, document, and counsel children at risk of exploitation.
Weigh in at https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr2730


E-SAFETI Task Force Act (HR 2801)
Establishes a task force for the purpose of studying and making recommendations to prevent and combat internet-facilitated human trafficking.
Weigh in at https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr2801


Human Trafficking Reporting Act (HR 2982)
Includes human trafficking as a "part 1 violent crime" for purposes of the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program.
Weigh in at https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr2982


HRes 508
Supporting the goals and ideals of International Day for the Abolition of Slavery and recognizing the 10th anniversary of the adoption by the United Nations of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, Supplementing the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.
Weigh in at https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hres508


Jaime Zapata Border Enforcement Security Task Force Act (HR 915) Establishes a Border Enforcement Security Task Force program to enhance border security by fostering coordinated efforts among Federal, State, and local border and law enforcement officials to protect U.S border cities and communities from trans-national crime, including illegal alien trafficking and smuggling, violence, and kidnapping along and across the international borders of the U.S.
Weigh in at https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr915


International Megan's Law (HR 3253)
Protects children from sexual exploitation by mandating reporting requirements for convicted sex traffickers and other registered sex offenders against minors intending to engage in international travel, providing advance notice of intended travel by high interest registered sex offenders outside the U.S. to the government of the country of destination, requesting foreign governments to notify the U.S. when a known child sex offender is seeking to enter the U.S.
Weigh in at https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr3253


Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2011 (S 1301 and HR 2830)
Authorizes appropriations for the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, and enhances measures to combat trafficking in persons.
Weigh in at https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/s1301 and https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr2830

I don't think I have any problems with these bills (though I haven't read all of them completely yet), except that I think that the E-SAFETI Task Force Act should include more  people technically proficient in computer programming (like at least one specifically delegated who has those stilll and who will have the ability to assign at least two more...so as to avoid the type of fiasco that SOPA and PIPA was and to better take advantage of technology in fighting this problem.  That's one of the things I wrote my congressman about.

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