Countering Human Trafficking Act of 2022
This bill provides statutory authority for the Center for Countering Human Trafficking (CCHT) within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The CCHT coordinates DHS efforts to combat human trafficking and the importation of goods produced with forced labor.
The bill requires the CCHT to develop a strategy to improve the systems and processes used throughout DHS to combat human trafficking and the importation of goods produced with forced labor.
The bill transfers the functions and resources of the Blue Campaign (i.e., the national public awareness effort to combat human trafficking) to the CCHT. DHS may also transfer to the CCHT any other component, directorate, or office of the department related to combating human trafficking.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6736 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6736
To establish a Department of Homeland Security Center for Countering
Human Trafficking, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 15, 2022
Mr. Katko (for himself, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Mr. Guest, Mr.
Torres of New York, Mr. Meijer, Mr. Correa, Mr. Higgins of Louisiana,
Ms. Barragan, Mrs. Cammack, Mrs. Demings, Mr. Gimenez, Mrs. Watson
Coleman, Mr. Garbarino, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr. Pfluger, and Ms.
Slotkin) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on
Homeland Security, and Ways and Means, 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
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a Department of Homeland Security Center for Countering
Human Trafficking, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Countering Human Trafficking Act of
2022''.
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the victim-centered approach must become universally
understood, adopted, and practiced;
(2) criminal justice efforts must increase the focus on,
and adeptness at, investigating and prosecuting forced labor
cases;
(3) corporations must eradicate forced labor from their
supply chains;
(4) the Department of Homeland Security must lead by
example--
(A) by ensuring that its government supply chain of
contracts and procurement are not tainted by forced
labor; and
(B) by leveraging all of its authorities against
the importation of goods produced with forced labor;
and
(5) human trafficking training, awareness, identification,
and screening efforts--
(A) are a necessary first step for prevention,
protection, and enforcement; and
(B) should be evidence-based to be most effective.
SEC. 3. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER FOR COUNTERING HUMAN
TRAFFICKING.
(a) Establishment.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall
operate, within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's
Homeland Security Investigations, the Center for Countering
Human Trafficking (referred to in this Act as ``CCHT'').
(2) Purpose.--The purpose of CCHT shall be to serve at the
forefront of the Department of Homeland Security's unified
global efforts to counter human trafficking through law
enforcement operations and victim protection, prevention, and
awareness programs.
(3) Administration.--Homeland Security Investigations
shall--
(A) maintain a concept of operations that
identifies CCHT participants, funding, core functions,
and personnel; and
(B) update such concept of operations, as needed,
to accommodate its mission and the threats to such
mission.
(4) Personnel.--
(A) Director.--The Secretary of Homeland Security
shall appoint a CCHT Director, who shall--
(i) be a member of the Senior Executive
Service; and
(ii) serve as the Department of Homeland
Security's representative on human trafficking.
(B) Minimum core personnel requirements.--Subject
to appropriations, the Secretary of Homeland Security
shall ensure that CCHT is staffed with at least 45
employees in order to maintain continuity of effort,
subject matter expertise, and necessary support to the
Department of Homeland Security, including--
(i) employees who are responsible for the
Continued Presence Program and other victim
protection duties;
(ii) employees who are responsible for
training, including curriculum development, and
public awareness and education;
(iii) employees who are responsible for
stakeholder engagement, Federal interagency
coordination, multilateral partnerships, and
policy;
(iv) employees who are responsible for
public relations, human resources, evaluation,
data analysis and reporting, and information
technology;
(v) special agents and criminal analysts
necessary to accomplish its mission of
combating human trafficking and the importation
of goods produced with forced labor; and
(vi) managers.
(b) Operations Unit.--The CCHT Director shall operate, within CCHT,
an Operations Unit, which shall, at a minimum--
(1) support criminal investigations of human trafficking
(including sex trafficking and forced labor)--
(A) by developing, tracking, and coordinating
leads; and
(B) by providing subject matter expertise;
(2) augment the enforcement of the prohibition on the
importation of goods produced with forced labor through civil
and criminal authorities;
(3) coordinate a Department-wide effort to conduct
procurement audits and enforcement actions, including
suspension and debarment, in order to mitigate the risk of
human trafficking throughout Department acquisitions and
contracts; and
(4) support all CCHT enforcement efforts with intelligence
by conducting lead development, lead validation, case support,
strategic analysis, and data analytics.
(c) Protection and Awareness Programs Unit.--The CCHT Director
shall operate, within CCHT, a Protection and Awareness Programs Unit,
which shall--
(1) incorporate a victim-centered approach throughout
Department of Homeland Security policies, training, and
practices;
(2) operate a comprehensive Continued Presence program;
(3) conduct, review, and assist with Department of Homeland
Security human trafficking training, screening, and
identification tools and efforts;
(4) operate the Blue Campaign's nationwide public awareness
effort and any other awareness efforts needed to encourage
victim identification and reporting to law enforcement and to
prevent human trafficking; and
(5) coordinate external engagement, including training and
events, regarding human trafficking with critical partners,
including survivors, nongovernmental organizations,
corporations, multilateral entities, law enforcement agencies,
and other interested parties.
SEC. 4. SPECIALIZED INITIATIVES.
(a) Human Trafficking Information Modernization Initiative.--The
CCHT Director, in conjunction with the Science and Technology
Directorate Office of Science and Engineering, shall develop a strategy
and proposal to modify systems and processes throughout the Department
of Homeland Security that are related to CCHT's mission in order to--
(1) decrease the response time to access victim
protections;
(2) accelerate lead development;
(3) advance the identification of human trafficking
characteristics and trends;
(4) fortify the security and protection of sensitive
information;
(5) apply analytics to automate manual processes; and
(6) provide artificial intelligence and machine learning to
increase system capabilities and enhance data availability,
reliability, comparability, and verifiability.
(b) Submission of Plan.--Upon the completion of the strategy and
proposal under subsection (a), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall
submit a summary of the strategy and plan for executing the strategy
to--
(1) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs of the Senate; and
(2) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of
Representatives.
SEC. 5. REPORTS.
(a) Information Sharing To Facilitate Reports and Analysis.--Each
subagency of the Department of Homeland Security shall share with
CCHT--
(1) any information needed by CCHT to develop the strategy
and proposal required under section 4(a); and
(2) any additional data analysis to help CCHT better
understand the issues surrounding human trafficking.
(b) Report to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the CCHT Director shall submit a report to
Congress that identifies any legislation that is needed to facilitate
the Department of Homeland Security's mission to end human trafficking.
SEC. 6. TRANSFER OF OTHER FUNCTIONS RELATED TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
(a) Blue Campaign.--The functions and resources of the Blue
Campaign located within the Office of Partnership and Engagement on the
day before the date of the enactment of this Act are hereby transferred
to CCHT.
(b) Other Transfer.--
(1) Authorization.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland
Security may transfer the functions and resources of any
component, directorate, or other office of the Department of
Homeland Security related to combating human trafficking to the
CCHT.
(2) Notification.--Not later than 30 days before executing
any transfer authorized under paragraph (1), the Secretary of
Homeland Security shall notify the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the
Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives
of such planned transfer.
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
In addition to amounts otherwise authorized to be appropriated,
there is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Homeland
Security to carry out this Act $14,000,000, which shall remain
available until expended.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, and Ways and Means, 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.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, and Ways and Means, 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.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, and Ways and Means, 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.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight, Management, and Accountability.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
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