President Signs H.R. 972, Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act

From the White House:

"President Bush on Tuesday said, "America is a compassionate and decent nation, and we will not tolerate an industry that preys on the young and the vulnerable. The trade in human beings continues in our time and we are called by conscience and compassion to bring this cruel practice to an end."

Hightlights of H.R. 972

• Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to extend the sexually violent offender registration program to foreign offenses.
• Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to authorize the Director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement to appoint a guardian ad litem for an unaccompanied alien child if the Director believes such child to be a victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons.
• Amends the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 to: (1) provide victims of severe forms of trafficking with access to counsel; and (2) enhance specified U.S. efforts to combat trafficking in persons, including prevention of such activities by international peacekeepers.
• Amends the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) to establish crimes of: (1) sex trafficking; and (2) trafficking for labor or services.

Legislative Materials

H.R. 972

H. Rept. 109-317 & H. Rept. 109-317 Part II

Congressional Record Citations

CRS Summary

CBO Cost Estimate

Ron Jones, University of Cincinnati Law Library