Legislation comes days before Committee field hearing on human trafficking

Washington, D.C. – In advance of next week’s House Foreign Affairs Committee field hearing on human trafficking, Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the Committee, today introduced H.R. 3344, the Fraudulent Overseas Recruitment and Trafficking Elimination (FORTE) Act of 2013, legislation that combats the growing problem of international human trafficking.

The legislation requires overseas labor recruiters to provide detailed employment information to overseas workers, to avoid the bait-and-switch into slave labor or sexual slavery once they enter the U.S., and creates additional penalties and enforcement mechanisms.  Additionally, the legislation requires the State Department and USAID to work to ensure that foreign assistance programs do not contribute to human trafficking and slavery.

The bill text and section-by-section summary of H.R. 3344 are available HERE.

Chairman Royce said: “Human trafficking is a grave violation of a person’s most basic human rights; unfortunately it is a growing problem around the world, including southern California.  Millions are victimized each year; many are women and girls from our own neighborhoods.  Today’s legislation bolsters our efforts to combat this form of modern day slavery.  Specifically, it provides the tools needed to avoid the scams of unscrupulous labor recruiters who force workers into slave labor or sexual slavery once they enter the U.S.  The human cost of trafficking is painfully high – we must act.”

On Monday, November 4, the Committee will hold a field hearing, entitled “Regional Perspectives in the Global Fight Against Human Trafficking,” that will begin at 10:00 a.m. PT in the Titan Student Union building on the campus of California State University, Fullerton.

NOTE:  Earlier this year, Chairman Royce launched a Human Trafficking Congressional Advisory Committee (HTCAC), which is comprised of victims’ rights groups, local and federal law enforcement agencies, and community advocates.

The bill text and section-by-section summary of H.R. 3344 are available HERE.

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